This Request for Proposals (“RFP”) is an invitation by Simon Fraser University (“SFU”) to prospective proponents to submit proposals for the provision of Business Plan Consulting services at SFU Burnaby campus for Innovation Precinct, a prospective development for an Innovation Research Park. The Deeptech Innovation Precinct is envisioned as a physical hub at SFU designed to help small- and medium enterprises (SMEs) develop, de-risk, commercialize, and scale breakthrough technology innovations to reach the global market, helping to advance a sustainable and inclusive future. SMEs will be able to access an innovation ecosystem on the Burnaby Campus that provides direct access to advanced research infrastructure, laboratories, talent, experts, product development and business mentors.
The selected consultant will provide expertise in assessing and creating a business plan for the Innovation Precinct, ensuring alignment with the SFU’s guiding principles (section 2.2.4) and defined precinct elements (section 2.2.3), and delivering comprehensive reports and models outlined in the Deliverables:
1. Business Plan
• Detailed business plan elements are informed by the SFU’s vision and principles, such as sustainability, equity, and innovation (section 2.2.4), reflecting the outcomes from the scope items below.
• Measures for assessing the success of the business plan.
2. Business Delivery Model Exploration
• Analysis of different delivery options (e.g., SFU-industry investment partnership, lease to third-party operator, government and First Nations partnerships).
• Provide comparative delivery models.
3. Financial Modeling
• Provide financial models with various funding and financing assumptions, based on a range of development scenarios, including expected ROIs and allocation of risk.
• Include a risk assessment for each model.
4. Land Monetization Assessment
• Report on land monetization strategies.
• Prepare and provide financial impact analysis.
5. Market/Industry Research Report
• Provide a comprehensive market and industry research report to evaluate/validate SFU’s approach.
• Include a demand analysis for lab space and other facilities, market trends, competition, geographic or other opportunities/barriers unique to SFU, etc.
• Include recommendations for marketing and sales plans derived from the demand analysis.
6. Identification and Analysis of Development Costs
• Detailed cost analysis for required services, including underground utilities, parking replacement, site services, etc.
• Cost estimation report.
7. Governance and Operating Models
• Recommendations on governance structures that meet the SFU’s expectations of involvement and oversight.
• Develop and assess options for governance model, informed through discussions with SFU.
8. Inform the Physical Framework Plan
• Recommendations for the physical framework plan integrating business and financial insights. (Refer to section 2.2.5 of this RFP and section 4.3 Long-Term Demonstration Plan of the 2065 SFU Masterplan)
The term of the agreement is to be for a period of up to 1 year, with an option in favour of SFU to extend the agreement on the same terms and conditions for additional one (1) term of up to three (3) months. It is anticipated that the agreement will be executed by the first half of December 2024. The consultant will provide expertise in assessing and creating a business plan for the Innovation Precinct, ensuring alignment with the SFU’s guiding principles (section 2.2.4) and defined precinct elements (section 2.2.3), and delivering comprehensive reports and models outlined in the Deliverables.
Please see RPF package for full details.
