City of Santa Monica - LA28 Events, Public Events, Marketing, Branding & Community Engagement Services - 2026
City of Santa MonicaCity · Santa Monica, CA- Due
- Nov 25, 2026
- 27 days left
- Posted
- Oct 22, 2026
- Contract term
- 3 years
- Primary contact
- Natalie Marrero
- (310) 968-8904
The 30-second brief
The City of Santa Monica is seeking proposals from qualified persons or firms, including arts and cultural organizations, event producers, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams, to develop and implement creative or cultural activations, public programming, public art initiatives, and community events leading up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The scope encompasses strategic planning, major events and destination programming, community and neighborhood activation, marketing and audience development, brand system creation, merchandise and licensing strategies, asset valuation, and the design and execution of a scalable volunteer program. Work locations include the Third Street Promenade, Downtown Santa Monica, Santa Monica Pier, parks, beaches, and civic facilities. The contract has an initial term of three years with two one-year renewal options. Proposals are due by November 25, 2026, with a question deadline of November 5, 2026. Submissions require compliance with the City's Living Wage Ordinance, Oaks Initiative disclosures, and business license requirements. Evaluation criteria include community partnerships and collaboration, creative vision and programming approach, experience and qualifications, alignment with City strategic priorities, project management and operational capacity, and references.
Vision Statement & Narrative, Audience & Activation Map, Partner & Activation Framework, Wayfinding & Site Maps, Visitor Collateral Suite, Santa Monica 2028 Website, Brand Governance Toolkit, Santa Monica Games Brand System, Naming & IOC/USOPC Compliance Memo, Creative Mockups, Merchandise & Licensing Program, Asset Inventory & Valuation, Sponsorship Packages & Rate Card, Ad Location Map & Prioritization, Compliance & Clean-Venue Playbook, Volunteer Program Design, Recruitment Campaign & Sign-Up Portal, Training Curriculum, Crowd Management Protocol, Volunteer Collateral & Uniform Kit, Operations Manual, Volunteer Tech Stack Recommendation
Community Partnerships & Collaboration (15%), Creative Vision & Programming Approach (20%), Experience & Qualifications (25%), Alignment with City Strategic Priorities (10%), Project Management & Operational Capacity (20%), References (10%)
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Summary
The City of Santa Monica is seeking proposals from qualified persons or firms, including arts and cultural organizations, event producers, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams, to develop and implement creative or cultural activations, public programming, public art initiatives, and community events leading up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The scope encompasses strategic planning, major events and destination programming, community and neighborhood activation, marketing and audience development, brand system creation, merchandise and licensing strategies, asset valuation, and the design and execution of a scalable volunteer program. Work locations include the Third Street Promenade, Downtown Santa Monica, Santa Monica Pier, parks, beaches, and civic facilities. The contract has an initial term of three years with two one-year renewal options. Proposals are due by November 25, 2026, with a question deadline of November 5, 2026. Submissions require compliance with the City's Living Wage Ordinance, Oaks Initiative disclosures, and business license requirements. Evaluation criteria include community partnerships and collaboration, creative vision and programming approach, experience and qualifications, alignment with City strategic priorities, project management and operational capacity, and references.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
22- Vision Statement & Narrative
- Audience & Activation Map
- Partner & Activation Framework
- Wayfinding & Site Maps
- Visitor Collateral Suite
- Santa Monica 2028 Website
- Brand Governance Toolkit
- Santa Monica Games Brand System
- Naming & IOC/USOPC Compliance Memo
- Creative Mockups
- Merchandise & Licensing Program
- Asset Inventory & Valuation
- Sponsorship Packages & Rate Card
- Ad Location Map & Prioritization
- Compliance & Clean-Venue Playbook
- Volunteer Program Design
- Recruitment Campaign & Sign-Up Portal
- Training Curriculum
- Crowd Management Protocol
- Volunteer Collateral & Uniform Kit
- Operations Manual
- Volunteer Tech Stack Recommendation
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
13- Letter of Transmittal
- Proposer Questionnaire
- Qualifications
- Key Personnel
- References
- Project Work Plan
- Cost Proposal
- Oaks Initiative Form
- Living Wage Ordinance Certification
- Certificate of Compliance
- Non-Discrimination Policy
- Debarment Certification & Non-Collusion Declaration
- Levine Act Disclosure Form
- Submit to
- https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/santa-monica-ca/projects/315287
- Duration
- 60 months
- Scope location
- Santa Monica, CA
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from City of Santa Monica?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is November 25, 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/santa-monica-ca/projects/315287. For questions, contact Natalie Marrero.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including City of Santa Monica in CA, 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 Natalie Marrero at (310) 968-8904. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What are the key deliverables?
The solicitation specifies the following deliverables: Vision Statement & Narrative, Audience & Activation Map, Partner & Activation Framework, Wayfinding & Site Maps, Visitor Collateral Suite, Santa Monica 2028 Website, Brand Governance Toolkit, Santa Monica Games Brand System, Naming & IOC/USOPC Compliance Memo, Creative Mockups, Merchandise & Licensi. 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: "Community Partnerships & Collaboration (15%), Creative Vision & Programming Approach (20%), Experience & Qualifications (25%), Alignment with City Strategic Priorities (10%), Project Management & Oper..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from City of Santa Monica?
All active and historical solicitations from City of Santa Monica are tracked and searchable. As a city agency, City of Santa Monica 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 3 years. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of November 25, 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: Letter of Transmittal, Proposer Questionnaire, Qualifications, Key Personnel, References, Project Work Plan, Cost Proposal, Oaks Initiative Form, Living Wage Ordinance Certification, Certificate of Co. Review the full document from City of Santa Monica for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Santa Monica, CA. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.