The Town of Luther, Oklahoma, is requesting proposals from qualified consulting firms to prepare an environmental assessment for a proposed data center project within the Town’s jurisdiction. The selected consultant will provide a thorough, objective, and defensible technical review of environmental and infrastructure impacts to support the Town’s decision-making process.

1. Background

The Town of Luther is evaluating a proposed data center project and requires a consultant to prepare an environmental assessment addressing likely impacts on water, electric demand, traffic, stormwater, noise, air quality, and community resources. The proposed project has generated public interest, and the Town seeks a technical record that can support public review and elected-official decision-making. The proposed site is situated adjacent to the Redbud Generation Station and is approximately 320 acres in size (0.5 miles east to west, and one mile north to south).

2. Purpose

The purpose of this RFP is to retain a consultant to:

• Document existing site and surrounding conditions.
• Evaluate direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts.
• Compare reasonable alternatives, including a no-action alternative.
• Recommend mitigation measures and operational conditions.
• Provide material suitable for public review and Town Board consideration.

The environmental assessment shall be written in plain language, supported by technical analysis, and organized for use in a municipal decision-making process.

3. Scope of Services

A. Project Initiation

The consultant shall conduct a kickoff meeting with Town staff to confirm the project description, study area, available site plans, required submittals, and schedule. The consultant shall prepare a work plan, deliverable matrix, and list of needed information from the applicant.

B. Regulatory Framework

The consultant shall identify and summarize applicable local, state, and federal environmental requirements. This shall include Oklahoma environmental review considerations, stormwater and discharge permitting triggers, floodplain constraints, cultural resource review, and any federal review that may apply if a federal permit, funding source, or approval is involved. Oklahoma DEQ states that environmental reviews generally address air, land, water, and local service impacts, and that clear project descriptions and supporting maps are needed.

C. Existing Conditions

The consultant shall compile a baseline conditions report for the project site and a reasonable surrounding study area. The report shall address:

• Existing utility availability and constraints.
• Surface water, drainage, and flood risk.
• Topography, soils, vegetation, and habitat.
• Known cultural or historic resources.
• Existing noise and lighting conditions.
• Emergency services and public infrastructure context.
• Adjacent sensitive receptors.
• Roadway access and current traffic conditions.

This baseline shall be sufficient to evaluate environmental and infrastructure impacts of the proposed facility.

D. Technical Studies

The consultant shall prepare or coordinate technical studies, as needed, including:

• Traffic impact analysis.
• Water demand and supply analysis.
• Wastewater and sewer capacity analysis.
• Stormwater and erosion control analysis.
• Noise study.
• Air quality and generator emissions review.
• Lighting and visual impact assessment.
• Hazardous materials and spill-risk screening.
• Biological resource screening.
• Cultural and historic resource review.

Because many of the concerns relating to data centers focus on water, power, and infrastructure effects, the consultant should treat utility demand and operational impacts as core study topics.

E. Impact Assessment

The consultant shall evaluate potential impacts from construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning. The assessment shall include direct, indirect, and cumulative effects on:

• Water resources.
• Energy and electrical infrastructure.
• Traffic and roadway safety.
• Air quality.
• Noise and vibration.
• Stormwater and drainage.
• Public health, safety, and welfare.
• Community services and emergency response.

F. Alternatives

The consultant shall evaluate a reasonable range of alternatives, including:

• No-action alternative.
• Alternative site layout.
• Reduced footprint alternative.
• Alternative access configuration.
• Alternative cooling or utility approach.
• Alternative phasing scenario.

The alternatives analysis should explain how each option changes impacts on water use, energy use, stormwater, traffic, noise, air quality, and utility burden.

G. Mitigation and Conditions

The consultant shall recommend mitigation measures and potential operational conditions to reduce adverse effects. Possible measures may include:

• Landscape buffers and setbacks for equipment areas.
• Noise attenuation and equipment screening.
• Limited generator testing windows.
• Stormwater best management practices.
• Water conservation measures.
• Traffic management and construction sequencing.
• Dark-sky compliant lighting.
• Utility coordination commitments.
• Emergency response planning.

The report should identify which mitigation measures are best addressed by design, by operation, or by permit conditions.

H. Public Engagement Support

The consultant shall support the Town through public meetings and Board review as requested. This shall include preparation of presentation materials, executive summaries, maps, and responses to public comments. The format should be suitable for a small-town public process with substantial community interest.

4. Deliverables

The consultant shall provide the following deliverables:

• Project work plan.
• Draft environmental assessment.
• Technical appendices.
• Impact summary tables.
• Alternatives analysis.
• Mitigation matrix.
• Public comment response log.
• Final environmental assessment.
• Hearing presentation materials.
• One electronic and one printable final copy.

5. Consultant Qualifications

Proposers should demonstrate experience in:

• Environmental assessments or similar technical studies.
• Utility-heavy project review.
• Traffic, water, stormwater, noise, and air analyses.
• Public meeting support and agency coordination.
• Oklahoma regulatory practice, or similar state and local review experience.

Preference may be given to firms familiar with data center impacts and/or large-scale industrial projects.

6. Instructions to Offerors

Proposals shall be submitted in the format described below and must be complete when received. Each proposal shall include:

• Cover letter.
• Firm qualifications.
• Project understanding.
• Approach and work plan.
• Project team and resumes.
• Relevant project references.
• Schedule.
• Fee proposal.
• List of assumptions and exclusions.

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their proposal is delivered to the Town by the deadline stated in this RFP. Late, incomplete, or unsealed submissions may be rejected at the Town’s discretion.

7. Submission Deadline

Submission Deadline: August 7, 2026, at 3pm CT
Submission Method: PDF submission to Rian Harkins, AICP, Town Manager, office@townoflutherok.com
Proposed Project Completion Deadline: November 30, 2026
The Town may issue written addenda to clarify, modify, or extend any portion of this RFP. Oral statements do not modify the solicitation.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals may be evaluated based on:

• Understanding of the project and regulatory issues (10%).
• Experience with environmental and infrastructure review (25%).
• Familiarity with utility-intensive developments and/or data centers (25%).
• Quality of the proposed work plan (20%).
• Responsiveness to public-process needs (5%).
• Project schedule (10%).
• Cost (5%).

The Town reserves the right to request interviews, clarification, or additional information before making an award.

9. Terms and Conditions

A. Reservation of Rights

The Town reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive informalities, and negotiate with the selected firm. The Town also reserves the right to modify the scope, timeline, or deliverables as needed to serve the public interest.

B. Contract Award

Award of a contract, if any, will be made to the offeror whose proposal is determined to be most advantageous to the Town, considering qualifications, technical approach, and price.

C. Ownership of Materials

All work products prepared under the contract shall become the property of the Town upon payment, subject to any lawful third-party data or licensing restrictions.

D. Confidentiality

Offerors shall identify any information claimed to be confidential or proprietary, consistent with applicable Oklahoma public records laws.

E. Insurance and Indemnity

The selected consultant shall provide insurance coverage and indemnification provisions as required by the Town in the final contract.

F. Compliance

The selected consultant shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances in performing the work.

G. Schedule Changes

The Town may adjust the project schedule based on public meeting dates, review comments, or additional information requirements.