City of Pittsburgh - Creative Strategist for Downtown Investment - 2026-RFP-220 (2026)
City of PittsburghCity · Pittsburgh, PA- Due
- Nov 13, 2026
- 28 days left
- Posted
- Oct 1, 2026
- Contract term
- 2 years
- Primary contact
- Omoye Aikhuele
- (412) 255-0803
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THE 30-SECOND BRIEF
The City of Pittsburgh is soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP #2026-RFP-220) for a dynamic and visionary Creative Strategist—an individual or firm—to shape and help deliver creative investment in Downtown Pittsburgh. The project scope includes creative placemaking, urban design, cultural strategies, public art, activating alleys, storefronts, and underused public spaces, public outreach, and community engagement. The engagement is grant-funded for a four-year term by the Pennsylvania Creative Communities Initiative (CCI) program, with an initial two-year term and an option to extend for up to two additional years, backed by a total project budget of $100,000 per year. Submissions are due by November 13, 2026, at 3:00 pm, with a non-mandatory virtual pre-proposal meeting on October 15, 2026, and a question submission deadline of November 6, 2026. Required insurance includes General and Professional Liability, Workers Compensation, and Automobile Liability coverage, and respondents must demonstrate good faith efforts toward MBE/WBE/VOSB/LGBTQIA+ participation goals.
Phase 1 listening and documentation report; Phase 2 public outreach and engagement plan, Creative investments in alleys, Storefronts, Streetscapes, And public spaces, And Phase 3 conceptual framework for Downtown Pittsburgh Creative Investment and Cultural Strategy Plan, Performance metrics, Sustainability plan, Portfolio of activations, And reports and presentations to the Mayor's Office
Firm's Qualifications, Experience and References (40%), Demonstrated success in working collaboratively with residents, community groups, non-profits, and/or municipalities (30%), Quality and completeness of application materials (10%), Cost Proposal (10%), MWDBE/VOSB Good Faith Effort (10%)
SUMMARY
The City of Pittsburgh is soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP #2026-RFP-220) for a dynamic and visionary Creative Strategist—an individual or firm—to shape and help deliver creative investment in Downtown Pittsburgh.
The project scope includes creative placemaking, urban design, cultural strategies, public art, activating alleys, storefronts, and underused public spaces, public outreach, and community engagement. The engagement is grant-funded for a four-year term by the Pennsylvania Creative Communities Initiative (CCI) program, with an initial two-year term and an option to extend for up to two additional years, backed by a total project budget of $100,000 per year. Submissions are due by November 13, 2026, at 3:00 pm, with a non-mandatory virtual pre-proposal meeting on October 15, 2026, and a question submission deadline of November 6, 2026. Required insurance includes General and Professional Liability, Workers Compensation, and Automobile Liability coverage, and respondents must demonstrate good faith efforts toward MBE/WBE/VOSB/LGBTQIA+ participation goals.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
Phase 1 listening and documentation report; Phase 2 public outreach and engagement plan, Creative investments in alleys, Storefronts, Streetscapes, And public spaces, And Phase 3 conceptual framework for Downtown Pittsburgh Creative Investment and Cultural Strategy Plan, Performance metrics, Sustainability plan, Portfolio of activations, And reports and presentations to the Mayor's Office
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
7- Response to Scope Proposal
- Cost Proposal
- Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC) Participation Form
- Vendor Contact Sheet
- Vendor Registration Form
- W-9
- Authorized Signatory
- Submit to
- https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa
- Duration
- 48 months
- Scope location
- Pittsburgh, PA
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from City of Pittsburgh?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is November 13, 2026. The solicitation specifies required deliverables that must be addressed in your response. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa. For questions, contact Omoye Aikhuele.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including City of Pittsburgh in PA, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFP submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Omoye Aikhuele at (412) 255-0803. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What are the key deliverables?
The solicitation specifies the following deliverables: Phase 1 listening and documentation report; Phase 2 public outreach and engagement plan, Creative investments in alleys, Storefronts, Streetscapes, And public spaces, And Phase 3 conceptual framework for Downtown Pittsburgh Creative Investment and Cultural Strategy Plan, Performance metrics, Sustain. Proposals should clearly address how each deliverable will be met.
Can I search RFPs like this in ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes. Civic IQ has an MCP server that connects ChatGPT, Claude and other AI assistants to live Civic IQ data: open RFPs, pre-RFP signals from public meetings, awarded contracts and agency decision-makers across 100,000+ US public agencies. Add https://beta.mcp.civiciq.com/mcp as a connector (in ChatGPT under Settings > Apps & Connectors, in Claude under Settings > Connectors) and sign in with a free Civic IQ account at civiciq.com/mcp.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Firm's Qualifications, Experience and References (40%), Demonstrated success in working collaboratively with residents, community groups, non-profits, and/or municipalities (30%), Quality and complete..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from City of Pittsburgh?
All active and historical solicitations from City of Pittsburgh are tracked and searchable. As a city agency, City of Pittsburgh regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 2 years. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of November 13, 2026, this solicitation appears to still be accepting submissions. Deadlines may change through amendments or addenda, so always verify the current status directly with the issuing agency before preparing your response.
What documents are required to bid on this RFP?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Response to Scope Proposal, Cost Proposal, Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC) Participation Form, Vendor Contact Sheet, Vendor Registration Form, W-9, Authorized Signatory. Review the full document from City of Pittsburgh for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Pittsburgh, PA. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.