City of Columbus – Bartholomew County               

Planning Department               

123 Washington Street

Columbus, Indiana  47201

Phone: (812) 376-2550

Fax: (812) 376-2643

Request for Qualifications

City of Columbus, Indiana Comprehensive Plan Update

Issued:

July 31, 2026

Submit Qualifications by:

August 28, 2026, no later than 4:00pm EDT

Introduction:

The City of Columbus Comprehensive Plan includes nine separate elements adopted between 1999 and 2023.  It serves as the policy and legal foundation for the city’s zoning and subdivision control regulations.  It is also referenced and applied regularly by the Planning Department, Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, City Council, and public during the consideration of development proposals. The elements included and the year of their most recent adoption or update are listed below.  

• Goals & Policies Element (1999)
• Land Use Plan Element (2002)
• Thoroughfare Plan Element (2023)
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Element (2022)
• Downtown Strategic Development Plan Element (2019)
• Central Avenue Corridor Plan Element (2011)
• State Street Corridor Plan Element (2014)
• Columbus Central Neighborhood Plan Element (2018)
• City View District Plan Element (2023)

The Goals & Policies, Land Use Plan, and Thoroughfare Plan Elements serve as the functional core of the plan and together they establish general, city-wide land use and development policy.  The remaining elements contribute additional details on specific topics, in the case of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Element, or for specific neighborhoods or areas of the city.  The Comprehensive Plan can be found on the Planning Department website at https://www.columbus.in.gov/planning/comprehensive-plans/. 

The City of Columbus is seeking a well-qualified consultant to complete a review and update of the Goals & Policies and Land Use Plan Elements.  Minor, complementary updates to the Throughfare Plan and Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Elements may also be necessary.  No changes to the other elements are anticipated. However, it is expected that they will inform the updates and remain relevant and complimentary components of the Comprehensive Plan.

The Goals & Policies and Land Use Plan Elements have served the community well due to their initial foresight and have been aided by the addition of the other elements over time.  However, continuously evolving community priorities, market conditions, and development trends have reached the point where an update to these guiding documents is required.  Further, these materials no longer fully reflect the availability of utilities and city services, lack adequate detail for the evaluation of infill development and redevelopment projects, and do not adequately explore contemporary concepts of sustainability, municipal fiscal responsibility, supporting healthy lifestyles, housing diversity, and density.  Finally, and most practically, the city has outgrown the guidance provided by the Land Use Plan Element’s future land use map.

The City of Columbus, population 51,000+, is a regional center for employment, health care, finance, shopping, and entertainment in southern Indiana. Columbus is known for its strong local economy, leadership in modern manufacturing, diversity, high quality of life, public engagement, and overall commitment to community excellence. Through the vision of community leaders over the last 70 years, Columbus’ overarching goal is to be “…the best community of our size in the country.”  Our community’s recognitions include a ranking by the American Institute of Architects as the 6th most significant city in the United States for architectural design. For more information about our community please visit the City of Columbus website at https://www.columbus.in.gov/, the Columbus Area Visitor Center website at https://visitcolumbusindiana.com/, and the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation website at https://www.columbusin.org/.    

Project Description:

The Comprehensive Plan Goals & Policies and Land Use Plan Elements update will include a thorough review of those goals and policies and provide modernized content describing the current community vision for long-term land use and development. It will provide an updated approach and guidance for land use, detailing recommendations both at the perimeter and within the city.  Please note that, while the City of Columbus - Bartholomew County Planning Department serves both Columbus and Bartholomew County, the Comprehensive Plan update will only apply to the City of Columbus’ jurisdiction.

The update must meet the requirements of the Indiana Code Chapter 36-7-4 500 Series, will focus on land use, development, and directly related topics (and not necessarily all aspects of community life), and will continue to provide the readily-referenced guidance that is valued by the public, the Planning Department staff, and community decision makers.  It will include a combination of narratives, illustrations, maps, and other graphics presented in a manner that is relatable to a wide variety of users and readily and clearly applied.

The update process is anticipated to include the following components:

• The establishment of a local project technical committee or resource group composed of those with specific technical knowledge of utilities and city services, such as the city engineer, director of public works, fire chief, transit director, utilities director, parks director, controller, and economic development corporation president.
• The establishment of a project steering committee composed of members of the community and representative of both Columbus’ leadership and its diversity.
• The identification of a local builder / developer resource group composed of those actively engaged in real estate development in the Columbus area.
• A review of all existing Comprehensive Plan elements.
• A thorough review of the existing Comprehensive Plan Goals & Policies and Land Use Plan Elements, including innovative methods for engaging the technical group, steering committee, and public in this exercise.
• A thorough review of related guiding documents, such as the Infill Site Profiles, Strategic Growth Study, Neighborhood Commercial Access & Design Study, 2024 Housing Study, parks master plan, and utilities master plan, and an analysis of the discussed factors affecting city growth and development.
• A policy review of the City’s current approach and practices with regard to growth management, annexation, infill development and redevelopment, downtown investment, density, and housing diversity.
• A throughout review of recent patterns of annexations, zoning map amendments, and other related regulatory decisions.
• A thorough review of current and emerging land use patterns in the Columbus area, including centers of development (such as the downtown, NexusPark / midtown area, the Columbus AirPark, and the Woodside / Walesboro industrial area), as well as housing diversity and density.
• The collection of robust public input on the overall direction of development in the community, priorities, and goals for the future of Columbus.
• Consideration of national best practices for the growth of mid-sized communities like Columbus, with an understanding of Columbus’ goal to be the best of its size in the country.
• The development of draft Goals & Policies and Land Use Plan Comprehensive Plan Elements, including thorough review of those drafts by the Planning Department staff, technical group, steering committee, and through public input.
• The development of required minor, complimentary draft revisions to the Throughfare Plan and Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Comprehensive Plan Elements, if needed.  Any revisions are likely limited to the included maps to ensure consistency with the draft Land Use Plan Element.   
• Presentation of the proposed updates to the Plan Commission and City Council for adoption with appropriate follow-up and revisions based on each’s input and decisions.
• Following adoption, providing final documents in their original software and in a format suitable for web posting and other means of distribution.

Please note that, as described above, the project is expected to include a thorough review of utilities and other city services and be based in large part on the technical factors necessary to support long-term growth and development.  However, it is believed that this task is best led by an appropriately experienced city planning consultant, with minimal engineering support as needed.

Planning Department Role & Participation:

The consultant will work in close coordination with the Planning Department staff, which will also provide assistance in collecting existing documents and other information, coordinating and facilitating meetings and public input events, and otherwise support the project. All project documents and materials, including initial findings, drafts, public input materials, surveys, etc., will be reviewed with the staff prior to being released.

The Planning Department will generate all resolutions, etc. necessary for the adoption of the updated comprehensive plan elements. However, the consultant will be responsible for making any edits to the documents identified through the adoption process.  

Project Budget & Schedule:

The City of Columbus has budgeted approximately $250,000 for the project.  The consultant’s contract is anticipated to be a lump-sum-fee contract, with any expenses included in that total fee.  Payment will be made at appropriate project intervals based on tasks completed.  The City intends to have a contract completed by the end of 2026, with the project to commence in early 2027.

Qualification Submittal Requirements:

Interested consultants shall submit their qualifications electronically as described below and include the items listed below. Submittals shall be limited to a maximum of 20 individual pages.  Interested consultants are welcome to team with other firms or add sub-consultants necessary to complete the project. All submittals must address all aspects of the project. 

• Firm Information: The name of the firm, its website address, and the location of the office from which the work will be completed. If a team of firms or sub-consultants will be used, identify all included firms, the lead firm, and the general percentage of work to be completed by each firm.
• Qualifications: The qualifications of the consultant’s staff members who are proposed to complete the project. Include only those staff members who will be active members of the project team. Do not include any firm leadership members who will not actively participate in the project.
• Experience: Related or similar projects previously completed by those consultant staff members proposed to complete the project. Do not include similar projects completed by the consultant, but by different staff members.
• Statement of Project Understanding: A general statement of the consultant’s understanding of the project, intended overall approach, and any unique resources or practices to be applied to the project.
• Timeline: A general timeline for completing the project.
• References: Two references for which the consultant has completed similar projects, including the title of that project and the reference’s name, address, e-mail address, and phone number.
• Contact Information: Contact information for the individual to whom questions about the consultant’s submittal should be directed (including a mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address).

Submittal Instructions:

Qualifications shall be submitted as follows:

Submit via Email to:

Jessie Boshell, Senior Planner

City of Columbus - Bartholomew County Planning Department

Email: jboshell@columbus.in.gov

Phone: 812.376.2577

Submit By:

August 28, 2026, no later than 4:00pm EDT

Questions:

Questions are welcome.  They may be directed to Jessie Boshell via e-mail. Please provide any questions by August 14, 2026 at 4:00pm.  Responses will be provided on August 21, 2026 to all who have submitted questions or otherwise expressed interest.

Selection Procedures:

The consultant will be selected based on the following factors, in order of importance, (1) qualifications, (2) project approach, (3) related experience, and (4) timeline. The proposals will be reviewed by the Planning Department staff and select local decision makers. Interviews with a shortlist of consultants are likely prior to a final selection being made.

Submitters should not construe a response to this RFQ as a contract or letter of intent, nor infer a commitment of any kind by either themselves or the City of Columbus. The issuance of the RFQ does not commit the City of Columbus to pay for costs incurred in the submission of a response to the RFQ, or for any other costs incurred prior to the execution of a final contract. Those selected for interviews must be prepared to attend, in person and/or virtually, and must be prepared to cover any costs associated with the interview.