Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Project has three main steps: (1) Identify the current status and direction of the Cluster in theareas of discovery, development, and deployment; document the past growth of the Clusterthrough economic evaluation; and develop a Blueprint that identifies the Cluster's goals for thenear and long term; (2) Analyze, reassess and more deeply define the 2005 Report to identify anAction Plan containing specific steps to increase competitiveness of the Cluster and betterleverage the Cluster's assets; and (3) Communicate the Project findings throughout the Clusterand among decision makers, media and the public.Project outcomes will serve to:· Create an increasingly collaborative, stronger Cluster by identifying and communicatingSouth Carolina's potential and market opportunities;· Attract hydrogen and fuel cell companies to South Carolina, and encourage start-upcompanies and entrepreneurship;· Document and facilitate the growth of a knowledge sector for key research andinnovation;. Request for ProposalsThe South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance seeks an experienced, team-orientedstrategy consultant to develop the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell EconomicDevelopment Strategy 2011 project and to produce a Blueprint for the South Carolina Hydrogenand Fuel Cell Cluster. The Blueprint will expand on an existing strategy report, the SouthCarolina Next Energy Initiative, produced in 2005.Overview:The South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance (SCHFCA) gained funding from the U.S.Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration for the South CarolinaHydrogen and Fuel Cell Economic Development Strategy 2011 project (the Project). TheProject will contribute to the development of a green economy by laying out a Blueprint that willdocument and strategize the production and use of low/no carbon fuels such as hydrogen and themanufacture and use of power producing fuel cells within the South Carolina Hydrogen and FuelCell Economic Cluster (Cluster).The Project will result in a Blueprint (Blueprint) that will expand on an existing strategy,produced in 2005, called the South Carolina Next Energy Initiative (2005 Report). (seehttp://www.schydrogen.org/documents/2005%20Next%20Energy%20Initiative%20study.pdf).The Project will primarily impact the regions near Columbia, SC (Central Midlands), Aiken, SC(Upper Savannah and Lower Savannah), the Upstate (Appalachian and Catawba), and economicdistressed regions along the I-95 corridor. The Project is consistent with the economic vision ofthese region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). (seehttp://www.eda.gov/PDF/CEDSFlyer081706.pdf).The Project has three main steps: (1) Identify the current status and direction of the Cluster in theareas of discovery, development, and deployment; document the past growth of the Clusterthrough economic evaluation; and develop a Blueprint that identifies the Cluster's goals for thenear and long term; (2) Analyze, reassess and more deeply define the 2005 Report to identify anAction Plan containing specific steps to increase competitiveness of the Cluster and betterleverage the Cluster's assets; and (3) Communicate the Project findings throughout the Clusterand among decision makers, media and the public. Project outcomes will serve to:· Create an increasingly collaborative, stronger Cluster by identifying and communicatingSouth Carolina's potential and market opportunities; Attract hydrogen and fuel cell companies to South Carolina, and encourage start-upcompanies and entrepreneurship; Document and facilitate the growth of a knowledge sector for key research andinnovation;Page 1 of 6Provide direction for existing companies to expand into the hydrogen and fuel cell energy market; Provide data on job creation, job retention, and investment within the Cluster. Project Deliverables: Blueprint Report, including a detailed strategic Action Plan. Report on Cluster mapping, including a visual representation. Report on Supply Chain Analysis. Cluster Review Report to assess progress since the 2005 Report. Database of Cluster jobs and investments for the purpose of Government Performanceand Results Act (GPRA) Tracking. Survey template that the SCHFCA can use in the future to survey partners, economic developers, and the SC Dept of Commerce. Survey results will feed into the GPRATracking database, to track Cluster job creation, job retention, private investment, andstate, federal and local investment.
