Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports_ Recreation_ _ Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

2026-RFI-059

FIRM QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGIONAL INDOOR SPORTS,

RECREATION, & ENTERTAINMENT FACILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY

SERVICES

City of Palm Desert

73-510 Fred Waring Drive

Palm Desert, CA 92260

RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2026

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: September 30, 2026

RESPONSE DEADLINE: October 14, 2026, 2:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityofpalmdesert https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityofpalmdesert

City of Palm Desert

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, &

Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

1. Introduction

2. Project Details

3. Requests for Clarification

4. Instructions to Respondents

5. Content and Format

6. Review of Responses

Attachments:

A - Site Map

B - Indoor Sports Facility Staff Report-February 12, 2026

C - Indoor Sports Facility PPT Presentation-February 12, 2026

D - Visit Greater Palm Springs Feasibility Study-2024

E - Visit Greater Palm Springs Feasbility Study-2025

Request For Information #2026-RFI-059 Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

The City of Palm Desert (“City”) is requesting information from qualified firms and multidisciplinary teams with demonstrated experience n feasibility study services, public-private partnerships (“P3”), facility operations, economic impact analysis, and strategic implementation planning for regional indoor sports, recreation, entertainment, or similar facilities.

The City is considering the potential development of a regional indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility on approximately 18 to 20 acres of former Redevelopment Agency property located within an approximately 170-acre area generally situated at the northeast corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue, as shown on the attached site map.

Through this Request for Information (“RFI”), the City seeks to identify firms with relevant qualifications and experience in areas such as market and financial feasibility analysis, facility planning and operations, sports tourism and recreation programming, economic impact analysis, P3, funding strategies, and implementation planning.

Respondents are requested to provide information regarding their firm’s qualifications, relevant experience, key areas of expertise, and examples of comparable feasibility studies or related assignments completed for public agencies or similar clients. Respondents should also describe where applicable, their experience participation in or structuring P3's and any potential interest or role in the development, financing, operation, or management of a similar facility.

Respondents are requested to provide information regarding their firm’s qualifications, relevant experience, key areas of expertise, and examples of comparable feasibility studies or related assignments completed for public agencies or similar clients. Respondents should also describe, where applicable, their experience participation in or structuring P3’s and any potential interest or role in the development, financing, operation, or management of a similar facility.

The information received may be used by the City to better understand the available expertise and potential project delivery approaches to determine whether to proceed with subsequent procurement, partnership process, or other solicitation related to the project.

1.2. Background

In April 2024, Visit Greater Palm Springs completed the Feasibility Study of a New Amateur Sports

Complex in the Greater Palm Springs/Coachella Valley Area. The study is included as Attachment B for informational purposes and to provide regional background relevant to this RFI. That study concluded that the regional market could support an approximately 140,000-square-foot indoor sports and recreation facility and identified opportunities to expand sports tourism, enhance recreational amenities, and generate regional economic benefits.

Visit Greater Palm Springs has also explored the potential creation of a Tourism Business Improvement

District as a possible funding mechanism to support the development and long-term operation of a regional sports facility.

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

On February 12, 2026, the Palm Desert City Council directed staff to seek proposals from qualified development and operations partners and conduct a detailed evaluation of capital costs, operating projections, funding strategies, fiscal impacts, and potential return on investment, and to return to the

City Council with a proposed deal structure if viable. Additionally, the Palm Desert City Council has identified studying the feasibility of build a regional indoor sports facility as one of its 2026 City Council

Goals.

The proposed indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility would be located on approximately

18 to 20 acres within a larger, approximately 170-acre vacant area generally situated at the northeast corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue. The 170-acre area is located within the University

Neighborhood Specific Plan and is currently being planned for future development. The City is currently updating the Specific Plan to accommodate the potential development of an indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility and to complete the associated environmental review. The Specific Plan update is currently anticipated to be completed by March 2027.

In addition to the potential indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility, the 170 acre site is anticipated to include up to 2,200 multifamily residential units, approximately 12 acres of commercial, retail, and hospitality uses, 24.5 acres of open space, approximately 28 acres of lighted regional sports fields, and approximately 3 acres of public facility uses that may support shared parking opportunities.

The approximately 18 to 20 acre facility site would therefore be part of this larger planned development area. Its proximity to regional sports fields, residential development, commercial and hospitality uses, and other planned public amenities could provide opportunities for complementary uses, shared infrastructure, and increased regional activity.

1.3. Contact Information

Project Contact:

Erika Castellano

Management Analyst

73510 Fred Waring Drive

Palm Desert, CA 92260

Email: ecastellano@palmdesert.gov

Phone: (760) 346-0611

Procurement Contact:

Celina Cabrera

Senior Management Analyst

73510 Fred Waring Dr

Palm Desert, CA 92260

Email: ccabrera@palmdesert.gov

Phone: (760) 776-6449

Department:

CMO - City Manager mailto:ecastellano@palmdesert.gov tel:(760)346-0611 mailto:ccabrera@palmdesert.gov tel:(760)776-6449

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

1.4. Timeline

Release Date September 18, 2026

Question Submission Deadline September 30, 2026, 5:00pm

Staff Response to Questions Deadline October 2, 2026, 5:00pm

Submittal Deadline October 14, 2026, 2:00pm

2. Project Details

2.1. Statement of Qualifications

Respondents should provide information demonstrating their qualifications, experience, and capabilities relevant to the potential development of the project. Responses should identify comparable projects, key areas of expertise, and experience working with public agencies or similar clients.

Relevant experience may include:

• Market and demand analysis;

• Financial feasibility and financial modeling;

• Facility planning, programming, and sizing;

• Facility operations and management;

• Sports tourism and recreation programming;

• Economic and fiscal impact analysis;

• Site-specific feasibility analysis;

• Public-private partnerships and alternative delivery models;

• Development, financing, ownership, and operating structures;

• Funding strategies and identification of public and private funding sources;

• Regional partnerships and stakeholder coordination, including healthcare or wellness organizations; and

• Strategic implementation and phasing.

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

Respondents with experience as developers, operators, investors, or other private-sector partners should also describe their experience with comparable projects and, where applicable, their potential interest or role in a future public-private partnership involving the project.

2.2. Market Feasibility

Respondents should demonstrate experience conducting market and demand analyses for indoor sports, recreation, entertainment, sports tourism, or similar facilities. Relevant experience may include evaluating regional demand, potential users, tournaments and events, competitive facilities, market conditions, and facility programming or sizing considerations.

2.3. Financial Feasibility

Respondents should demonstrate experience evaluating the financial feasibility of comparable facilities.

Relevant experience may include analysis of capital costs, operating revenues and expenses, funding gaps, public investment requirements, financial performance, and sensitivity under various development or operating scenarios.

2.4. Operational Feasibility

Respondents should demonstrate experience evaluating operational models for sports, recreation, and entertainment facilities. Relevant experience may include facility programming, staffing, management structures, event operations, sports tourism, and public, private, or hybrid operating models.

2.5. Site-Specific Feasibility

Respondents should demonstrate experience evaluating site-specific considerations associated with comparable facilities. Relevant experience may include facility size and programming, parking, access and circulation, adjacent and complementary land uses, infrastructure considerations, and overall site suitability.

2.6. Implementation Strategies, Delivery Models, and Public-Private Partnerships

Respondents should demonstrate experience evaluating implementation strategies for comparable projects, including public-private partnerships, ownership and operating structures, alternative project delivery models, financing strategies, and phased development approaches.

2.7. Regional Partnerships and Funding Opportunities

Respondents should demonstrate experience identifying and evaluating regional partnerships and potential funding opportunities for comparable projects. Relevant experience may include grants, sponsorships, tourism-related funding mechanisms, interagency partnerships, and coordination with public agencies, tourism organizations, healthcare or wellness organizations, educational institutions, sports organizations, and other regional stakeholders.

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

2.8. Potential Development and Operating Partners

The City is interested in identifying firms that may have the experience, capabilities, and interest to participate in the potential development and operation of a regional indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility through a public-private partnership or other project delivery model.

Firms with experience as developers, facility operators, investors, sports organizations, entertainment companies, or other private-sector partners should describe their experience with comparable projects and their potential role in the project.

Relevant information may include:

• Experience developing, financing, owning, managing, or operating comparable facilities;

• Experience structuring and implementing public-private partnerships or other public-private delivery models;

• Potential approaches to project development, financing, ownership, and operations;

• Experience securing private investment, sponsorships, naming rights, or other revenue sources;

• Facility programming, event development, sports tourism, and regional or national event attraction capabilities;

• Experience working with municipalities, public agencies, tourism organizations, sports organizations, educational institutions, and other regional partners;

• Potential financial or other private-sector contributions to the project;

• Key considerations, opportunities, or challenges associated with a potential public-private partnership; and

• The firm's potential interest in serving as a development, financing, operating, or other private-sector partner.

Respondents are encouraged to provide examples of comparable projects and may identify potential partnership structures or approaches that they believe could be appropriate for the project. The City is not establishing a specific project delivery model through this RFI and may use the information received to evaluate potential approaches and determine whether to pursue a subsequent procurement, partnership process, or other solicitation.

3. Requests for Clarification

All questions, requests for interpretation, or requests for clarification regarding this RFI shall be submitted in writing through the Q&A tab in the City’s OpenGov Procurement portal no later than the Question

Submission Deadline of 5:00 pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Responses to questions, when provided, will be issued in writing through OpenGov Procurement and made available to all interested respondents.

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

Oral communications regarding this RFI shall not be considered official or binding unless confirmed in writing by the City through OpenGov Procurement.

Respondents are responsible for monitoring the OpenGov Procurement portal for responses to questions, clarifications, addenda, or other information issued by the City.

4. Instructions to Respondents

4.1. Submission of Responses

Responses shall be submitted electronically through the City’s OpenGov Procurement portal no later than

2:00 pm on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Respondents are responsible for ensuring that their response is complete and successfully submitted through OpenGov prior to the deadline. Responses submitted by email, mail, or other means will not be accepted.

4.2. Purpose of the RFI

This RFI is intended to assist the City in identifying firms with relevant qualifications, experience, and capabilities and in understanding potential approaches to evaluating, developing, financing, operating, and implementing a regional indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility.

Information received may be used to inform the City's consideration of potential project delivery models, including traditional consultant services, public-private partnerships, development and operating partnerships, or other approaches. This RFI does not obligate the City to proceed with the project or to enter into any agreement with a respondent Response Preparation

Respondents should provide clear and concise information responsive to the requirements identified in this RFI. Responses should emphasize the firm’s qualifications, relevant experience, areas of expertise, and experience with comparable projects.

Respondents should not include pricing or fee proposals unless specifically requested by the City.

4.3. Response Preparation

Respondents should provide clear and concise information responsive to the requirements identified in this RFI. Responses should emphasize the firm’s qualifications, relevant experience, areas of expertise, and experience with comparable projects.

Respondents should not include pricing or fee proposals unless specifically requested by the City.

4.4. Costs of Response

All costs associated with preparing and submitting a response to this RFI shall be the sole responsibility of the Respondent. The City will not reimburse any costs incurred in connection with the preparation or submission of a response.

5. Content and Format

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

5.1. Response Items*

Respondents should identify the role or roles they are responding in, such as feasibility consultant, developer, facility operator, investor, financing partner, sports or entertainment organization, or other potential project partner. Respondents may identify more than one role where applicable and should tailor their responses to the experience and capabilities they would bring to the project.

1. Overview

Provide a brief overview of the firm, including:

• Firm name and primary office location.

• Years in business.

• General description of the firm’s services and areas of expertise.

• Experience working with public agencies or similar clients on comparable projects.

• Identification of any subconsultants or partner firms that are typically utilized for this type of work.

2. Relevant Experience

Describe the firm’s experience with feasibility studies, facility development, financing, operations, public-private partnerships, or related assignments applicable to the project.

Respondents should identify projects that are most comparable to the type of work described in this RFI and should include, at a minimum:

• Client or agency name.

• Project name and location.

• Brief description of the facility or project studied.

• Scope of services provided by the firm.

• Year the study or assignment was completed.

• Firm’s role on the project.

• Key outcomes or recommendations resulting from the study, where appropriate.

Preference should be given to examples involving public agencies, regional facilities, or projects of comparable scale and complexity.

3. Experience and Key Study Areas

Describe the firm’s experience in the areas identified in Section 2 of this RFI, including, as applicable:

• Market and demand feasibility.

• Financial feasibility.

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

• Operational feasibility.

• Site-specific feasibility.

• Sports tourism and recreation programming.

• Economic or fiscal impact analysis.

• Public-private partnerships and alternative delivery models.

• Funding strategies and regional partnerships.

• Strategic implementation planning.

Respondents are not required to demonstrate experience in every area listed but should clearly identify the areas in which the firm has substantial expertise. Respondents whose potential role is primarily development, financing, ownership, or operations should also describe their relevant experience and capabilities in those areas.

4. Key Personnel and Team Qualifications

Identify key personnel who would typically support the services, activities, or potential role described in the respondent’s submission and provide a brief description of their qualifications, relevant experience, and areas of expertise.

Respondents should also identify any specialized disciplines or subconsultants that may be incorporated into a multidisciplinary team for comparable assignments.

5. Comparable Project Examples

Describe the firm’s experience working with cities, counties, special districts, tourism organizations, or other public-sector entities on comparable studies.

Respondents should identify any experience presenting findings or recommendations to governing boards, elected officials, community stakeholders, or regional partner organizations.

6. Public-Sector Experience

Describe the firm’s experience working with cities, counties, special districts, tourism organizations, or other public-sector entities on comparable studies.

Respondents should identify any experience presenting findings or recommendations to governing boards, elected officials, community stakeholders, or regional partner organizations.

7. Accessibility Experience

Describe the firm’s experience preparing public-facing reports, presentations, graphics, maps, and other electronic deliverables in accessible formats. Respondents should identify experience, where applicable, with accessibility requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable Web

Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards.

8. Additional Information

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

Respondents may provide any additional information they believe would assist the City in understanding the firm’s qualifications, capabilities, or experience relevant to the services described in this RFI.

*Response required

6. Review of Responses

Responses received through this RFI will be reviewed by City staff to assist the City in evaluating the qualifications, experience, capabilities, and potential roles of respondents in connection with the project.

In reviewing responses, the City will consider the extent to which each Respondent demonstrates relevant qualifications, experience, and capabilities related to the services, activities, or potential project roles described in this RFI.

The City’s review may include consideration of the following:

• Demonstrated experience relevant to the Respondent’s proposed role, including feasibility studies, facility development, financing, ownership, operations, public-private partnerships, sports tourism, or similar projects.

• Relevance and comparability of completed projects, including project type, size, complexity, regional significance, and public-sector involvement.

• Experience conducting or evaluating market and demand analyses, financial feasibility, operational feasibility, economic or fiscal impacts, or other analyses relevant to comparable projects.

• Experience evaluating site-specific feasibility, including facility programming, parking, access, circulation, infrastructure, and complementary land uses.

• Experience with public-private partnerships, alternative ownership and operating models, financing strategies, and implementation planning.

• Experience identifying funding opportunities, grants, sponsorships, tourism-related funding mechanisms, and regional partnership opportunities.

• Experience working with cities, counties, tourism organizations, special districts, or other public-sector entities.

• Qualifications and relevant experience of key personnel and multidisciplinary team members.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex findings and recommendations to public agencies, governing bodies, stakeholders, or regional partners.

• Demonstrated experience preparing accessible public-facing reports, presentations, graphics, maps, and electronic deliverables consistent with applicable Title II ADA and WCAG requirements.

Title: Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

• Overall relevance of the Respondent’s qualifications, experience, capabilities, and proposed role to the City’s potential future needs.

The City may contact Respondents to request clarification or additional information regarding their submissions. Based on its review of the responses received, the City may identify one or more respondents for further consideration and may request additional information, qualifications, or pricing related to feasibility study services or other potential project roles, as appropriate. Participation in this RFI does not guarantee that a Respondent will be selected for further consideration or awarded a contract, and the

City reserves the right to determine whether and how to proceed following completion of the RFI process.

6. Review of Responses