Arts, History, Heritage, and Culture Plan

The City of Tucson is seeking a professional cultural planning firm to develop a comprehensive Arts, History, Heritage, and Culture (AHHC) Plan through Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 230024. The project aims to support the city's efforts in asset identification, mapping, planning, and management of cultural resources, with a specific focus on elevating voices of historically repressed communities and protecting at-risk heritage. Key deliverables include creating an asset inventory and inclusion process, developing a stakeholder directory and relationship matrix, leading strategic vision development, and providing operational and investment recommendations. The successful consultant will work within the context of Tucson's rich cultural landscape, located in North America's oldest continuously inhabited region, and collaborate with The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona. The pre-submittal conference was held on December 9, 2022, with proposals due on January 13, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. local Arizona time. Evaluation criteria will likely focus on the firm's expertise in cultural planning, understanding of Tucson's unique cultural context, and ability to create a comprehensive and inclusive strategic plan.

The procurement appears to have potential set-aside or preference considerations, particularly given the city's emphasis on elevating historically marginalized voices and the inclusion of Section 3 guidelines in the accompanying documentation. While specific set-aside percentages are not explicitly outlined in the AHHC Plan RFP, the accompanying Section 3 Program documentation suggests preferences for local, low-income, and minority-owned businesses. Contractors will need to comply with various federal regulations, including HUD and FTA requirements related to workforce diversity and economic opportunities. The project may involve complex funding mechanisms, with potential sources to be determined during the planning process. While a specific budget range is not disclosed in the documents, the comprehensive nature of the plan and the city's emphasis on thorough cultural asset management suggest a significant investment. The project will require a highly specialized cultural planning firm with demonstrated experience in comprehensive heritage preservation, community engagement, and strategic cultural asset management.