September 15^th, 2023 – Penn Yan, NY — The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is pleased to release the RFP for Comprehensive Statewide Vineyard Survey Services. The goal of this project is to comprehensively update New York’s vineyard statistics, which was last completed by USDA NASS in 2011 and supplemented by the 2017 Census of Agriculture.  The changes in New York’s grape industry over the past decade require refreshed data to facilitate business decisions, research priorities, marketing messaging, and tracking economic impact.

The New York grape and wine industry’s continued strategic growth requires the execution of a vineyard survey at least every two years to obtain detailed statistics necessary to monitor the dynamics of industry changes.  An industry need is felt for a wide range of accurate information about new acreage, bearing acreage, non-bearing acreage, varieties, tonnage, average price, and data by growing region.  The updated vineyard survey will provide the opportunity to analyze the changes occurring in the grape and wine industry.

NYWGF seeks a partner(s) to assist with the execution of a statewide comprehensive vineyard survey to commence no later than February 1, 2024. The ideal candidate (or company) will have grape and/or agricultural industry knowledge, experience administering accurate and unbiased surveys that guarantee participant confidentiality, developing strategic communications/outreach to encourage survey participation, and the ability to develop and manage contact management databases.  NYWGF seeks to replicate this survey on a biannual or annual basis, and the project plan should include a budget and proposed project scope to conduct a survey in 2024 and 2025.

Sam Filler, Executive Director of NWYGF said, “The vineyard survey is important to the New York Wine & Grape Foundation’s mission because we serve as the industry’s primary economic development and promotion entity.  Current and accurate vineyard data supports our research funding priorities, which are supported by State and private sector funding.  The data supports our initiatives to promote the industry to trade, media, and consumers across the world.  Survey data on production can provide benchmark figures required to compare New York winegrowing regions, both internally and with key domestic and international winegrowing regions.”

The New York Wines Request For Proposals page will be updated to include a copy of the RFP, and a FAQ document will be posted after September 26^th.  Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to ny2024vineyardsurveyrfp@nywgf.org no later than September 26^th.  A Bidders Zoom Conference will be held September 27, 2023, at 1 p.m.  Registration in advance to join.  All proposals are due by 5:00PM on Friday, October 6th, 2023.