Active SLED Opportunity · FLORIDA · CITY OF PETERSBURG
AI Summary
The City of St. Petersburg seeks proposals for a feasibility study to evaluate the viability of a new downtown convention center, including market demand, financial analysis, facility requirements, and economic impact.
The City of St. Petersburg (City) is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study evaluating the viability of a proposed convention center in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. The study will assess market demand, competitive positioning, facility program requirements, financial performance, and overall economic impact. The selected consultant will analyze regional and national industry trends, engage key stakeholders, identify demand segments and unmet market opportunities, and benchmark against comparable and innovative convention center models.
The consultant will also recommend an appropriate facility program—including space needs, support infrastructure, parking, and hotel requirements—while accounting for flexibility and future adaptability. Deliverables will include capital cost estimates, an operating pro forma with sensitivity testing, an evaluation of potential funding and financing mechanisms, and a quantified analysis of anticipated economic and fiscal impacts such as visitor spending, tax revenue, and job creation tied to both construction and ongoing operations.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation/Shortlisting Meeting | 2026-05-18T17:30:00.000Z | 1 4th Street N. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Conference Room 800 ** The Evaluation/Shortlisting meeting is tentative and subject to change. Any changes to the schedule will be posted as a notice to the solicitation. ** |
Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.
**An updated agreement has been added to the attachments section to reflect clarified terms. All other solicitation requirements remain unchanged.
This section evaluates the Proposer’s qualifications, relevant experience, and capacity to successfully perform the required services. Scoring will be based on the firm’s history of similar projects, technical expertise, organizational structure, key personnel credentials, and demonstrated past performance.
This section evaluates the Proposer’s proposed methodology for delivering the services, including processes used on similar projects and the approach envisioned for this engagement. Scoring will be based on the clarity and feasibility of the project plan, schedule, key activities, deliverables, and the proposed coordination process with the City’s Project Manager.
This section evaluates the Proposer's completed cost analysis and proposed fee for the project. Scoring will be based on the completeness, clarity, and reasonableness of the pricing information provided.
This section evaluates the Proposer’s status as an SBE, MBE, WBE, or combination, and the firm’s demonstrated commitment to outreach, inclusion, and utilization of small and minority-owned businesses in performance of the contract. Scoring will be based on documented outreach efforts, planned mentoring and capacity-building initiatives, and processes for inclusive subcontracting.
If you have submitted an application and it is pending, please send an email to osd@stpete.org. In the subject line- provide the solicitation number and due date.
If you have submitted an application and it is pending, please send an email to osd@stpete.org. In the subject line- provide the solicitation number and due date.
Please provide a letter certifying who is authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of Company.
Type N/A if not applicable.
Type N/A if not applicable.
The City has deemed the following contract terms to be non-negotiable. Vendor is advised that if it wishes to take exception to any of the terms contained or referenced in the contract, it must explicitly identify the term and the exception in its response to the solicitation. Vendor's stated exception to a non-negotiable contract term may disqualify it from consideration:
Please download the below document, complete, and upload.
Upload all other documents relating to this solicitation. Including but not limited to proposals/statements of qualifications, applicable bonds, warranty information, etc.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Make sure this in compliance with the living wage ordinance.
Q (Data, Analytics & Decision Intelligence): 1. Does the City expect incorporation of real-world, ground-level, or external datasets (e.g., behavioral, mobility, tourism, or consumer data) to enhance demand forecasting, feasibility analysis, and economic impact modeling?
A: Relevant existing datasets as determined by the consultant should be utilized for this study.
Q (Data, Analytics & Decision Intelligence): 2. What level of advanced analytics is expected, including predictive modeling, scenario simulations, sensitivity analysis, and AI-driven insights beyond traditional feasibility approaches?
A: Traditional feasibility approaches are required. Other advance analytics are optional.
Q (Data, Analytics & Decision Intelligence): 3. Does the City expect real-time or continuously updated dashboards, or periodic reporting, for monitoring market trends, assumptions, and performance over time?
A: No.
Q (Data, Analytics & Decision Intelligence): 4. Is longitudinal data analysis expected to support ongoing planning beyond the initial feasibility study?
A: No.
Q (Commercial, Evaluation & Procurement Considerations): 24. How will proposals be evaluated, including weighting of cost vs. technical approach, innovation, analytics capabilities, and team composition (including subcontractors)?
A: Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria established in the RFP.
Q (Subcontracting & Partnerships): 23. Does the City encourage subcontracting or multi-partner approaches for specialized capabilities (e.g., analytics, geospatial, or market research), and how will subcontractor roles, evaluation, and participation (including local/small business preferences) be assessed?
A: Please see the Evaluation Criteria section of the solicitation for additional details regarding subcontractor utilization.
Q (Project Management & Coordination): 22. What level of engagement is expected from the City (e.g., project management support, meeting cadence, coordination with external agencies, or dependencies on other initiatives)?
A: Please review sections 4.4 & 4.5 of the solicitation for information regarding general requirements of the vendor as well as deliverables.
Q (Geospatial & Market Intelligence): 5. To what extent should geospatial analytics (e.g., catchment analysis, visitor origin mapping, accessibility, and mobility patterns) be incorporated into site evaluation and demand analysis?
A: This is up to the consultant's discretion if tools are needed to complete the scope of work.
Q (Geospatial & Market Intelligence): 6. Are GIS-based datasets, spatial modeling, or location-based competitive insights expected as part of facility planning and site recommendations?
A: A traditional feasibility approach is required. Specific site analysis is optional.
Q (Geospatial & Market Intelligence): 7. Should demand analysis prioritize regional, national, or international markets, and are there predefined comparable facilities or competitors for benchmarking?
A: The consultant should determine the best markets to make a City facility successful. No predefined comparable facilities or competitors have been identified.
Q (Methodology & Data Collection): 8. Are vendors permitted or encouraged to use alternative data collection methods (e.g., digital, mobile, observational, or ground-level data) alongside traditional surveys and interviews?
A: Vendors are permitted to use alternative data.
Q (Methodology & Data Collection): 9. Will the City provide baseline or historical data (e.g., prior studies, tourism data, benchmarks), and what level of access to datasets is expected?
A: The consultant is responsible for gathering this information.
Q (Methodology & Data Collection): 10. What are the expectations for survey methodology, including sample size, segmentation, statistical rigor, and number of stakeholder engagements (interviews, workshops, focus groups)?
A: The consultant will be responsible for the survey and then will collaborate with the City on stakeholder engagement.
Q (Methodology & Data Collection): 11. Will the City provide stakeholder lists and facilitate introductions, or is the vendor expected to independently identify and engage stakeholders?
A: The City will collaborate with the consultant on stakeholder engagement.
Q (Technology, AI & Platform Capabilities): 12. Is the City open to AI-enabled tools, advanced analytics platforms, APIs, or third-party integrations as part of the study and deliverables?
A: Yes.
Q (Technology, AI & Platform Capabilities): 13. Are interactive dashboards, visualization tools, or digital deliverables expected in addition to traditional report-based outputs?
A: Traditional report-based outputs are required, and the other items mentioned are not.
Q (Scope of Work & Technical Considerations): 14. Are there specific geographic areas, pre-identified sites, or integration requirements with existing infrastructure that must be evaluated?
A: There isn't any other criteria required other than what is presented in the scope.
Q (Scope of Work & Technical Considerations): 15. Should the study include multiple development scenarios (e.g., phased, alternative concepts, or hybrid models), including innovative or mixed-use approaches?
A: The study may include all of the mentioned items.
Q (Scope of Work & Technical Considerations): 16. What level of detail is expected for facility planning, including size, capacity, transportation, parking, sustainability (ESG), and technology infrastructure considerations?
A: The level of detail necessary to perform the scope of work is all that is required.
Q (Financial & Economic Modeling): 17. What level of detail is expected for financial modeling (e.g., capital costs, operating projections, funding mechanisms, and time horizons)?
A: The level of detail necessary to perform the scope of work is all that is required.
Q (Financial & Economic Modeling): 18. Will the City provide baseline financial assumptions (e.g., inflation, growth rates), and should models include sensitivity analysis and risk-adjusted scenarios?
A: No.
Q (Implementation, Reporting & Deliverables): 19. What are the expectations for deliverables, including level of detail, formatting, interim outputs, timelines, and presentation requirements?
A: Please see section 4.5 of the solicitation for additional information regarding deliverable expectations.
Q (Implementation, Reporting & Deliverables): 20. Does the City expect vendor support in presenting findings, facilitating workshops, and translating insights into actionable recommendations?
A: Yes, please review section 4.4 & 4.5 of the solicitation for general requirements of the vendor as well as expected deliverables.
Q (Implementation, Reporting & Deliverables): 21. Will the City require editable financial models, raw datasets, or other underlying analytical outputs as part of deliverables?
A: These items will not specifically be required, however, assumptions and conclusions will need to be supported.
Q (Commercial, Evaluation & Procurement Considerations): 25. Are proposers permitted to include optional or modular services (e.g., ongoing analytics, monitoring platforms), and what are the submission requirements (e.g., page limits, supplemental materials, presentations, or clarification phases)?
A: Vendors are expected to review the proposal requirements attachment of the solicitation and provide the information requested. Any additional information regarding vendor capabilities is permissible but must pertain to the solicitation and project objectives.
Q (St. Petersburg Convention Center Feasibility Study | Questions from G&A Strategy and Design): Hello! We at G&A are very excited about this Convention Center FS and look forward to submitting our response. Our team has prepared the following clarifying questions to help shape our proposal: 1. Can the City provide an anticipated project schedule, including desired start date, key milestones, and expected duration for completion of the feasibility study? 2. Can the City provide an anticipated budget range or not-to-exceed amount for this feasibility study, and confirm whether funding has been fully allocated for this project? 3. Can the City clarify whether this study is intended to evaluate a specific site, multiple potential sites, or a citywide opportunity? Additionally, are there any pre-identified locations, existing facilities, or development districts that should be assumed as part of the analysis? 4. Can the City provide any existing studies, prior feasibility analyses, tourism data, or planning documents relevant to this effort? 5. Are there any concurrent planning efforts, economic development initiatives, or tourism strategies that this feasibility study should align with or incorporate? 6. Will the City assist in identifying and coordinating outreach to key stakeholders, or will the selected vendor be expected to independently source and secure all stakeholder participation? 7. Can the City clarify expectations regarding in-person participation for this project, including whether key meetings, stakeholder engagement sessions, or presentations are expected to be conducted on-site versus virtually? Additionally, is there an anticipated number of in-person meetings or trips that respondents should account for in their cost proposals? Thank you!
A: 1. Refer to the Scope of Work 2. The budget is $95,000 3. This study is for a facility in downtown. There aren't any predetermined sites. 4. The consultant will be responsible for gathering any relevant information for the study. 5. This is a stand-alone study. 6. The City will collaborate with the consultant on stakeholder engagement. 7. The consultant can propose their approach to meetings.
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.