Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · PALM DESERT OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
AI Summary
The City of Palm Desert seeks qualified firms for aquatics consulting services to enhance operations, programming, and community engagement at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center. The contract term is three years with renewal options. Proposals are due by June 5, 2026, with a pre-proposal meeting on May 21, 2026.
The City of Palm Desert (“City”) is requesting proposals from qualified firms (“Proposers”) for Aquatics Consulting Services (“Services”) to establish a Professional Services Agreement ("Agreement") for a term of three (3) years unless earlier terminated as described in agreement terms. The City shall have the unilateral option to renew this Agreement automatically for no more than two (2) additional one-year terms. Contractor shall complete the Services within the term of this Agreement and shall meet any other established schedules and deadlines.
To serve and promote the welfare of its residents, the City intends to procure the Services, as described below:
The City is seeking to partner with a qualified aquatics consulting firm to evaluate operations and provide research-based recommendations for enhancing services at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center. The City aims to identify opportunities for program development, facility improvements, operational efficiencies, and marketing strategies that will strengthen community engagement, increase attendance and participation, and enhance the overall aquatics experience for residents and visitors.
The City is a charter city located in the Coachella Valley in Eastern Riverside County, within the low desert region of Southern California. The City is home to approximately 50,000 full-time and an additional 32,000 seasonal residents. Palm Desert offers big-city resources within a welcoming, small-town environment, with high-quality educational opportunities, safe and clean streets, extensive retail and entertainment options, and a robust community programming. Widely considered the geographical, educational, and retail hub of the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert was incorporated in 1973 and operates under a council-manager form of government with a five-member City Council elected by district, each serving a four-year term. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Palm Desert City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive.
The extent to which the Proposer demonstrates experience successfully providing aquatics consulting, operational assessments, strategic planning, public engagement, and program development services of similar scope and complexity, particularly for public agencies or community aquatic facilities. Evaluation may consider the firm's experience with facility operations, programming, revenue analysis, implementation, planning, and comparable projects completed within the last five (5) years.
Qualifications, experience, availability, and organization of the proposed project team and key personnel assigned to the project. Evaluation may consider the experience of the Project Manager and key staff, clarity of roles and responsibilities, relevant technical expertise, and the overall ability of the team to successfully perform the required services.
The extent to which the proposal demonstrates a clear understanding of the City's objectives, the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, and the Scope of Services. Evaluation may consider the Proposer's methodology, approach to operational analysis, public engagement strategy, benchmarking methods, implementation planning, and overall quality, thoroughness, and feasibility of the proposed approach.
The Proposer's ability to successfully complete the project within the required timeframes and provide the required deliverables. Evaluation may consider the proposed schedule, responsiveness to the RFP requirements, completeness of the proposal, and demonstrated ability to meet project milestones and deadlines.
Evaluation of the overall cost proposal, including reasonableness, clarity, completeness, and value in relation to the proposed services.
Proposers shall provide the references identified in the RFP. References may be reviewed by the City to verify the Proposer’s experience, performance, responsiveness, and ability to successfully perform services of similar scope and complexity.
Unsatisfactory references, failure to provide references, or adverse findings identified through reference checks may result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive or otherwise affect the City’s determination of the Proposer’s responsibility and qualifications.
The City reserves the right to contact references provided and/or conduct independent reference checks.
At the City’s sole discretion, one or more top-ranked Proposers may be invited to participate in interviews and/or presentations following completion of the written proposal evaluation.
The purpose of the interview and presentation phase is to provide the City with an opportunity to:
Interviews and presentations, if conducted, may be considered as part of the City’s overall evaluation and final selection process.
To facilitate the evaluation of proposals, Proposers shall submit proposals in the format identified below. Proposals shall be clear, concise, well organized, and demonstrate the Proposer’s qualifications, understanding of the project, and ability to successfully perform the requested services.
Proposals shall be submitted electronically as:
The Cost Proposal shall be submitted as a separate document from the Technical Proposal and shall not be included within the main proposal response.
1. Cover Letter
Provide a cover letter signed by an individual authorized to bind the Proposer contractually. The cover letter shall include:
2 Firm Qualifications and Experience
Provide an overview of the firm and its qualifications relevant to this project. Include:
Include descriptions of at least three (3) projects of similar scope and complexity completed within the last five (5) years. For each project, provide:
3 Project Team and Key Personnel
Identify the proposed project team and key personnel assigned to the project. Include:
Clearly identify the proposed Project Manager and the individual(s) responsible for day-to-day coordination with the City.
4. Project Understanding and Approach
Demonstrate the Proposer’s understanding of the City’s objectives and the Scope of Services.
Include:
5. Project Schedule and Deliverables
Provide a proposed project schedule identifying major tasks, milestones, meetings, and deliverables.
The schedule shall demonstrate the Proposer’s ability to complete:
Include:
6. References
Provide a minimum of three (3) client references for projects of similar scope and complexity.
For each reference, include:
The City reserves the right to contact references provided and/or conduct independent reference checks.
The Proposer shall submit a separate Cost Proposal for the services identified in the Scope of Services.
The Cost Proposal shall include:
The Cost Proposal shall clearly identify all assumptions, exclusions, and optional services associated with the proposed pricing.
The undersigned declares:
I am an authorized representative of my company, the party making the foregoing Bid, to certify the following.
The Bid is not made in the interest of, or on behalf of, any undisclosed person, partnership, company, association, organization, or corporation. The Bid is genuine and not collusive or sham. The Bidder has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other Bidder to put in a false or sham bid. The Bidder has not directly or indirectly colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed with any Bidder or anyone else to put in a sham bid, or to refrain from bidding. The Bidder has not in any manner, directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, communication, or conference with anyone to fix the Bid Price of the Bidder or any other Bidder, or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the Bid Price, or of that of any other Bidder. All statements contained in the Bid are true. The Bidder has not, directly or indirectly, submitted his or her Bid Price or any breakdown thereof, or the contents thereof, or divulged information or data relative thereto, to any corporation, partnership, company, association, organization, bid depository, or to any member or agent thereof to effectuate a collusive or sham bid, and has not paid, and will not pay, any person or entity for such purpose.
Any person executing this declaration on behalf of a Bidder that is a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other entity, hereby represents that he or she has full power to execute, and does execute, this declaration on behalf of the Bidder.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
(Public Contract Code section 2200 et seq.)
As required by California Public Contract Code Section 2204, the Contractor certifies subject to penalty for perjury that the option selected below relating to the Contractor’s status in regard to the Iran Contracting Act of 2010 (Public Contract Code Section 2200 et seq.) is true and correct.
Note: In accordance with Public Contract Code Section 2205, false certification of this form shall be reported to the California Attorney General and may result in civil penalties equal to the greater of $250,000 or twice the Contract amount, termination of the Contract and/or ineligibility to bid on contracts for three years.
Please enter your legal entity name for SAM.gov verification.
Provide litigation history for any claims filed by your firm or against your firm related to the provision of Services in the last five (5) years (or type "N/A").
The City standard professional services agreement contract is included as an attachment herein. The Proposer shall identify any objections to and/or request changes to the standard contract language in this section of the proposal (or type "N/A"). If you are identifying changes here ALSO upload a copy of the redlined Language/Agreement with your Proposal. Changes requested may affect theCity's decision to enter into an Agreement.
In submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, Proposer is certifying that it takes no exceptions to this RFP including, but not limited to, the Agreement. If any exceptions are taken, such exceptions must be clearly noted here, and may be reason for rejection of the proposal. As such, Proposer is directed to carefully review the proposed Agreement and, in particular, the insurance and indemnification provisions therein (or type "N/A").
(If two (2) signatures are required, include the following information for both signatories)
Corporation (C-Corp): Requires two signatures from authorized officers— one from President or Vice President, and the other from the Secretary or Treasurer.
An alternate signatory may be used if authorized by a Notarized Corporate Resolution or Article of Authority.
LLC: Usually requires one signature from an authorized member or manager. For significant contracts (e.g., over $50,000 for construction or over $25,000 for service agreements), additional approvals or signatures may be required.
Sole Proprietorship, Non-Profit, Single LLC: Only the one signature is necessary.
The proposer understands that any and all relationships with construction firms that may submit bids for projects developed under this agreement will require full disclosure of any direct or indirect conflicts of interest, financial interests, relationships, and the nature of any relationships with any related project bid submitters; and that any violation of this provision may result in the immediate termination of the Agreement
The undersigned hereby submits its proposal and, by doing so, agrees to furnish services in accordance with the Request for Proposal (RFP), and to be bound by the terms and conditions of the RFP.
If not required, type "N/A"
What agency is this for?
ex.) Class A, General Engineering
If "NO" Proposers will be prompted to upload their own fee proposal.
Prices provided by Proposers in response to this RFP are valid for ____ days from the proposal due date.
(this will determine the Iran Disclosure requirement for proposers)
What is the agreement name?
(ie, encroachment/building permits)
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
SamSearch Platform
AI-powered intelligence for the right opportunities, the right leads, and the right time.