1-Convention Center RFP - Phase 2 FINAL.pdf

Request for Proposals

RFP25187

Second Phase

Fargo Conference/Convention Center

Issued by:

Strategic Planning & Research 225 4 Street North

Fargo, North Dakota 58102

RFP Close:

Friday, February 27, 2026 @ 4:00 P.M.

Introduction and Summary:

The City of Fargo, ND, is inviting written proposals from four developers for the development, design, construction, and operation of a convention center and adjacent private development to be located in the city of Fargo. This will be a public-private partnership with city financing the convention center and the private developer financing adjacent private development.

The city of Fargo intends to fund and own the convention center building portion of the project with the proceeds of a 3% (three percent) lodging tax, which was approved by voters in November 2024. The tax will sunset 25 years after it is implemented. It is projected that $37 million to $41 million in lodging tax proceeds will be available for land costs, site preparation costs, construction of the convention center building, furniture, fixtures and equipment.

The city is reserving a portion of the lodging tax proceeds for potential operating losses, debt service reserves, and future capital expenditures.

Proposals are solicited in accordance with the terms, conditions, and instructions as set forth in this Second Phase Request for Proposals (RFP). The preparation and submission of the vendor response shall be made without obligation by the city of Fargo to pay any associated costs of preparing and submitting a proposal.

Proposals must be uploaded to fargond.bonfirehub.com/. For technical questions related to your submission, please contact Bonfire at Support@GoBonfire.com .

The deadline for submitting the response to this RFP is 4:00 P.M. on February 27, 2026. Proposals must be submitted online through a City of Fargo bidding and procurement system.

Proposers should understand that the City of Fargo is a public entity and, as such, is subject to open records and open meeting laws. Proposers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with North Dakota open records laws and open meeting laws (See N.D.C.C. §44-04-17.1 et seq.). Please note that proposals will be reviewed at meet-ings that are open to the public. Proposal packets are subject to public review.

To the extent certain information to be remitted by a proposer is thought to be a trade secret, proprietary, commercial or financial information, as the same is defined in North Dakota open record law, or is otherwise thought to be information that should be deemed “confidential” under such law, proposers are advised to con-tact the City in advance of any such remittance so that special arrangements can be made for such remittance so-as to protect the confidential nature of such information. See N.D.C.C. §44-04-18.4.

Except for said confidential information, all information will be made available to selection committee members, city commissioners, select city staff, and consultants used by the city to review proposals.

Late proposals will not be accepted, nor will mailed, faxed or emailed proposals. The city is not responsible for submissions not properly identified as convention center proposals.

Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing to the city through the online procurement system.

The city reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to accept any proposal deemed to be in its best interest. Furthermore, the city shall not be obligated to enter into any contract with any respondent, regardless of the terms or conditions proposed.

Second Phase Procurement Schedule:

Schedule Item Date RFP Posted November 12, 2025 Questions Due January 2, 2026 @ 4PM CST Questions Answered By January 9, 2026 RFP Proposals Due February 27, 2026 @ 4PM CST

Selection Review Process. This selection process consists of these next two phases:

o Phase Two: Proposers will provide a detailed concept plan, a development schedule, cost information, a pro forma statement of operations, a private financing plan, an ownership plan, and an operations plan. The selection committee will review and rank the proposals and forward the highest-ranked proposal to the city commission for its approval.

o Phase Three: Provided the city commission accepts the recommendation, it will negotiate a public-private partnership agreement with the development team of the highest-ranked proposer. Should no agreement be reached, the city commission may begin negotiations with the second- or third-ranked proposal.

Phase 2 - Eligibility

The City of Fargo is issuing this Phase 2 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Fargo Conference/Convention Center. This RFP is being distributed publicly for transparency purposes; however, only the four firms selected through the Phase 1 qualifications process are eligible to submit proposals in response to this solicitation.

Submissions received from firms not included in the selected group will not be considered.

Qualified firms include:

• EAPC Architects – Civic Center / Downtown site

• Enclave – Scheels Arena site

• Mutchler Bartram Architects – Brewhalla site

• RLE Architecture – FARGODOME site

Phase 2 Proposal Requirements

1. Site Plan

• Parking lot or ramp

• Vehicle access including truck access and bus drop-off zones

• Wayfinding around site

• Pedestrian connections

• Landscaping

• Location of existing nearby amenities and assets

• Opportunities for nearby amenities and assets

• Neighborhood walkability

• Infrastructure needs such as utilities, roadways, etc. if applicable

• Pedestrian skyway maintenance, redevelopment and security, if applicable

2. Architectural Concept Drawings of Convention Center

• Square footage and divisibility of function spaces

• Wayfinding and flow of internal traffic

• In-house communications technology (AV, broadband, wireless)

• Interior and exterior noise attenuation

• Support spaces (prefunction areas, bathrooms, offices, storage, etc.)

• Local and/or regional design elements

• Connectivity to other spaces/venues

• Load capacity Dock entrance level and door height Multiple bays with separate access points Load-in/load-out for event turnover; drayage for short-term storage

• Space for expansion opportunities

3. Architectural Concept Drawings of Hotel

• Restaurant/lounge capacity and layout

• Guest rooms per floor per elevator

• Size of guest rooms and room types

• Brand quality and/or chain scale including any conversations you’ve had

• Function spaces separate from convention center

4. Project Cost Information

• Site infrastructure improvements including parking

• Site acquisition cost

• Site demolition and cleanup

• Building construction

• Furniture, fixtures and equipment

• Soft costs (design, licenses, permits, legal, financing costs, etc.)

• Proposal and time needed to provide a guaranteed project cost.

5. Financing Plan

• Development partners

• Investor equity commitments

• Loan commitments

• Property tax incentives needed

• Reliance on tax increment financing

• Reliance on municipal debt proceeds or other public funds

• Proposal for guarantees for private development.

6. Operating Plan

• Estimates of the amount and source of City operating support

• Lease/management proposal

• Show minimum of first 5 years of anticipated operating revenue and expenses

• Proposed usage fee schedule (i.e. F&B caps, room ADR, facility fees)

• Plans for in-house versus third party operations with exclusivity of catering, liquor li-censing, AV etc. (i.e. hybrid versus preferred list)

• Paid or free parking

• Pre-opening services plan

• Responsibilities for maintenance and future capital improvements

7. Sales Plan

• Proposed integration with Visit Fargo-Moorhead sales team (and hotel sales, if different than convention center)

• Staffing

• Sales & marketing partnership plan

• Event booking policies and hotel room block commitments

• Division of responsibilities

• Pre-opening strategy and timeline for convention center and hotel

8. Schedule for Design, Construction, Commissioning and Opening Date

9. Address Any Concerns from City Department Preliminary Reviews or Requests from the Commit-tee

Phase 2 Scoring Criteria

1. Site Location (10 points)

• Proximity to existing restaurants, shopping, and attractions.

• Proximity to proposed restaurants, shopping, and attractions.

2. Convention Center Facility Plan (15 points)

• Size of facility – relative to goals in phase one review

• Site plan

• Floor plan

• Parking availability and costs

• Financial and operational plan

• Fargo experience throughout architectural design and artwork

3. Hotel Plan (15 points)

• Pedestrian connections to convention center

• Additional meeting rooms

• Quality and flag

• Amenities

• Number and size of rooms

• Experience with hotel development and operations

4. Financing Plan (20 points)

• Previous experience of developer

• Developer equity

• Project Cost

• Financing commitments

5. Operating Plan (20 points)

• Development timeline

• Revenue and operational costs

• Vendor Policy

• Management & sales structure

• Booking window

6. Schedule (10 points)

• Design

• Groundbreaking & construction

• Opening Date

7. Visitor Experience (10 points)

• Technology

• Wayfinding

• Aesthetic

• Neighborhood

• Bussing embarkation and disembarkation

• “Day-in-the-life” of a visitor