Professional Advisory & Consulting Services: Data Center Development Negotiation & Impact Assessment

The City of Forsyth, Georgia (hereinafter referred to as the "City"), is currently evaluating a potential large-scale technological facility development ("Data Center Project") within its jurisdiction. Data centers present unique infrastructure, economic, land use, and community planning considerations, including substantial power and water demands, complex tax abatement/incentive requests, rapid personal property hardware depreciation, and low long-term operational headcounts relative to site footprint.

The purpose of this solicitation is to retain a highly qualified advisory firm ("Consultant") to serve as the City's primary expert advisor during negotiations with the prospective developer. The Consultant will ensure the proposed development protects the local tax base, safeguards public utilities and ratepayers, minimizes community disruption, maintains compliance with state sunshine laws, and maximizes long-term public benefit.

The selected Consultant shall provide technical, financial, environmental, zoning, and contractual advisory services across six (6) comprehensive task areas:

• Task 1: Financial, Fiscal Impact & Tax Policy Modeling, including a 10-, 15-, and 20-year net fiscal impact model, personal property depreciation evaluation, incentive and PILOT structuring, state sales tax exemption dynamics, and a Developer Fee Recovery Agreement.
• Task 2: Utility, Power & Infrastructure Impact Assessment, including power grid coordination and tariff review, on-site generation, microgrids and BESS, water and wastewater demand analysis, water conservation and capacity standards, substation easements and ROW, and off-site transportation improvements.
• Task 3: Land Use, Environmental Protection & Ordinance Drafting, including noise and acoustic mitigation standards, site design and ordinance text amendments, Development of Regional Impact (DRI) support, and environmental safety and containment.
• Task 4: Digital Infrastructure, Telecom & ROW Management, including fiber route and micro-trenching standards and middle-mile fiber rights.
• Task 5: Development Agreement, Legal Protections & Open Government, including direct negotiation support, performance milestones and clawbacks, Open Records Act and NDA compliance, and decommissioning and remediation security.
• Task 6: Public Engagement & Stakeholder Communications, including a strategic communication plan and public hearing support.

Required Deliverables

• Inception & Strategy Briefing: Summary analysis of developer proposals, identified technical/financial risks, and recommended municipal negotiation positioning.
• Fiscal & Utility Impact Report: Formal presentation containing the 20-year net fiscal model, personal property depreciation impact, sales tax loss evaluation, and utility capacity analysis.
• Data Center Ordinance & Zoning Amendments: Draft text amendments establishing noise limits (dBA/dBC), WUE metrics, visual buffers, BESS safety rules, and setback parameters.
• Telecommunications & ROW Framework: Recommended fiber franchise fee schedule, micro-trenching standards, and ROW restoration requirements.
• Negotiation Term Sheet & CBA Outline: Proposed framework for PILOT terms, minimum revenue floors, fee recovery escrow terms, and community value contributions.
• Public Engagement Package: Fact sheets, project FAQs, and presentation decks for public hearings and community meetings.
• Final Development Agreement Redline: Comprehensive legal review and redline of final contracts, clawbacks, NDA protocols, and decommissioning bond language prior to elected body action.

**Delivery Location:** City of Forsyth – City Hall, Attn: Alex Smith, 23 E. Main Street, Forsyth, GA 31029. Proposals are due **November 18, 2026, at 11:00 AM EST**.

Minimum Qualifications (required)

• At least five (5) years of experience advising municipal governments, county commissions, or economic development authorities in high-density utility or industrial project negotiations.
• Firm must demonstrate no active conflicts of interest representing data center developers, hyperscalers, or electric power providers within the target region/state within the past 36 months.
• Documented successful negotiation of large-scale data center developments or high-load industrial developments on behalf of public sector clients within the past five (5) years.
• Identified key personnel must include demonstrated expertise in municipal finance/fiscal modeling, municipal law/incentives, environmental/utility engineering, and urban planning.

Proposal Sections

1. Executive Summary & Understanding of Scope
2. Key Personnel Resumes & Subconsultants
3. Project Experience & References: minimum of three (3) case studies of similar public-sector engagements completed within the past 5 years.
4. Comprehensive Conflict of Interest Disclosure
5. Fee Proposal & Developer Escrow Memorandum: Itemized cost schedule provided as a Fixed Fee per Task, Hourly Rate with a Guaranteed Maximum Cap or flat fee.

Schedule

• City Answers & Addenda Released: 11/04/2026 at 5:00 PM
• Shortlist Interviews (If Requested): 12/16/2026 at 10:00 AM
• Contract Award & Onboarding: 01/04/2026