2024 Independence Day Fireworks

The City of Pittsburgh is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a qualified fireworks professional or firm to design and execute a 25-minute fireworks display for the 2024 Independence Day Celebration on July 4, 2024, at approximately 9:35 PM at the confluence of the three rivers, with a contingency date of July 5th. The selected contractor will be responsible for creating a patriotic fireworks show synchronized to a musical soundtrack provided by a third-party radio sponsor. The City will provide two flat deck barges and a spudded deck barge as infrastructure for the display. Key qualifications required include demonstrated expertise in fireworks design and execution, with evaluation based on firm qualifications (15%), project team qualifications (15%), project approach (30%), and cost (30%). The RFP was released on January 31, 2024, with a deadline for questions on February 28, 2024, and a proposal response deadline of March 8, 2024, at 5:00 PM. The City is interested in one-, two-, and three-year term agreements, with special consideration for the 2026 display, which will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The contractor must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including general liability, property damage, automobile liability, and maritime insurance with specified coverage limits.

The City of Pittsburgh has established a 10% evaluation criterion (in addition to the standard evaluation factors) dedicated to demonstrating good faith efforts in minority, women-owned, and veteran-owned business participation, with specific participation goals of 18% minority-owned, 7% women-owned, and 5% veteran-owned business involvement. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. The procurement does not indicate explicit set-asides restricting participation to disadvantaged enterprises; rather, it encourages broad participation through evaluation incentives for businesses demonstrating commitment to diversity goals. No specific award value or budget range is listed in the available documentation, though the scope and infrastructure requirements suggest a substantial procurement. This opportunity is available to qualified fireworks professionals and firms meeting the technical and insurance requirements specified in the RFP.