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1. Cover Letter <br />January 12, 2026 <br />Dear Members of the Orono Selection Committee, <br />Solt IrJ National <br />Research <br />Center <br />POICO <br />Polco is pleased to submit this proposal to partner with the City of Orono on its 2026 <br />Community Survey in support of the City's 2050 Comprehensive Plan update. Orono's <br />long-standing commitment to thoughtful planning, high -quality public services, and resident <br />engagement is evident in both the City's planning process and this RFP. A statistically valid, <br />well -designed community survey is a critical input to that work, and we appreciate the <br />opportunity to be considered. <br />Polco's core mission is to support local governments through high -quality, defensible resident <br />research. Over the past 30 years, we have conducted more than 1,000 scientifically valid <br />community surveys for over 500 cities and counties nationwide, including extensive work across <br />Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. We administer more than 150 community surveys each year <br />and maintain the nation's largest local -government benchmarking database, allowing <br />communities to place local results in meaningful regional, state, and national context. Our work <br />combines methodological rigor with a practical understanding of how survey results are used by <br />staff, elected officials, and planning commissions to inform policy, services, and long-term <br />growth decisions. <br />This proposal outlines how Polco would work collaboratively with Orono staff to deliver a <br />citywide, statistically reliable assessment that captures resident satisfaction, priorities, and <br />perspectives on future growth and services. Using an address -based, stratified random sample <br />and multiple response modes, including mailed invitations, paper surveys, and online <br />participation, we ensure broad reach while maintaining representativeness across the <br />community. Our methodology is designed to support geographic analysis, identify key drivers of <br />satisfaction, and generate insights that are directly usable by the Comprehensive Plan <br />Subcommittee and City Council. <br />Polco's approach emphasizes both insight and continuity. Survey results will be analyzed in a <br />way that allows Orono to monitor trends over time, benchmark performance against <br />comparable communities, and clearly understand areas of strength and opportunity. <br />Deliverables will include an executive summary, a detailed written report with actionable <br />findings, cross -tabulations, and a clear presentation of results to the City Council. All analysis, <br />reporting, and presentations are completed in-house by Polco's dedicated survey research staff. <br />We manage all aspects of survey development, administration, analysis, and reporting, and are <br />committed to delivering a process that is transparent, responsive, and aligned with Orono's <br />planning timeline and budget parameters. We are excited about the opportunity to support <br />polco.us 2 <br />63 <br />