Business Mentoring, Consulting and Training Services

The City of St. Petersburg, Florida is conducting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Business Mentoring, Consulting and Training Services through The Greenhouse, a collaborative initiative between the city and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. The procurement seeks to develop a pool of Business Support Organizations capable of providing expert trainers and certified business mentors with diverse business expertise. Qualified vendors must have at least five years of experience in certified business mentoring or three years in business capacity building training, with demonstrated expertise supporting businesses across startup, growth, and expansion stages. Contractors will be responsible for delivering individual and cohort mentoring services, developing business capacity building curriculum, conducting onsite training in areas such as business planning, finance, marketing, and sales, and collaborating with Greenhouse Small Business Navigators. The evaluation will be points-based, focusing on vendors' relevant experience, locations served, certifications, and understanding of business development stages. Responses are due by April 2, 2024, at 3:00 pm, with an anticipated recommendation of award to City Council on May 2, 2024. The initial contract term is two years, with three potential one-year renewal options.

While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the solicitation emphasizes inclusive environments and diverse business expertise. Vendors must have formalized training through a professional organization and provide documentation of client meetings using a Client Records Management (CRM) System. The estimated annual expenditure is approximately $35,500, with a project value limitation of $49,999 per single project without prior written consent. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, as well as workers' compensation insurance. The City reserves the right to request replacement of contractor personnel and can terminate the agreement with 30 days' notice. The contract will be governed by Florida law, with venue in Pinellas County, and includes provisions for public records compliance and standard municipal contract terms. Selected contractors will be chosen from the pool as specific needs arise, with flexibility to match consultants to appropriate mentoring and training opportunities based on their specific skills and entrepreneurs' requirements.