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

The City of Forsyth, Georgia, is soliciting proposals for a professional advisory firm to serve as the primary expert advisor during negotiations for a large-scale data center development project. The selected consultant will manage complex considerations including high power and water demands, tax abatement requests, and land use planning to ensure the project maximizes public benefit while protecting the local tax base and public utilities. The scope of work is divided into six key areas: financial and fiscal modeling, infrastructure and utility analysis, land use and environmental standards, digital infrastructure and right-of-way management, legal and negotiation support, and public engagement. Key deliverables include a 20-year net fiscal impact report, draft zoning amendments with specific acoustic and water usage effectiveness metrics, and a final redlined development agreement. To be eligible, firms must possess at least five years of experience advising municipal governments on high-density industrial projects and provide three case studies of similar engagements completed within the last five years. The consultant must field a multidisciplinary team with expertise in municipal finance, law, utility engineering, and urban planning. A strict conflict of interest policy is in place, requiring that the firm has not represented data center developers, hyperscalers, or electric power providers in the region within the past 36 months. Proposals must be submitted by November 18, 2026, with a fee structure based on a fixed fee per task, a flat fee, or an hourly rate with a guaranteed maximum cap. The anticipated contract award and onboarding date is January 4, 2026.