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RFP from Loudoun County, Virginia – Department of Economic Development: Agricultural Survey and Enterprise Inventory 

Please review and respond to the following Request for Proposal from the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development. This RFP can be shared with interested parties. A copy of this RFP may be downloaded here: Agricultural Survey and Enterprise Inventory Request for Proposals

Purpose 

The intent of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is for the County of Loudoun, Virginia to obtain firm fixed price proposals from qualified firms with specialized expertise in agricultural economic analysis and survey research. The selected firm will design and implement a comprehensive agricultural property survey and enterprise inventory of Loudoun County’s agricultural and equine sectors for the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development (“DED” or the “Department”). 

Background Information 

Overview of the Solicitation 

The County of Loudoun, Virginia (the “County”) is soliciting quotes from qualified offerors to provide the County with a comprehensive agricultural survey and enterprise inventory of Loudoun County’s agricultural and equine sectors. This project will provide granular, up-to-date data beyond the USDA Agricultural Census, offering a more localized and detailed understanding of working lands utilization within Loudoun County’s rural policy area. The study will establish a baseline for measurement, inform strategic initiatives, and strengthen the county’s commitment to preserving its rural heritage while supporting agricultural and agritourism business growth. 

Overview of the Economy of Loudoun County 

Loudoun County maintains a unique dual identity as both a technology hub and a significant agricultural region. The county’s rural western areas preserve a rich agricultural and equine heritage that contributes substantially to the local economy through direct production, agritourism, and ancillary businesses. The agricultural and equine sectors face ongoing pressures from development, changing market conditions, and evolving consumer preferences. However, these sectors remain vital to Loudoun’s economic diversity, quality of life, and cultural identity. The county’s proximity to the Washington, DC metropolitan area provides unique market opportunities for agricultural products, agritourism, and equine activities. It is a high priority for the County to support business retention and expansion in the agricultural sector while preserving farmland and elevating the county’s agricultural and equine heritage. 

Scope of Services 

All proposals must be made on the basis of, and either meet or exceed, the requirements contained herein. All contractors must be able to provide at a minimum, but not be limited to, the following: 

Project Timeline 

The timeline to complete the overall project with final deliverables is approximately seven months from the effective date of Agreement for Service. The expected timeline is outlined below: 

Phase Timeline Deliverable 
Contract Award & Kickoff October 14, 2026 Kickoff meeting completed 
Stakeholder Identification and Instrument Design November 2026 Survey Instruments designed, stakeholders and outreach channels identified 
Stakeholder Outreach & Communication November 2026 – December 2026 Engage with stakeholder organizations to communicate survey plan and importance 
Individual Outreach and Data Collection January 2027 – March 2027 Survey instruments deployed, data collected 
Data Analysis March 2027 – April 2026 Integrated dataset and preliminary analysis 
Draft Report & Presentation May 1, 2027 Draft report submitted to DED 
Project Completion May 28, 2027 Final report and all deliverables 

General Requirements and Tasks 

The contractor will prepare a comprehensive report providing the Department of Economic Development with a detailed survey and enterprise inventory of Loudoun County’s agricultural and equine sectors. The selected contractor should thoroughly explain their survey and inventory methods while being creative with their data collection strategies to maximize participation and data quality. The contractor shall integrate existing local datasets with their work. The scope includes identifying and resolving gaps in agricultural operation classification, validating mapped parcels through aerial imagery and local outreach, and producing deliverables that support future census and outreach efforts. All work shall be documented, with both raw and clean datasets provided, and processes designed for repeatability and cost efficiency. 

During the course of completing the project, the Contractor shall: 

  1. Review relevant prior work related to agricultural economic development and previous studies provided by DED. 
  1. Review contextual information about government policy and programs at the local, state and national level.  
  1. Conduct stakeholder outreach with county staff, agricultural businesses, advisory boards, trade associations, and individual farm operators to ensure comprehensive participation and data collection. 
  1. Design and implement survey instruments tailored for small, medium, and large agricultural and equine operations, utilizing digital, physical, and interview-based collection methods. 
  1. Create an inventory of businesses including suppliers, service providers, equine facilities, contractors, and other ancillary agricultural businesses. 

The final deliverables shall provide the following components: 

  1. A comprehensive report with survey results: 
  1. Survey data capturing land use including forestry, farm operations, crop/livestock/equine production, employment, revenues, and services across Loudoun County.
 
  1. Cross-sector integration of agricultural and equine data providing a holistic picture of the rural economy. 
  1. GIS mapping to identify geographic clusters, land-use trends, and spatial patterns of agricultural activity.
 
  1. Comparison of results against prior studies and regional/national benchmarks to identify patterns and opportunities. 
  1. The deliverables will include extensive data within the report’s content and appendix, and in separate data files where possible. 
  1. An executive briefing and stakeholder presentation designed to communicate key findings to Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, DED leadership, the Economic Development Authority (EDA), the Rural Economic Development Council (REDC), and other stakeholders. 
  1. Public-facing materials including a summary document suitable for distribution and marketing that highlights the economic importance of Loudoun’s agricultural and equine sectors. 

Request for Proposals 

Please respond with a proposal having up to twenty pages, including: 

  1. Description of project plan and proposed deliverables. Please describe the approach the contractor intends to follow to design survey instruments, conduct outreach, collect data, perform enterprise inventory, and deliver a comprehensive report. Include methodology for maximizing survey participation across diverse agricultural operations. 
  1. Description of the firm’s experience and capabilities in conducting agricultural surveys, enterprise inventory studies, and survey research, particularly in rural/agricultural contexts. Please include 1-3 case studies about projects completed by the contractor having comparable scope and scale to this proposed project. While the details of such projects may be confidential, the case studies should provide enough content to be illustrative of the contractor’s methodology and analytical capabilities. 
  1. Timeline to complete the project, including key milestones and deliverables aligned with the project timeline above. 
  1. Approach to responding to feedback and requested edits from DED to ensure final deliverables are truly complete. 
  1. Project team member(s) and credentials, including relevant experience in agricultural economics, survey research, and GIS analysis. 
  1. An all-inclusive fixed price, to include all deliverables, data collection activities, analysis, and meetings with Loudoun County staff. The proposed project price shall represent the complete and final total for the entirety of the work product. The maximum budget for the project is $95,000.00 

Evaluation Criteria 

The following criteria will be used to evaluate which of the responding proposals presents the best value: 

Criterion Weight Description 
Technical Approach & Methodology 25% Quality and feasibility of survey design, data collection methods, and economic analysis approach 
Experience & Qualifications 25% Demonstrated expertise in agricultural survey work, economic analysis, and relevant project experience 
Project Management & Timeline 20% Proposed timeline, project management approach, and ability to meet deadlines 
Cost Effectiveness 20% Total project cost and value proposition relative to scope of work 
References & Past Performance 10% Quality of references and demonstrated success on similar projects 

Submission Requirements 

Project Manager 

Please send questions and responses via email to Chris Blosser, Business Development Officer for Agriculture and Business Services of Loudoun Economic Development, at chris.blosser@loudoun.gov. 

Proposal Timeline 

Milestone Date 
RFP Released September 2, 2026 
Deadline for Questions September 14, 2026 
Deadline for Proposals September 21, 2026 
Selection/Contract Award October 7, 2026 

Other 

  1. Please include in all responses any terms, conditions or standard contracts/agreements that are required for your services. 
  1. Your response must also include a current, signed W9 so that your company can be processed as an approved vendor of Loudoun County. This project will be paid using a purchase order issued through Loudoun County. 

Next Steps 

After receiving responses, the Department will narrow the selection to at least three respondents, who will attend separate introductory meetings (virtual or in person at Loudoun Economic Development’s offices) for questions, clarification, and familiarity before further internal discussions and a final decision. All decisions and final timelines are subject to the purchasing and procurement rules of Loudoun County, but the Department’s goal is to have a purchase order in place to begin work in November, 2026.  

Vendor FAQ – Loudoun County Agricultural & Equine Survey and Enterprise Inventory (Added 9/17/2026)

This FAQ summarizes common questions and clarifications about the RFP. All commitments and requirements are governed by the RFP and County procurement rules.

Data Sources and Integration

Q: What data will DED provide and how should vendors handle gaps?

A: We’re seeking a contractor who will be adept at handling gaps in information. DED’s designated contact will share relevant prior work and any publicly available county datasets and imagery to support project delivery. The contractor should propose methods to supplement the data. Final deliverables must include raw and cleaned datasets and clearly documented processes for repeatability. Example datasets and reports include but are not limited to Loudoun County Parcels in Land Use, Loudoun WebLogis, Loudoun’s Aerial Archive, Loudoun County’s 2024 USDA Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Report, Loudoun County GeoHub Map Collection, 2015 Economic Contribution of the Horse Industry in Loudoun County, Virginia ABC License Lists.  Some of these tools and information were used by DED earlier in 2026 to create a first look at agricultural inventory integrating multiple datasets into ArcGIS. The chosen contractor will have access to this work which is in Shapefile and Excel formats. DED will also facilitate communications with the business community utilizing a robust list of DED-managed contacts and stakeholder groups within DED’s database.

Survey Universe, Participation, and Methodology

Q: Is this a full census or can a statistically valid sample be used?

A: The intent is a comprehensive survey and enterprise inventory covering Loudoun County’s agricultural and equine sectors. Contractors should utilize methodologies that maximize participation across small, medium, and large operations using digital, physical, and interview-based methods. Statistically sound sampling may be appropriate for certain segments if justified and aligned with project goals; the approach will be reviewed with DED at kickoff.

Geographic and Operational Scope

Q: What boundaries apply and how should leased or multi-parcel operations be treated?

A: Loudoun County’s Rural Policy Area (RPA) and Transition Policy Area (TPA) are the priority areas for the validation in order to provide localized understanding of working lands utilization. The enterprise inventory should include the RPA and TPA as well as the Towns surrounded by and adjacent to the RPA and TPA. Proposals should state how leased land, multi-parcel operations, and properties with multiple enterprises will be validated and treated. The final report should document assumptions and decisions used in classification. DED will confirm geographic parameters during project kickoff. 

Economic Analysis

Q: Is formal economic-impact modeling required?

A: No. However, a descriptive analysis of survey, inventory, secondary data, and comparisons to prior studies and regional/national (USDA) benchmarks is expected.

GIS, Imagery, and Mapping Deliverables

Q: What mapping outputs and formats should be provided?

A: Deliverables must include GIS mapping that identifies geographic clusters, land-use trends, and spatial patterns of agricultural and equestrian activity, with clearly documented data sources and methods. Specific GIS formats will be agreed to during project planning to ensure compatibility with County use; vendors should state their proposed standards.

Outreach Support, Costs, and County Role

Q: Will DED assist with outreach and should related expenses be included?

A: DED will assist the vendor with stakeholder engagement. DED may cover pre-determined and pre-approved expenses directly, such as post-card printing, postage, translation, and related tasks. Vendors should describe how County coordination such as introductions and communications will be incorporated into their proposal and workplan.

Project Timeline and Date Clarification

Q: What are the key milestones and how should the Data Analysis period be interpreted?

A: The expected project timeline runs approximately seven months from the effective date, with individual outreach and data collection scheduled for January–March 2027 and the draft report due May 1, 2027; final deliverables are due May 28, 2027. The RFP document contains a typographical error in the table for the “Data Analysis” phase; based on the sequence it is intended to read March–April 2027.

Survey Instrument Design and Distribution

Q: Should instruments be digital, paper, or interview-based?

A: Instruments should be tailored for small, medium, and large operations and use digital, physical, and interview-based collection methods to maximize participation and data quality. Vendors should specify their distribution plan and accommodations for respondent preferences.

Handling Sensitive Establishment-level Data

Q: Are revenue/employment ranges acceptable and how will confidentiality be protected?

A: Proposers should describe how establishment-level information will be collected and protected in analysis and reporting. Federal census methods tend to omit certain types of equestrian operations and specialty crop producers common in Loudoun County. The goal of this survey and inventory is to ensure these operations are counted while maintaining confidentiality of establishment-level information. The use of ranges may be considered where it demonstrably improves participation, provided confidentiality is maintained through aggregation. Final instrument decisions will be confirmed with the selected contractor.

Budget, Overhead, and Fixed Price

Q: How should overhead be treated within the budget?

A: Proposals must include an all-inclusive fixed price covering all deliverables, data collection, analysis, and meetings. The maximum budget is $95,000. Vendors may structure costs, including indirect/overhead, within the fixed price and should itemize it in the proposal.

Data Ownership, Deliverable Rights, and Review Cycles

Q: Who owns the data and how many review cycles are planned?

A: All work must be documented, with raw and clean datasets and processes delivered to DED. Ownership and usage will follow County purchasing terms; firms should include any standard conditions in their proposal for review. DED will coordinate review cycles consistent with the milestones outlined in the RFP.

Administrative and Procurement Notes

Questions should be sent to the Project Contact named in the RFP. Proposals are limited to twenty pages and must include any required terms/conditions and a current, signed W‑9. All decisions and final timelines are subject to County purchasing and procurement rules.