School Division Redistricting

Background

Bedford County Public Schools encompasses 73 square miles located in Central Virginia, between the Roanoke and Lynchburg areas. The district's school population has declined over the past 20 years, shifting towards the eastern part of the county. Projected enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is 8,390. The school board has voted to close one elementary school in the western part of the county starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The district seeks a professional demographic firm to prepare and revise multiple boundary maps.

Work Details

The scope of work includes: (1) Redistricting the entire school division to maximize efficiency, which involves recommendations for redistricting, determining the optimal number of buildings and configurations to operate, and potential additions to existing buildings; (2) Modifying middle and high school boundaries to achieve better enrollment balance, ensuring that boundaries for these levels are consistent due to shared transportation; (3) Considering future housing developments and their impact on school attendance. The firm will provide initial scenarios/maps and datasets for evaluation against School Board criteria, followed by a second round of maps based on district requests. Key criteria include balancing enrollment among schools at each level, minimizing transportation distance while prioritizing student safety, and maintaining housing subdivisions within single attendance boundaries.

Period of Performance

The project timeline includes: RFP issue date on April 24, 2026; proposals due by June 3, 2026; proposals awarded by June 11, 2026; project begins on June 12, 2026; preliminary scenarios provided by August 31, 2026; modification requests due by September 15, 2026; final modified scenarios due by September 30, 2026; firm presentation to School Board on October 8, 2026; and School Board vote on November 12, 2026.

Place of Performance

The contract will be performed within Bedford County Public Schools located in Bedford, Virginia.

Bidder Requirements

Bidders must comply with Virginia law regarding business authorization and provide documentation including a valid State Corporation Commission ID. They must also certify that no employees providing services have been convicted of felonies or offenses involving child abuse or molestation. Additionally, firms must demonstrate experience in GIS-related projects for public school districts and provide client references.