LA28 Events, Public Events, Marketing, Branding & Community Engagement Services

The City of Santa Monica (the “City”) is seeking proposals from qualified persons or firms including arts and cultural organizations, event producers, consultants, nonprofit organizations, multidisciplinary teams, businesses, and individuals (collectively, “Producers and/or Consultants”) to develop and implement creative or cultural activations, public programming and partnerships, public art initiatives, and/or community events.

The City intends to establish a group of qualified Producers and/or Consultants through As-Needed Professional Services Agreements. Selected Producers and/or Consultants will support projects across City departments and public spaces and may provide services within one, two, or all three of the categories.

The City recognizes that successful public programming requires balancing destination level major events with locally driven community activations. [...] Projects may range from neighborhood cultural programs and temporary public art installations to large-scale festivals, civic celebrations, waterfront activations, and major event related programming.

Producers and/or Consultants submitting an application for the three categories: Marketing & Design, Production & Event Execution and Community Engagement may submit a scope of services and project plan that incorporates the following concepts, strategies and/or plans.

• Strategic Planning & Creative Development: public space activation strategies, annual programming plans, creative visioning and concept development, district based activation strategies, partnership development, placemaking recommendations
• Major Events & Destination Programming: festivals, concerts, waterfront activations, destination programming, international and national sporting event–related activations, seasonal destination events, large-scale cultural and civic experiences
• Community & Neighborhood Activation: temporary public art, cultural celebrations, walking tours, workshops and classes, family programming, wellness events, pop-up performances, neighborhood festivals, business activations
• Public Space Activation: Third Street Promenade, Downtown Santa Monica, Santa Monica Pier, parks and beaches, Civic Center, historic sites, libraries, community centers
• Creative Producing & Project Management: project & production management, vendor procurement, budget development, technical production, fabrication and installation, site logistics, permitting coordination, event operations, risk management, documentation and reporting, program evaluation
• Community Engagement & Partnerships
• Marketing & Audience Development: event and program branding, marketing strategy, communications planning, audience development initiatives, tourism promotion, partnership marketing, digital and social media campaigns

Those applying for the marketing category is recommended to review attachment D - City of Santa Monica Scope of Work 2028 Games as a unique scope of work/project plan that can be submitted in addition to other project plans/proposals.

**Submission method:** Any inquiries or requests regarding this procurement should be submitted via OpenGov. Questions must be submitted online in the “Q&A” tab. The City will only accept or respond to questions submitted through the online vendor portal.

**Proposal due:** **November 25, 2026, 3:00pm**. Late proposals are never accepted.

Term

The City is inviting proposals from qualified persons or firms for a firm-fixed contract for an initial term of three (3), with two (2) options for renewal of one (1) year each, to be exercised at the City’s sole discretion.

Minimum Qualifications

Producers and/or Consultants must demonstrate five (5) years of relevant experience in the category or categories of which the consultant and/or producer is submitting a proposal for.

Evaluation Criteria

• Community Partnerships & Collaboration: 15 points
• Creative Vision & Programming Approach: 20 points
• Experience & Qualifications: 25 points
• Alignment with City Strategic Priorities: 10 points
• Project Management & Operational Capacity: 20 points
• References: 10 points

Insurance

Commercial General Liability of no less than **$1,000,000** per occurrence; Automobile Liability of no less than **$1,000,000** per accident; Workers’ Compensation with Statutory Limits and Employers’ Liability of no less than **$1,000,000** per accident.