City of Pontiac - Small Business Networking, Vendor Events and Resource Navigation - 2026-RFP-0181 (2026)
City of PontiacCity · Pontiac, MI- Due
- Dec 8, 2026
- 25 days left
- Posted
- Nov 10, 2026
- Duration
- 6 months
- Primary contact
- Joy Dockham
- (248) 758-2848
The 30-second brief
The City of Pontiac invites proposals for small business networking, vendor events, and resource navigation services to strengthen the local business ecosystem. The selected contractor will coordinate monthly networking and educational events, business support and institutional partner roundtables, procurement and supplier-diversity outreach events, business intake, technical assistance, and referrals to help Pontiac businesses start, stabilize, and grow. Services must remain accessible without requiring organizational membership throughout the six-month contract period. The project involves community outreach, language access, performance reporting, and adherence to municipal and insurance requirements. Proposals are due by December 8, 2026, with a notice of interest deadline of November 17, 2026.
Kickoff meeting and written implementation plan, Six-month activity calendar, Outreach plan, Partner-engagement plan, And performance framework; Recurring business networking, Educational, Or connection events (minimum one per month, Six total); A recurring business-ecosystem roundtable and documentation of one-on-one introductions, Referrals, Workshops, And institutional connections; Procurement and supplier-diversity outreach, Opportunity communications, And readiness support; Business intake, Needs assessment, Resource navigation, Language access, And follow-up tools; Monthly activity, Outcome, And expenditure reports with performance dashboard; Quarterly performance and compliance reviews; Final performance, Financial, Data, And transition report
Technical approach, event and connection strategy, and implementation feasibility (20 points); Relevant organizational experience, convening capacity, personnel, partners, and community reach (20 points); Understanding of program goals and Pontiac business needs (15 points); Outreach, language access, accessibility, and inclusive participation (15 points); Performance measurement, reporting, and continuous improvement (15 points); Cost reasonableness and value relative to proposed services (15 points)
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Summary
The City of Pontiac invites proposals for small business networking, vendor events, and resource navigation services to strengthen the local business ecosystem.
The selected contractor will coordinate monthly networking and educational events, business support and institutional partner roundtables, procurement and supplier-diversity outreach events, business intake, technical assistance, and referrals to help Pontiac businesses start, stabilize, and grow. Services must remain accessible without requiring organizational membership throughout the six-month contract period. The project involves community outreach, language access, performance reporting, and adherence to municipal and insurance requirements. Proposals are due by December 8, 2026, with a notice of interest deadline of November 17, 2026.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
8- Kickoff meeting and written implementation plan, Six-month activity calendar, Outreach plan, Partner-engagement plan, And performance framework
- Recurring business networking, Educational, Or connection events (minimum one per month, Six total)
- A recurring business-ecosystem roundtable and documentation of one-on-one introductions, Referrals, Workshops, And institutional connections
- Procurement and supplier-diversity outreach, Opportunity communications, And readiness support
- Business intake, Needs assessment, Resource navigation, Language access, And follow-up tools
- Monthly activity, Outcome, And expenditure reports with performance dashboard
- Quarterly performance and compliance reviews
- Final performance, Financial, Data, And transition report
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
10- Firm's W-9
- Certificate of Insurance
- Signed addenda
- Ownership information
- History of the firm
- Subcontractor qualifications and management
- Local workforce and economic participation plan
- References and past performance
- Detailed line-item cost proposal
- Terms and conditions acknowledgement
- Submit to
- https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/pontiac-mi/projects/321649/document?projectId=2026-RFP-0181
- Scope location
- Pontiac, MI
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from City of Pontiac?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is December 8, 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://procurement.opengov.com/portal/pontiac-mi/projects/321649/document?projectId=2026-RFP-0181. For questions, contact Joy Dockham.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including City of Pontiac in MI, 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 Joy Dockham at (248) 758-2848. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What are the key deliverables?
The solicitation specifies the following deliverables: Kickoff meeting and written implementation plan, Six-month activity calendar, Outreach plan, Partner-engagement plan, And performance framework; Recurring business networking, Educational, Or connection events (minimum one per month, Six total); A recurring business-ecosystem roundtable and document. Proposals should clearly address how each deliverable will be met.
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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: "Technical approach, event and connection strategy, and implementation feasibility (20 points); Relevant organizational experience, convening capacity, personnel, partners, and community reach (20 poin..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from City of Pontiac?
All active and historical solicitations from City of Pontiac are tracked and searchable. As a city agency, City of Pontiac 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 6 months. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of December 8, 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: Firm's W-9, Certificate of Insurance, signed addenda, ownership information, history of the firm, subcontractor qualifications and management, local workforce and economic participation plan, referenc. Review the full document from City of Pontiac for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Pontiac, MI. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.
