PURPOSE:

The City of Middletown invites qualified consulting firms or individuals to submit qualifications for the development of a Citywide Strategic Plan. This Strategic Plan will serve as a roadmap to guide the City's policies, priorities, and resource allocation over the next three to five years.

The City currently has a Comprehensive Plan, Destination Middletown, that outlines a long-term vision for growth and development. To further build on the identified vision and goals found within Destination Middletown, the City is now looking to create a Strategic Plan that will complement and align with the existing plan. Destination Middletown was adopted nearly four years ago and serves as a guiding framework for land use, infrastructure, and community development. In contrast, the Strategic Plan will focus on short- to medium-term priorities, actions, and measurable goals. Together, these plans will ensure that Middletown's long-term vision is supported by actionable strategies and coordinated implementation across all departments and initiatives.

The Citywide Strategic Plan will act as a focused, forward-looking framework designed to align services, guide investments, and improve coordination across the City's initiatives. It will:

• Identify near-term strategic issues and opportunities
• Define key strategies and initiatives
• Outline desired outcomes with clear performance measures and indicators
• Align with existing plans, strategies, and tools

BACKGROUND:

The City of Middletown is situated in the northeast of Butler County and the northwest of Warren County in Southwest Ohio. It is centrally located between Cincinnati and Dayton, along the I-75 corridor. Neighboring communities include the City of Franklin and Franklin Township to the north and east, respectively, in Warren County; the City of Monroe and Lemon Township to the south; and Madison Township in Butler County to the west. The Great Miami River forms part of Middletown's western and northern municipal boundaries.

Middletown is strategically located in a major metropolitan area with a population of 3 million, providing exceptional market access and connectivity. Within a 600-mile radius, businesses can reach more than half of the U.S. and Canadian populations, as well as key centers of purchasing power, innovation, and manufacturing strength. This prime location establishes Middletown as a leading hub for investment, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. The area is supported by established industries, including paper, chemicals, and steel, along with a growing bioscience sector that continues to drive innovation and create industry opportunities.

COMMUNITY PROFILE:

The City of Middletown, Ohio, is home to an estimated 52,291 residents as of July 1, 2024, which represents a 2.6 percent increase from the Census count of 50,987 conducted on April 1, 2020. This growth continues with a decade-long trend; the city has seen a 4.7 percent increase from its population of 48,694 in 2010 to the 2020 count. Covering an area of about 26.13 square miles, the population density is approximately 1,951 people per square mile as of 2020.

GOVERNMENT:

The City of Middletown operates under a Council-Manager form of government, which combines elected leadership with professional administration. The City Council sets policies, while the City Manager, acting as the Chief Executive Officer, oversees daily operations and implements the Council's directives to ensure efficient and transparent service delivery.

The City of Middletown operates through a collaborative organizational structure comprising several key departments, including Finance, Public Works and Utilities, Health, Public Safety (Police and Fire), Community & Economic Development, Information Systems, Human Resources, Law, and Communications.

Together, these departments ensure efficient delivery of essential services, effective infrastructure management, and the continued growth and well-being of the community. This structure fosters a culture of creativity, innovation, and professionalism in local governance, allowing Middletown to remain proactive, responsive, and accountable to residents, businesses, and partners. The City continues to evolve its operations to anticipate community needs while maintaining a strong focus on service excellence.

The City of Middletown operates with an annual operating budget of approximately $51 million, with Public Safety representing the largest share of expenditures. This investment underscores the City's commitment to maintaining the safety and well-being of residents through strong police and fire services.

In addition to ongoing operational priorities, Middletown continues to make strategic capital investments in major projects such as new fire stations, infrastructure upgrades, and other critical improvements that enhance service delivery and support long-term community growth. These efforts reflect the City's proactive approach to maintaining a high quality of life while ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The City recognizes the need for a forward-looking, inclusive, and actionable strategic plan that reflects the priorities of its residents, businesses, and stakeholders by further refining the five visioning elements in Destination Middletown: Resilient Neighborhoods, Thriving Economy, Strong Infrastructure, Healthy and Safe Living, and Pride in Community. This plan will:

• Establish a unified vision for the next 3-5 years.
• Define strategic goals and measurable objectives.
• Align departmental initiatives and budgets.
• Serve as a communication tool for transparency and accountability.

The selected consultant will lead public engagement efforts, work together with City leadership and staff, evaluate existing data, and consolidate the findings into a comprehensive strategic plan. The kickoff for the Strategic Plan will begin with a retreat for the Middletown City Council, scheduled for Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Hueston Woods State Park, located at 6301 Park Office Road, College Corner, OH 45003.

SCOPE OF SERVICES:

The role of the consultant will be to work with City staff to plan, organize and develop a Citywide Strategic Plan to be adopted by the Middletown City Council in late 2026 for 2027 implementation. The formal initiation of services would begin at the planned retreat in February 2026.

Core Attributes

A successful Strategic Plan will be:

• Strategic – addressing key issues and opportunities
• Forward-looking – anticipating future needs and trends
• Holistic – aligned with the City's broader goals and vision Inclusive – informed by organizational engagement and stakeholder input
• Actionable – enabling practical implementation
• Results-oriented – focused on measurable outcomes

Benefits and Purpose

The plan will:

• Support decision-making and resource prioritization
• Improve alignment across current and future initiatives
• Enhance continuity across administrations and timeframes
• Clarify and communicate strategic community outcomes
• Align operational plans with overarching goals
• Track progress and performance
• Ensure transparent communication with the community

The development of the Citywide Strategic Plan will involve collaboration with City staff and elected officials to refine the key factors that determine its success. After creating the Citywide Strategic Plan, we will identify essential components needed for implementation, such as aligning capital planning and performance management, within an overall framework for execution.

CONTENT OF PROPOSAL:

1. Cover Letter
   Include a cover letter introducing the responding company or team of companies and briefly describing your proposal. Include the contact person's name, email address, and phone number.
2. Project Understanding
   Briefly describe your understanding of the project and the City's goals.
3. Development Team and Management Structure
   Provide an overview of the proposed development team, including each company's background, qualifications, and experience, as well as the role, background, and qualifications of each staff member assigned to this project.
4. Qualifications/Similar Project Examples
   Provide information on similar or relevant projects each responding firm has executed. Include a graphic representation of the work. Links to project examples are encouraged.
5. References
   Provide at least three client references that may be contacted to verify the respondent's work history and qualifications. Provide names, telephone numbers, and email addresses for each reference.
6. Estimated Project Timeline
   Describe the timeframe required to complete all work described in the proposal.

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS:

The required submission of the Statement of Qualifications must be submitted in an 8.5" x 11' format. To be eligible for consideration, respondents must submit an original and three (3) copies in a sealed envelope/carton and delivered to Kayla Carle, Purchasing Agent at the City of Middletown's Purchasing Office by 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, without exception. Sealed envelopes/cartons must be clearly marked "Strategic Plan – RFQ, Legal Notice No. 25-06". The burden of proof for timely submission rests solely upon the entity or person submitting the proposal. Email/fax submissions are NOT an acceptable form of submission.

Incomplete submittals may not be considered. Late responses will not be considered. Respondents must adhere to the submittal requirements. Failure to comply with this RFQ's instructions will cause rejection of submittals. Respondents will not be considered if they have an unsatisfactory prior performance record with the City of Middletown or other agencies. Further, respondents not in good financial standing with any City department at the time of submittal will not be considered.

QUALIFICATION PROCESS:

A Selection Committee consisting of City staff will review proposals according to the evaluation criteria set forth herein and City objectives and policies. City of Middletown staff will make a recommendation to the City Council. The City of Middletown reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive technicalities, informalities, or irregularities, request clarification, and accept any proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Middletown.

In addition, the City reserves the right to request additional information from respondents to this RFQ, make any necessary changes to ensure that this RFQ is consistent with local, Federal, and State procurement procedures, and negotiate fees or other contract issues with the selected firm before recommending the execution of a contract(s). If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached within ten business days, the City may negotiate with another qualified respondent to this RFQ.

For questions regarding the project, please contact: Ashley Combs, City Manager, Ashley.combs@cityofmiddletown.org or 513-425-7836.