EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CLAUSE

(1) The contractor/vendor/bidder will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status. The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, familial status or military status. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment up-grading, demotion, or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training.

The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices summarizing the provisions of this Equal Opportunity Clause.

(2) The contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, state that the contractor is an equal opportunity employer.

(3) It is the policy of the City of Columbus that business concerns owned and operated by M/WBEs shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts awarded by the city.

(4) The contractor shall permit access to any relevant and pertinent reports and documents by the ODI director for the sole purpose of verifying compliance with this Title and ODI regulations. All such materials provided to the ODI director by the contractor shall be considered confidential.

(5) The contractor will not obstruct or hinder the ODI director or his/her deputies, staff and assistants in the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities imposed by Title 39 of the Columbus City Codes.

(6) The contractor and each subcontractor will include a summary of this Equal Opportunity Clause in every subcontract. The contractor will take such action with respect to any subcontractor as is necessary as a means of enforcing the provisions of the Equal Opportunity Clause.

(7) The contractor agrees to refrain from subcontracting any part of this contract or contract modification thereto to a contractor not holding a valid certification number as provided for in Title 39.

(8) Failure or refusal of a contractor or subcontractor to comply with the provisions of Title 39 may result in cancellation of this contract.

ALL CONTRACTORS MUST HOLD A VALID CONTRACT COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION

NUMBER ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

To obtain a Contract Compliance number register at the City of Columbus Vendor Services website: http://vendors.columbus.gov/sites/public

1. Login to the City of Columbus Vendor Services Site and register with the city of Columbus. Once that is completed and approved by the purchasing office, log back in and do the following:

2. Select Questionnaires from the Common menu located on the left navigation bar.

3. Next select EBO Quest. (this is the contract compliance application)

4. Question 1 will be displayed; Answer question 1 and select Forward.

5. Proceed through the questionnaire answering each question and selecting Forward to continue. Once you have reached and answered the last question select End to submit.

6. Then the questionnaire will be received by the ODI Office, reviewed and process within 2 business days or less. For additional questions regarding this process, contact the Office of Diversity Inclusion at 614-645-4764.

City of Columbus Home Page: www.columbus.gov

CCDOC 1-2017

http://vendors.columbus.gov/sites/public http://www.columbus.gov/

INFORMATION FOR OFFERORS (RFP)

IFO-1 Revised 09-07-2021

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Special conditions included in the specifications, if inconsistent with provisions included in "Information for Offerors (RFP)", shall take precedence over any provisions in "Information for Offerors (RFP)" to the extent inconsistent.

PERSONAL EXAMINATION

Offerors are required to satisfy themselves by personal examination of the proposed contract documents and investigation of the conditions at the site of the work in order that they may be fully informed of the contract requirements, the conditions existing, and the difficulties likely to be encountered in the execution of the work.

SUBMISSION OF RESPONSE

Refer to the "Proposal Submittal Guidelines," Subsection 3.2.2.3, of the Specifications for instructions for submission.

All proposals and other material submitted in response to this Request for Proposal (RFP) become the property of the City of Columbus. The City may choose to retain or return these materials to the offeror, at the offeror’s expense.

The City is not liable for any cost associated with the preparation of the proposal or any other costs incurred by any bidder prior to the execution of the contract. The rejection of any proposal in whole or in part, at it discretion, will not render the City liable for incurring any cost or damage.

If at any time prior to the closing date the invited offeror decides not to provide a proposal, the City will appreciate that a letter to that effect be supplied to the City prior to the deadline.

ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION

This response submitted by the offeror to the City of Columbus will be accepted or rejected within a period of 180 days from due date. The City reserves the right to waive technicalities, and to cancel and renew the request on the required service. If more than one service, prices shall be quoted on the services requested. However, each service may be considered a separate offer and the City reserves the right to award a contract on each service separately or on all services as a whole or any combination thereof. Offerors whose proposal is made on an "All or None" basis must clearly state such fact in their written responses.

Each invitation for Bids, Request for Statements of Qualifications, and Request for Proposals issued by the City shall state that the Bid or Request may be cancelled and that any bid or proposal may be rejected in whole or in part when it is for good cause and in the best interests of the City.

WITHDRAWAL OF RESPONSE PROPOSALS

Offerors may withdraw their responses at any time prior to the time specified in the advertisement as the closing time for the receipt of responses. However, no offeror shall withdraw or cancel a proposal for a period of 180 calendar days after said advertised closing time for the receipt of the proposals.

SIGNATURE REQUIRED

By submitting this response electronically, bidder/proposer is affixing an electronic signature as defined by the Ohio Uniform Transactions Act. Said signature represents that he/she has the authority to bind the entity to the terms and conditions contained herein.

DEFAULT PROVISION

In case of default by the offeror or the contractor, the City of Columbus may procure the articles or services from other sources and hold the offeror or contractor responsible for any excess costs occasioned or incurred thereby.

CONTRACT AND BOND

The offeror to whom an award is made will be required to execute a written contract with the City of Columbus, Ohio within ten days after receiving such contract for execution, and if specified in the legal notice, furnish a good and approved bond conditioned upon the faithful performance of the same. The proposal, contract, proposal bond, (if applicable), and performance bond (if applicable) shall be in the form herein specified.

If, at any time during the continuance of the Contract, any surety shall, in the opinion of the contracting agent of the City, become irresponsible, then said agent shall have the right to require additional and sufficient surety or sureties. The Contractor shall furnish the surety or sureties to the satisfaction of the said agent, within ten (10) days after notice. In default thereof the default provision herein shall apply.

LIABILITY, INSURANCE, LICENSES AND PERMITS

Where offerors are required to enter or go onto City of Columbus property to deliver materials or perform work or services as a result of contract award, the offeror will assume full duty, obligation and expense of obtaining all necessary licenses, permits, and insurance when required. The offeror shall be liable for any damages or loss to the City occasioned by negligence of the offeror (or his agent) or any person the offeror has designated in the completion of his contract as a result of his response. Particular attention is directed to the statutory requirements of the State of Ohio relative to the licensing of corporation organized under the Laws of any other State.

TAXES

The City, being a municipality, is tax exempt and will provide appropriate certificate upon request. Federal and/or State Taxes are not to be included in prices quoted. The successful offeror will be furnished an exemption certificate if needed.

PRICING

Offerors are to quote firm or fixed prices for the duration of any contract, which may be a result of the proposal unless otherwise noted in the specifications. In case of discrepancy in computing the amount of the cost, the UNIT PRICE quoted will govern.

DELIVERY

Time will be of the essence for any orders placed as a result of this response. Purchaser reserves the right to cancel such orders, or any part thereof, without obligations if delivery is not made within the time(s) specified. Delivery shall be made during normal working hours and to the destination shown on the proposal.

(INFORMATION FOR OFFERORS continued next page)

INFORMATION FOR OFFERORS (RFP) (Continued)

IFO-2 Revised 09-07-2021

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

Contractor hereby certifies the following: that it is familiar with Ohio Revised Code (“O.R.C.”) Section 3517.13; that all applicable parties listed in Division (I)(3) or (J)(3) of O.R.C.

Section 3517.13 are in full compliance with Divisions (I)(1) and (J)(1) of that Section; that it is eligible for this contract under the law and will remain in compliance with O.R.C. Section 3517.13 for the duration of this contract and for one year thereafter.

QUALITY

Unless otherwise stated by the offeror, the proposal will be considered as being in strict accordance with the specifications outlined in this RFP document.

SAMPLES

Samples, when requested, must be furnished free of expense to the City and if not destroyed, will upon request be returned at the bidder's expense.

CHANGES AND ADDENDA TO RFP DOCUMENTS

Each change or addenda issued in relation to this document will be published on the City’s Vendor Services website no less than five (5) working days prior to the scheduled RFP due date. In addition, to the extent possible, notice will be e-mailed to each person registered as having interest in the commodities selected for this RFP.

REPUDIATION OF AGREEMENT

The liability of the City for repudiation of any agreement which might result from this request shall be limited to the difference between the market price at the time and place for tender of the service and the unpaid sales price together with any incidental damages, but less expenses paid in consequence of the breach by the City. The liability of the city shall not be measured by the profits or overhead of seller.

CONTRACT MODIFICATION

An agreement which may result from this request shall not be modified or altered by any subsequent course of performance between parties or by additional terms contained in any subsequent documents unless said additional or differing terms are incorporated by contract modification authorized to be entered into by ordinance.

APPLICABLE LAWS

The Revised Code of the State of Ohio, the Charter of the City of Columbus, and all City ordinances insofar as they apply to the laws of competitive bidding, contracts, and purchases, and wage theft prevention, are made a part hereof.

REMEDIES

All claims, counterclaims, disputes and other matters in question between the City, its agents and employees, and the Contractor arising out of or relating to this agreement or its breach will be decided in a court of competent jurisdiction within the County of Franklin, State of Ohio.

OFFERORS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and conditions, submitted with this proposal, which are contrary to City Code or Charter shall be disregarded for the purpose of any subsequent contract. The successful offeror shall be notified as to which terms and conditions, if any, have been deleted or changed.

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS

The City of Columbus, as a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, is subject to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 149, known as the Ohio Public Records Law. Consequently, the Offeror understands that ALL documents submitted in response to this

RFP are considered public records and WILL be released when a public records request is made by news media, competitors, or other interested parties, in accordance with the law. If you contend that certain CLEARLY MARKED portions of your response constitute an exception to Ohio’s public records law, you MUST submit your legal basis in support of that assertion with your response.

If a public records request is made for any portion of the documents that you have submitted and you have NOT clearly marked such documents as information constituting an exception to Ohio’s public records law, your information will be released immediately.

If a public records request is made for such information and you HAVE clearly marked portions of your response as information constituting an exception to Ohio’s public records law, AND you have submitted the legal basis supporting such claim, the City will release a redacted version of your information to the requestor and notify you that a request was made and that a redacted version of your response was released. Should the requestor indicate that the redacted version is not sufficient for their purposes, you then will be IMMEDIATELY responsible for obtaining an order from a Court of competent jurisdiction in Franklin County, Ohio enjoining release of your clearly marked information constituting an exception to Ohio’s public records law.

If a public records request is made for such information and you HAVE clearly marked portions of your response as information constituting an exception to Ohio’s public records law, but you have NOT submitted the legal basis supporting such claim, the City WILL RELEASE your information to the requestor and notify you that a request was made and that your response was released.

DO NOT mark your entire response/submittal as information constituting an exception to Ohio’s public records law. If your entire response/submittal is so marked, the City of Columbus will not consider your offer.

COSTS INCURRED FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS

The City is not liable for any cost associated with the preparation of the proposal or any other costs incurred by any offeror prior to the execution of the contract. The rejection of any proposal in whole or in part, at it discretion, will not render the City liable for incurring any cost or damage.

WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS

If at any time prior to the closing date the invited offeror decides not to provide a proposal, the City will appreciate that a letter to that effect be supplied to the City prior to the deadline.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Successful vendor shall at all times while performing duties, adhere to all rules of their particular industry, with regard to mandates by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and any other regulation applicable to the circumstance.

IFO-3 Revised 09-07-2021

ADDITIONAL CONTRACT TERMS AND REQUIRED

DOCUMENTS IN THE EVENT OF A CONTRACT

This section sets forth contract terms and the required contract documents that the successful offeror must execute following the award of the contract by the contracting authority.

PUBLICATIONS

The Contractor agrees to submit to the City’s Contract Administrator all advertising, sales promotion, and other publicity matters relating to this Contract wherein the City’s name is mentioned or language used from which the connection of the City’s name therewith may, in the City’s judgment, be inferred or implied. The Contractor further agrees not to publish, or use such advertising, sales promotion, or publicity matter without the prior written consent of the City except that may be required under law.

TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE

The City upon thirty days written notice may terminate this agreement at its convenience. The party providing goods or services shall be entitled compensation for goods provided or services rendered under the terms of this contract up to the date of notification of termination.

TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT

If either the City or the Contractor violates any material term or condition of this Contract or fails to fulfill in a timely and proper manner its obligations under this Contract, then the aggrieved party shall give the other party written notice of such failure or violation. The responsible party shall give the other party written notice of such failure or violation. The responsible party will correct the violation or failure within thirty (30) calendar days or as otherwise mutually agreed. If the failure or violation is not corrected, this Contract may be terminated immediately by written notice from the aggrieved party to the other party. The option to terminate shall be the sole discretion of the aggrieved party. If it determined for any reason the failure to perform is without the defaulting party’s control, fault, or negligence, the termination shall be deemed to be a Termination for Convenience.

APPLICABLE LAW, REMEDIES

This agreement shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio. All claims, counterclaims, disputes and other matters in question between the City, its agents and employees, and the Contractor arising out of or relating to this agreement or its breach will be decided in a court of competent jurisdiction within the County of Franklin, State of Ohio. The remedies provided for in this Contract shall not be exclusive but are in addition to all other remedies available under law.

ASSIGNMENT

This agreement may not be assigned or otherwise transferred to others by the contractor without the prior written consent of the City.

SAVE HARMLESS

Contractor shall protect, indemnify and save the City harmless from and against any damage, cost, or liability, including reasonable attorneys’ fees resulting from claim, by third parties for any or all injuries to persons or damage to property arising from the acts or omissions of the Contractor, its officers, employees, agents, or Subcontractors in providing goods or services under the terms and conditions of this contract. The City will not indemnify the contractor and is prohibited from doing so.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS

The Contractor shall perform its duties as an independent contractor and not as an employee. Neither the contractor nor any agent or employee of the contractor shall be or shall be deemed to be an agent or employee of the City of Columbus.

The Contractor shall pay when due all required employment taxes and income tax on any monies paid pursuant to the contract. Contractor shall acknowledge that the contractor and its employees are not entitled to unemployment insurance benefits unless the contractor or a third party provides such coverage and that the City does not apply for or otherwise provide such coverage. Contractor shall have no authorization, express or implied, to bind the City to any agreements, liability, or understanding except as expressly set forth in the contract.

Contractor shall provide and keep in force worker’s compensation (and show proof of such insurance) and unemployment compensation insurance in the amounts required by law, and shall be solely responsible for the acts of the contractor, its employees and agents.

WAGE THEFT PREVENTION

Chapter 377 of the Columbus City Codes is hereby incorporated into the contract and seller is required to comply with said chapter. This includes, but is not limited to reporting requirements and the obligation to review the commission list of contractors and subcontractors that received an adverse determination. Penalties for failure to comply with the wage theft prevention code include suspension for three years, up to permanent disbarment.

IFO-4 Revised 09-07-2021

IN THE EVENT OF A CONTRACT (continued)

PROTECTION OF CITY’S CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

The contractor shall acknowledge that some of the material and information which may come into its possession or knowledge in connection with the contract or its performance, may consist of confidential information, the disclosure of which to, or use by, third parties could be damaging. Therefore, access to information concerning individual recipients of the City’s services to individual clients, among other items, shall not be granted except as authorized by law or agency rule. The contractor shall agree to hold all such information in strictest confidence, not to make use thereof for other than the performance of the contract, to release it only to authorized employees or subcontractors requiring such information, and not to release or disclose it to any other party. The contractor shall agree to release such information or material only to subcontractors who have signed a written agreement expressly prohibiting disclosure. The contractor shall further agree to either destroy or return all such information at the end of the term of the contract.

This section does not impose any obligation on the contractor if the information is: (1) publicly known at the time of disclosure;

(2) already known to the receiving party at the time it is furnished to the contractor; (3) furnished by the City to others without restrictions on its use or disclosure; or (4) independently developed by the receiving party without use of the proprietary information.

WITHHOLDING OF CITY INCOME TAX

Pursuant to Section 362 Columbus City Codes, 1959: "Said Contractor hereby further agrees to withhold all City income tax assessment due or payable under the provisions of Chapter 362, Columbus City Codes for wages, salaries and commissions paid to its employees and further agrees that any of its subcontractors shall be required to agree to withhold any such City income tax assessments due under said chapters for services performed under this Contract."

WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE

The contractor shall take out and maintain, during the life of the contract, adequate worker's compensation insurance for all his employees employed at the site of the project and, in case any work is sublet, the contractor shall require the subcontractor similarly to provide worker's compensation insurance for the latter's employees, unless such employees are covered by the protection afforded by the contractor. The contractor shall furnish three (3) copies of the worker's compensation certificate showing that the contractor has paid his industrial insurance premium.

AUTHORITY TO BIND

The signatories to this Contract represent that they have the authority to bind themselves and their respective organizations to this Contract.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

The contractor shall take out and maintain during the life of the contract, such liability (bodily injury and property damage) Insurance as shall protect it from claims from damages for personal injury, including accidental death, as well as from claims for property damage which may arise from operations under the contract, whether such operation be by itself or any subcontractor or by anyone directly or indirectly employed by either of them. Such insurance policy shall include the City as additional insured. The contractor shall maintain coverage of the types and in the amounts specified below. Proof of such insurance coverage shall be evidenced by submitting a certificate of insurance. A contractor's "umbrella" type policy with limits specified below may be submitted for this requirement with the City as additional insured.

The amount of such insurance shall be as follows:

Bodily Injury Liability:

Each Person $1,000,000.00 Each Accident $1,000,000.00

Property Damage Liability:

Each Person $1,000,000.00 All Accidents $1,000,000.00

Such insurance shall remain in full force and effect during the life of the contract.

Insurance may not be changed or cancelled unless the insured notifies the City in writing not less than thirty days prior to such change or cancellation. If any part of the contract is sublet, the contractor is responsible for the part sublet being adequately covered by insurance hereinabove described.

Contractor assumes all risk of loss and damage to the equipment provided unless loss or damage occurs at the time the operator and equipment are being operated for the purpose designated by the City and such loss or damages is caused by an act of the City or its employee which constitutes gross negligence or wanton misconduct

RFQ032212 – FIRE CHIEF EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

1.0 OBJECTIVE:

This RFP is issued by the City of Columbus for the purpose of obtaining proposals from qualified firms or organizations that specialize in nationwide executive-level recruitment. Specifically, for the recruitment and placement of a Fire Chief for the Columbus Division of Fire.

The City of Columbus is seeking a Fire Chief who is an uncommon leader with a demonstrated history of career accomplishments. This progressive and effective Fire Chief will bring immediate credibility to the highly acclaimed City of Columbus Fire Division (second largest department in the United States with a CFAI Accreditation and ISO 1 rating).

Top candidates for this challenging leadership role must thrive in a robust, fast-paced, and complex environment and be creative, strategic, and able to fully implement best practices for a data-driven deployment of resources. Delivering top-caliber services in this vastly diverse and expansive geographic area requires a servant leader prepared to build on a well-run and progressive organization. The new Fire Chief for Columbus will need to be a courageous and forward-thinking leader who believes in advancing efforts to shape Columbus into “America’s Equal Opportunity City”. This well-rounded, consummate professional will also embrace, appreciate, and celebrate the outstanding contributions and performance from all levels of the Division.

Background information will now be given with respect to: i) the City of Columbus ii) the Columbus Division of Fire iii) the position of Fire Chief.

Background of City of Columbus

The City of Columbus is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and offers the amenities of a big city with the accessibility, charm, and community of a small town. As the 15th largest city in the U.S. with an estimated population of nearly 942,000, spread over 225 square miles, Columbus boasts the renowned Columbus Zoo, top-notch culinary, fashion, music, and entertainment, exciting Ohio State football and professional sports such as the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus Clippers and the Columbus Crew. With a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, burgeoning downtown, and a diverse array of welcoming neighborhoods, the City of Columbus enjoys a tradition of working across the entire community.

Dynamic Communities The region offers a wide variety of housing options, from charming historic neighborhoods and downtown lofts to new suburban developments and multi-acre living.

Diverse, Strong Economy Columbus ranks 7th in economic strength among the 102 largest metropolitan cities in the country.

In 2025 Columbus was named the top metro area in the country in Site Selection Magazine’s Global Groundwork Index, which assesses business growth and public infrastructure investment.

These rankings highlight Columbus’s diverse economy, driven by sectors such as education, insurance, banking, technology, and healthcare. Columbus benefits from a dynamic, yet stable, economy, with a collaborative business environment earning its recognition as one of the top metros for job creation. As an emerging tech city, its research and technology institutions attract the brightest minds from around the world.

Arts and Culture Columbus has an energy that radiates through its thriving industries, neighborhoods, and educational institutions. The City offers a rich cultural landscape, from the renowned collections at the Columbus Museum of Art to Gallery Hop, the monthly celebration of creativity in the Short North Arts District.

Throughout the year, Columbus hosts a wide array of signature events that draw thousands of visitors: including the Columbus Arts Festival; Red, White & Boom; The Ohio State University football games; the Jazz & Rib Fest; the Columbus Marathon; and both the Italian and Greek Festivals. The City is also home to a vibrant performing arts scene, anchored by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts.

Education The Columbus region’s K-12 education options include U.S. News & World Report top-ranked high schools as well as U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon schools. The region has excellent public schools, 140 private institutions, and 54 higher education campuses with nearly 150,000 college students.

City Governance Structure Columbus has a strong mayor form of government with a nine-member city council. Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther was elected the 53rd mayor of the City of Columbus on November 3, 2015, for a four-year term and is currently serving his third term. He has announced he will seek a fourth term in 2027. The Columbus Fire Chief is appointed by and reports to the Public Safety Director, who serves the pleasure of the Mayor. The City of Columbus provides a full array of municipal services with a total operating budget for FY 2026 of $1.26 billion and approximately 8,904 full-time employees.

Highlights

• 15th most populous city in the U.S., https://www.census.gov

• #11 fastest growing city and #6 for corporate HQ leaders, https://businessfacilities.com

• Ohio ranked #2 in the U.S. for corporate investment, with the Columbus region in the Top 10 for cities, https://www.bizjournals.com

• #1 real estate market in US, https://www.columbusunderground.com

• Top 30 cities for minority entrepreneurs, https://smallbiztrends.com

• Top 10 rising city for startups, https://www.forbes.com

• Top 20 best US cities for startups, https://www.commercialcafe.com

• #8 best city for millennials to buy home where housing is affordable and jobs are strong, https://www.businessinsider.com.

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/subcounty-population-estimates.html https://businessfacilities.com/2019/07/business-facilities-2019-metro-rankings-report/ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/03/06/ohio-ranked-no-2-in-the-u-s-for-corporate.html.

https://www.columbusunderground.com/columbus-number-one-real-estate-market-we1 https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/05/top-cities-for-minority-entrepreneurs.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2018/10/01/the-top-10-rising-cities-for-startups/ https://www.commercialcafe.com/blog/top-20-startup-us-cities-2019/ https://www.businessinsider.com/best-places-for-millennials-to-buy-homes-2019-7

• Top 10 smart cities in the US, https://www.businesschief.com

• #1 American city to Work in Tech in 2019, https://smartasset.com

• #1 city for tech jobs, www.lendingtree.com

• Columbus is the best U.S. city for tech jobs, https://fortune.com

• #8 best city for STEM Jobs, https://wallethub.com

• #3 best city for new grads to live, work, play, https://www.realtor.com/

• Top 10 best city for Veterans to Live, https://www.veteransunited.com

• Top 10 best city for young, growing families, https://www.cnbc.com

• Learn more about Columbus at www.experiencecolumbus.com

Background of Columbus Division of Fire The City of Columbus Fire Division (CFD) is a full-spectrum life safety agency protecting the residents, businesses, and visitors of America’s 15th-largest city. The Division provides comprehensive services including fire suppression; emergency medical services (EMS); technical rescue, including urban search and rescue; hazardous materials mitigation; fire prevention and investigation; domestic preparedness; and community fire and EMS safety education.

With an FY 2025 approved operating budget exceeding $336 million, CFD’s 1,765 uniformed personnel safeguard life, property, and the environment through their direct involvement in emergency response, disaster preparedness, public education, and community service. This work is supported by a highly skilled team of 56 non-sworn personnel who provide essential technical, professional, and administrative expertise in support of the Division’s mission. More than 99 percent of CFD employees are represented by the IAFF Columbus Fire Fighters Local 67.

In 2024, CFD responded to approximately 166,087 incidents, with nearly 80 percent (133,357) classified as EMS and rescue-related calls for service. To meet this demand, the Division operates a robust deployment model that includes 35 engine companies, 16 ladder companies, five rescue companies, seven battalions, and 40 EMS transport vehicles, ensuring rapid and effective response across the city.

Operations and Innovation CFD operates several progressive programs designed to enhance patient outcomes and system efficiency. In collaboration with three of the region’s four hospital systems, the Division operates a Mobile Stroke Transport Unit that brings advanced diagnostic technology, including a CT scanner, and specialized stroke care directly to patients in the field.

The Division is also implementing a nurse health care navigation line to connect non-emergency 911 callers with the most appropriate care setting and community resources, helping reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization. CFD’s outreach medicine initiatives include the Rapid Response Emergency and Addiction Crisis Team (RREACT), which serves individuals experiencing substance use disorders, and the Specialized Program Assessing Resource Connectivity (SPARC), which links vulnerable populations to health and social services.

https://www.businesschief.com/top10/7933/Top-10-smart-cities-in-the-US https://smartasset.com/mortgage/tech-workers-2019 https://www.lendingtree.com/business/metro-areas-most-profitable-businesses/?ccontent=TnL5HPStwNw&s1=TnL5HPStwNw&s2=TnL5HPStwNw-TtcX8Tz96OdEK_lZeJ8m1w&ranMID=41202&ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw&ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-TtcX8Tz96OdEK_lZeJ8m1w&PUBSID=2116208&PUBNAME=Skimlinks.com.

https://fortune.com/2019/07/29/the-top-10-u-s-cities-for-tech-jobs/ https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/ https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/best-places-for-new-college-grads-to-find-a-job-mate-and-affordable-home/ https://www.veteransunited.com/realestate/best-cities-for-veteran-homebuyers/ https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/16/best-and-worst-cities-for-young-growing-families.html?__source=sharebar|twitter&par=sharebar http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/

To further strengthen operational effectiveness, CFD leverages advanced geographic information systems (GIS) to optimize resource deployment, conduct system-level performance reviews, and provide incident commanders with enhanced decision-support tools.

The Division of Fire engages in a dynamic and evolving service environment:

Community & Regional Scale

• Serves a major metropolitan area with a diverse and growing population.

• Supports large-scale events including festivals, cultural celebrations, Red, White & Boom, and Ohio State home football games, with individual event attendance ranging from over 100,000 to more than 400,000 participants.

Advanced Healthcare & Emergency Medicine

• Four independent hospital systems, providing broad clinical partnerships and specialty care access.

• Mobile Stroke Unit, delivering hospital-level stroke care directly in the field and improving patient outcomes.

Innovative Service Delivery & Public Health

• Health Care Navigation Line, helping residents access appropriate care and reduce unnecessary emergency responses.

• Forward-thinking Alternative Crisis Response, integrating behavioral health and community-based solutions into emergency services.

Background of Fire Chief Position The Fire Chief is a key member of the Mayor’s executive leadership team and is expected to lead with integrity, have exceptional communication skills and to work closely with and under the guidance of the Mayor and Public Safety Director. The Fire Chief will be joining a high-energy, creative, and professional executive management team and will assume command of a professional organization with a tradition of providing excellent service. In addition to providing oversight and leadership for the day-to-day operational activities of the Division, he/she will serve as a technical advisor to other City departments on fire, disaster management, and EMS issues. The Chief is also responsible for establishing and maintaining a positive employee/labor relations climate and the proper and efficient use of both human and financial resources. Specific responsibilities and skills required of the Fire Chief include:

• Organizes and directs all resources of the Division of Fire for the most efficient discharge of its duty to protect persons and property and obeys and enforces ordinances of the City of Columbus;

• Plans, directs, and reviews activities of personnel to ensure the proper execution of a fire service program designed to facilitate fire prevention, inspections, EMS, fire, and rescue response; water supply, hazardous material response, and bomb disposal; makes recommendations as needed;

• Monitors and modifies fire programs to meet the changing needs of the community and the Division of Fire;

• Takes command at major incidents; responds to emergency calls when off duty;

• Make assignments and supervise subordinate officers in the care and maintenance of equipment, stations, hose, appliances, and other supplies; supervise subordinate officers in the development and operation of fire training and fire prevention programs;

• Directs a communication system; directs the fire equipment maintenance program;

• Initiates and advises on the development of ordinances and regulations; reviews reports of divisional activities; prepares reports for city officials and state and national organizations interested in fire prevention;

• Oversee the preparation and maintenance of records and reports; meets with community groups and with officials who plan and approve the program of the Division;

• Attends conferences and meetings; coordinates activities of the Division of Fire with that of other divisions within the City and with other governmental and private agencies;

• Directs, supervises, and evaluates assigned staff; handles employee concerns and problems, counsels, disciplines, and completes performance appraisals;

• Establishes Division of Fire priorities and develops policies under the direction of the Public Safety Director;

• Directs the preparation, review, and update of long-range and strategic plans;

• Supervises the development of the Division’s annual budget request to the Public Safety Director;

• Recommend priorities for Capital Improvement Projects and major equipment purchases;

• Represents the Division in multi-agency functions; assists in developing multi-agency plans as directed by the Public Safety Director;

• Reviews the Division’s disaster plan annually; and

• Assumes other duties as assigned.

A competitive compensation package, with excellent benefits, will be offered for this executive position.

1.1 Scope of Services:

A successful solution may or may not include the processes listed below. The City of Columbus’ goal is to create an atmosphere of competition where an executive search firm can present its most strategic, innovative, and effective proposal for recruiting a nationally competitive Fire Chief to lead the Columbus Division of Fire (CFD), a full-spectrum life safety agency serving America’s 15th-largest city.

The selected firm shall demonstrate experience conducting executive-level public safety searches of comparable size, complexity, unionized workforce environment, and operational scale.

A successful search strategy may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Firm/City Strategic Launch Meeting o Initial meeting with the Mayor, Public Safety Director, key executive leadership, and designated stakeholders to establish timeline, recruitment strategy, community engagement approach, confidentiality parameters, and performance expectations.

o Review of CFD’s operational profile, including a $336+ million budget, 1,765 sworn personnel, 56 non-sworn personnel, IAFF Local 67 representation, and a service model responding to approximately 166,000 incidents annually.

• Organizational & Stakeholder Assessment o In-depth meetings with City leadership, Fire Division command staff, labor representatives, community stakeholders, and regional partners to identify desired leadership traits and organizational priorities.

o Assessment of operational environment, including EMS-dominant call volume, large-scale event management, mobile stroke operations, alternative crisis response initiatives, and regional hospital partnerships.

• Position Profile Development o Firm/City collaboration to refine and finalize the Fire Chief position profile reflecting responsibilities for the strategic direction of the Division of Fire which incorporates statutory duties, executive leadership expectations, labor relations responsibilities, fiscal oversight, disaster preparedness, and multi-agency coordination.

o Incorporation of the City’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and workforce development.

o Development of candidate evaluation criteria aligned with required education, certifications, executive-level fire service experience, and residency expectations.

• Recruitment Strategy & National Outreach o Development and execution of a targeted national recruitment strategy designed to attract highly qualified and diverse candidates with experience leading and improving complex metropolitan fire and EMS organizations.

o Direct outreach to qualified candidates, including sitting and former chiefs, deputy chiefs, and assistant chiefs from comparable jurisdictions.

o Advertisement placement in appropriate professional associations and fire service leadership networks.

o Design and implement an effective online recruitment strategy.

• Candidate Screening & Evaluation o Firm creates an initial long list of qualified candidates.

o Comprehensive screening including credential verification, executive experience review, leadership assessment, and evaluation of ethical and professional history.

o Firm develops an initial short list of the most qualified candidates for City review.

• Reference & Background Review o Preliminary reference checks of semi-finalists.

o Expanded referencing of finalists, including leadership style, labor relations record, fiscal stewardship, and crisis management performance.

o Coordination of background review processes consistent with City policies and public records requirements.

• Confidentiality & Public Records Compliance o Firm shall work closely with the City to balance confidentiality with Ohio public records law requirements.

o References shall not be contacted without mutual interest established between the City and the candidate.

• Diversity & Inclusion Commitment o The selected firm must demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity in executive recruitment and provide a recruitment strategy designed to identify and attract candidates who reflect the diversity of the Columbus community.

• Deliverables May Include:

o Recruitment timeline and milestone schedule o Position profile and candidate brochure o Outreach strategy documentation o Candidate evaluation matrix o Short list and finalist summaries o Compensation market analysis o Firm narrows short list by additional reference checks o Firm partners with City to interview short list of candidates o Firm assists City with offer to candidate

This Scope of Services is intended to provide guidance; however, the City encourages firms to propose innovative strategies that will result in the recruitment and appointment of a transformational Fire Chief capable of leading one of the nation’s premier metropolitan fire and EMS organizations.

2.0 APPLICABLE STANDARDS AND PUBLICATIONS

Contractor shall comply with all applicable statutes, ordinances, and rules of the Federal Government, the State of Ohio, and the City of Columbus.

Please note that public records laws in Ohio are broad and that documents received by the recruitment firm from candidates are public records subject to disclosure.

3.0 SPECIFICATIONS

3.1 General Information:

The City of Columbus, Department of Public Safety, is seeking to enter into a professional services contract with a qualified executive search firm to conduct a nationwide recruitment for the position of Fire Chief. The contract will be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

The selected Contractor shall provide all personnel, supervision, expertise, and resources necessary to complete the engagement in accordance with the Scope of Services set forth in Section 1.1.

3.1.1 Term:

The anticipated term of the contract shall be approximately two (2) to four (4) months from the date of execution. The final term shall be established during contract negotiations. The Contractor shall adhere to the mutually agreed-upon project timeline and milestone schedule.

3.1.2 Subcontracts and Assignments:

The Contractor agrees that none of the billing work will be subcontracted or assigned without approval of the City.

3.2 RFP Overview:

The Contractor’s response shall provide a clear, concise, and complete description of the Contractor’s qualifications, methodology, and approach to conducting a nationwide executive recruitment.

The RFP will be evaluated based on:

1. The competence of the Contractor and assigned personnel.

2. The quality and feasibility of the technical proposal.

3. The Contractor’s demonstrated ability to perform the work competently and expeditiously.

4. The Contractor’s past performance on similar executive-level recruitments.

Offerors shall not submit cost proposals at this stage. During a later phase, the highest-scoring Offeror(s) will be invited to submit a cost proposal.

3.2.1 Process Summary:

The City will appoint an evaluation committee to evaluate proposals received. The committee shall evaluate all offerors and proposals received and rank the offerors based upon the evaluation criteria specified in the RFP. The committee may select two (2) or more of the highest qualified offerors with which to hold additional discussions. Offerors not selected for further discussions may be excluded from further consideration for the contract upon notification by the committee.

The discussions may include, but are not limited to, presentations by the offerors to the committee to elaborate upon their qualifications, proposals, and/or other pertinent information. The committee may permit revisions of proposals so long as all offerors who are selected for additional discussions are given equal opportunity to revise their proposals.

Based upon the content of the proposals received including any revisions thereto, and upon any additional discussions with the offerors the committee shall rank the remaining offerors based upon the evaluation criteria specified in the RFP. The committee shall submit its ranking of the offerors along with a written explanation to the Director of Public Safety.

The ranking and written explanation shall become part of the contract file.

The City shall have discretion consistent with appropriate departmental and/or citywide administrative rules in selecting the offeror with which to enter into contract negotiations.

The city shall enter into contract negotiations with the selected offeror to determine the terms and conditions of the contract, including compensation to be paid by the city. If negotiations fail, negotiations with this offeror shall be terminated, and the city agency may enter into contract negotiations with another offeror as selected by the director. This process may continue until a contract is successfully negotiated. After successfully negotiating a contract, the City shall submit legislation to city council requesting approval of the contract. In its request for approval, the Department of Public Safety shall explain the basis for the selection of the chosen contractor. No contract awarded pursuant to Columbus City Codes Section 329.28 shall be effective until approved by ordinance of city council.

3.2.2 RFP Sequence of Events:

The following RFP sequence of events represents the City’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. Exact times for questions / answers (in Section 3.2.2.1) and due date are noted in this document and will be published on Vendor Services and in the City Bulletin. All other dates are estimates and may be adjusted by the City:

RFP Published: February 27, 2026 Deadline for written questions: March 10, 2026, 11:00 A.M.

City response to questions: March 12, 2026, 4:00 P.M.

RFP Due: March 20, 2026, 11:00 A.M.

Notification of finalists: March 25, 2026 Presentations to City: March 27, 2026 Contract Negotiation March 30 – April 3,2026 Legislation to City Council April 20, 2026 Contract Commencement: April 23, 2026*

(*engagement anticipated to last 2-4 months)

3.2.2.1 Specification Questions:

Questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted to the Bonfire portal no later than 11:00 a.m. (EST) on March 10, 2026. Responses will be posted on the Bonfire portal no later than 4:00 p.m. (EST) on March 12, 2026.

3.2.2.2 Communications:

During the proposal and evaluation process, Contractors are strictly prohibited from communicating with any City employees or officers regarding this solicitation except through the method stated immediately above during the Question & Answer period.