NIGP 96236: Fireworks Display and Carnival Services

NIGP 96236 Fireworks Display And Carnival Services, an Item code, encompasses the procurement of professional fireworks display services—including design, choreography, setup, and execution of aerial pyrotechnic shows—as well as comprehensive special event management services for community celebrations. State and local governments soliciting under this code are primarily municipal purchasing offices, with the City of DeBary, Florida appearing across multiple recent opportunities. Cities also engage university purchasing for athletic events and regional airport authorities for air show programming. The work typically involves design of custom displays synchronized to prerecorded music, deployment of mortar shells (commonly 3-inch to 5-inch), provision of all equipment and personnel including federally licensed pyrotechnicians, and full liability insurance coverage with minimums of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Special event management solicitations include business planning, sponsor and vendor recruitment, volunteer coordination, permitting, and master-of-ceremonies services, often structured to reduce municipal out-of-pocket expense through earned revenue and community partnerships. Contract terms commonly run one year with two additional one-year renewal options available by mutual consent.

Recent activity concentrates in Florida and Texas. The City of DeBary has posted multiple opportunities since 2015, including RFP 0817 and RFP 01-19 for July 4th event management with fireworks budgets of $20,000 annually, and RFQ 0619 for a 20-minute July 4, 2019 fireworks display also at $20,000. The City of St. Cloud, Florida issued RFP 2026-133 for professional fireworks display due October 29, 2026, requiring minimum 22-minute musically synchronized shows at $1,000,000/$2,000,000 insurance limits and scored evaluation weighting 30 points to qualifications, 30 to approach, 30 to demonstrated similar projects, and 10 to price. The City of Gainesville posted RFP PRCA260040WB for New Year's Eve display at Depot Park (October 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027), with openness to multi-year bids and discounted pricing. Outside Florida, Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas issued IFB 04-TSUATH-ITB-0023 for football game pyrotechnics during the 2027 season (bids due August 31, 2026), requiring seven-plus technicians and field-level effects at $1,000,000/$2,000,000/$5,000,000 liability tiers. The City of Owensboro, Kentucky solicited air show fireworks for September 2026 and 2028, requiring federal pyrotechnician licensure (proposals due July 21, 2026).