Bellingham International Airport Industrial Business Development and Action Plan

Project OverviewThe Port of Bellingham (the Port) owns 35 acres of underutilized land surrounding the Bellingham International Airport (Airport Industrial Park). This land is industrially zoned and suitable for businesses in the aeronautical/aerospace industry and aviation-dependent industrial users. The Port has recently attracted private investment to its only development-ready site; however, it has been unable to respond to numerous inquiries for land in this area because of insufficient infrastructure, environmental constraints, permitting complexity, and lack of a coordinated development strategy.To meet these development challenges and unlock economic opportunities, the Port applied for and received a Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) Planning Grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to prepare an area-wide vision for the industrial park and a related business development and recruitment strategy. This effort will synthesize existing conditions, assess market demand for aviation and light industrial uses, and identify infrastructure investments needed to support phased development across the Airport Industrial Park. The plan will assess unmet regional demand for airport-related industrial space and define the Port’s unique value proposition compared to other airport hubs.The CERB-funded planning effort will support feasibility analysis, stakeholder engagement, and conceptual master planning that will guide phased development across the Airport Industrial Park. This effort will support activation of non-airside parcels, planning for the D14 site airside development, and visioning for industrial expansion west of the runway. The resulting strategy will inform the Port’s business recruitment efforts, strengthen future grant applications, and position multiple Port-owned properties for their highest and most productive use.The scope of work criteria should therefore include, but is not limited to:Phase 1:Market Feasibility:Conduct a high-level assessment that will assess unmet regional demand for airport-related industrial space and define the Port’s unique value proposition compared to other airport hubs.Industrial employment trends (including aeronautical and aerospace manufacturing/repair)Wages by industryLand values to inform ground lease pricingAssessment of industrial development around comparable Washington airports – what differentiates Bellingham International Airport from othersProvide recommendations for the growth of aerospace, aviation and advanced manufacturing sectorsRecommend additional hospitality or other uses for recruitment for properties along Airport Way to the Airport.Evaluate aeronautical versus non-aeronautical development potential of airport properties consistent with FAA Airport Compliance requirements and the approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP).Identify parcels suitable for aviation-dependent businesses, including aircraft maintenance, hangars, aviation manufacturing, cargo logistics, and aviation support services.Identify target aviation industry clusters most compatible with Bellingham International Airport, including aerospace manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), aircraft component manufacturing, aviation training, aviation technology firms, and emerging aviation sectors such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and electric aviation.Evaluate opportunities for air cargo logistics, distribution, and cross-border freight activity leveraging Bellingham’s proximity to the Canadian market and regional transportation networks.Evaluate workforce availability and workforce development pipelines supporting aviation, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing industries in the region.Provide benchmarking of aviation and industrial ground lease structures at comparable regional airports to inform competitive lease pricing strategies.Stakeholder Engagement:Convene and engage with an advisory committee consisting of key port and economic development stakeholders that may include the Port, City of Bellingham, City of Ferndale, Whatcom County, Lummi Nation, and other area property owners to strategize a master plan and business development strategy.Phase 2:Development Feasibility:Planning and engineering assessment to evaluate the feasibility of developing priority sites. This effort will include identifying data gaps, analyzing existing conditions, and recommending additional studies or technical evaluations as needed to support informed decision-making.Reviewing existing documentation and reports will be the first step and will inform the level of assessment.Develop a repository of existing documentation and reports relevant to the projectReview existing Wetlands information and make a recommendation of further delineation and/or desktop evaluation of wetland conditions, as well as wetland mitigation strategiesIdentify need for cultural resources report and/or desktop DAHP review.Existing utility analysis (location and capacity of water, sewer, power, and fiber).Identification of easements.Additional items as outlined in theCERB planning site readiness requirementsafter review of relevant Port of Bellingham documentation and reports, and discuss with Port staff.Evaluate airside infrastructure requirements necessary to support aviation-dependent development, including taxiway access, apron development, aircraft parking, hangar development opportunities, and aviation fuel infrastructure.Provide planning-level cost estimates for infrastructure improvements required to support development, including road access, utilities, stormwater systems, environmental mitigation, and airside infrastructure.Phase 3:Conceptual Master Plan:Develop a conceptual master plan, including strategic vision, for airport industrial properties informed by the market assessment and other existing planning documents. The plan will include recommendations for phasing and long-term infrastructure investment needs with associated costs. Develop a phased implementation roadmap identifying priority development sites, infrastructure investments, estimated timelines, and potential funding sources to support development over a 5- to 20-year horizon.Permitting Pathways:Develop a permitting “roadmap” based on the improvements identified in the Conceptual Master Plan to support near-term development, the east side of the runway, and a thorough review of D-14. Identify the high-level plan, cost, and efforts for the long-term development of the west side of the runway.Business Development and Recruitment Strategy:Develop a proactive marketing strategy for regional business expansion and recruitment. Effort to be able to clearly communicate existing conditions, costs, timing, and permitting pathway. Identify potential revenue generation opportunities, including aviation ground leases, industrial leases, aviation services, and airport-compatible commercial development.Selection CriteriaResponses to this RFPS will be scored on a point system as outlined in this section. A selection committee comprised of Port of Bellingham staff, including the project manager, will review and score the proposals.Selection of a respondent will be based on the evaluation of all responses received prior to or on the RFPS due date. No late entries accepted; selection is based on qualifications only. After evaluation of responses, the Port will determine which, if any, respondents will be interviewed. During the interview, respondents will be given the opportunity to discuss their proposal, qualifications, and past experience in more detail. Following the selection of a proposal and respondent, the Port and the selected respondent will negotiate the scope and fee and enter a Personal Services Agreement (PSA). Contract Documents are available on the Port of Bellingham's website athttps://www.portofbellingham.com/bids.aspx.Responses will be evaluated on the following criteria:1). Qualification and Experience(50 POINTS)Project Team demonstrates experience in these categories:Economic/Business Development Plan: Demonstrate recent and relevant experience having conducted a similar economic/business development plan.  Provide a high-level outline of the documents and outcomes from the work.Project Management:Demonstrate understanding of project management principles and methodologies to effectively plan, execute, and monitor infrastructure and economic development projects from inception to completion.Stakeholder Management and Engagement:Engaging with various stakeholders, including government agencies, investors, community groups, and industry partners to gather input and address concerns.Economic Analysis and Market Feasibility:Demonstrate experience completing economic analyses.  Assessing the financial feasibility of infrastructure projects, including cost estimation, revenue potential, return on investment, and financial risk analyses, to get an understanding of existing business needs and potential for future business development. Provide specific experience working on industrial development near or connected with regional airports, sector-specific experience in aerospace, aviation, advanced manufacturing, and other associated sectors that cluster near airports.Communication Skills:Demonstrate experience in effectively communicating the findings and recommendations of feasibility assessments to stakeholders, decision-makers, and the public through clear and concise reports, presentations, and consultations.Strategic Planning: Experience developing a strategic plan and or recommendations to address challenges and opportunities resulting from the feasibility analysis, including but not limited to identifying appropriate land use regulations (zoning and development standards), infrastructure needs, potential future business investments, and workforce.Business Expansion and Recruitment:Demonstrate experience in developing a plan for business expansion and recruitment that has actual results in business attraction and competitiveness, business retention and expansion, by identifying the effort or plan and up to three specific examples of business expansion or recruitment that followed.2). Work plan approach and methodology (40 POINTS)Project Team demonstrates experience in these categories:Project Plan:Detailed narrative of the project plan approach.Timeline:Detailed timeline of tasks to be completed in the project.Tasks and Goals:List of how the specific tasks and subtasks will be accomplished, fulfilling goals, objectives, and scope of work with deadlines.Approach to data collection:Identification of the quantitative and qualitative data required to identify trends, patterns, and insight relevant to the infrastructure planning and development.Approach to data analysis:Demonstrated expertise in using mathematical and statistical techniques to complete different aspects of the project, such as cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, and performance evaluation.Documentation Method:Explanation of how documents and files are stored and shared for the project from concept to completion.Final Recommendations:Approach to identifying goals, recommendations, and metrics of success, including the conceptual format of final reports, including the use of graphics and other illustrations that may aid in conveying technical information to stakeholders at all levels of understanding (elected officials, property owners, other agencies).Project Management:Approach to coordinating with Port, City, partners, and community members. Methodologies to plan, organize, and execute the study and project efficiently within time and budget.Proposed project team:Identify the project team roles and responsibilities for the project.3). References, Availability and Budget (10 POINTS):Provide contact information for clients and other professional references for similar projects.Provide a brief resume/work experience of the team.The consultant team has the availability and capacity to complete the project within the timeframe required.The Budget proposed is consistent with economic development studies, and the proposal will include details of hours per task, cost per, and a matrix for consideration.Funding Source:This project is partially funded through grant support from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). The selected consultant will be required to comply with all applicable grant requirements, as specified in the grant agreement and any associated federal, state, or local regulations.The Port was awarded $100,000 in grant funding for this project and has committed a minimum of $55,000 in local matching funds.Proposals should indicate any data, research, or information required by the Port Bellingham in order to conduct the analysis and the format (e.g., Excel). Proposals should also indicate the respondent’s availability to complete the proposed scope of work by the end of the year (December 31, 2026).The deadline for submitting proposal to this RFPS is4:00 PM (PT) on April 6th,2026. Submittals should not exceed 20 single-sided pages.   Electronic submittals are preferred and will be accepted in a single PDF file format only. If providing hard copies, please submit four (4) copies of the Proposal to:Taras@portofbellingham.comorPort of BellinghamAttn: Tara SatushekP.O. Box 1677Bellingham, Washington 98227-1677The Port reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted. If deemed necessary, the Port may schedule interviews within a week of the deadline for submittal. The successful firm will be contacted by the Port and shall sign the Port’s Standard Agreement for Personal Services; see attached. It is encouraged that consultants responding to the RFPS include solicitation and recruitment of certified MBE, WBE, or DBE firms, to the maximum extent possible.Direct all inquiries on this Request for Proposals (RFP) to Tara Satushek, Planner, at 360.676.2500, orTaras@portofbellingham.com.Relevant Port of Bellingham Airport Industrial Park development documents include, but are not limited to the following;https://portofbellingham.egnyte.com/fl/BbwT9pff6txT:2019 Bellingham Airport Master PlanBinding Site Plan/ Planned Unit DevelopmentWetland StrategyBuffer PlansStormwater Master PlanAirport Annexation & Utility ServiceCERB Presentation Materials