Classification & Compensation Program Development Consulting Services

The City of Long Beach is requesting proposals for Classification & Compensation Program Development Consulting Services under RFP HR-26-702, with proposals due May 21, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time. A local-vendor preference program provides five to ten additional credit points to businesses maintaining a principal place of business within Long Beach with current business licenses; the Equal Benefits Ordinance applies to contractors with contract values of $100,000 or more.

The scope encompasses modernization of the City's approximately 639 job classifications (294 management classifications) serving 6,000 full-time and part-time employees across 24 departments. Primary deliverables include project planning and communication; alignment of classification and compensation policies with industry standards; development of a modernized compensation philosophy; identification of revised comparator agencies, including specialized alternatives for Airport, Beach, Harbor, Health, Gas and Water Utility sectors; delivery of classification and compensation training via recorded webinar-style sessions; and assessment of essential functions for occupational health and workplace accommodations. The consultant will redevelop approximately 10–15 existing documents and relevant employee association Memoranda of Understanding sections. The City maintains position control through Tyler Munis, occupation codes in BlueZone HRMS, and classification specifications on its website and in NeoGov; consultant familiarity with NeoGov and Microsoft Office Suite is preferred. The consultant is not responsible for implementation activities, system transitions, or individual specification updates.

The City has not established a specific budget, as it has not previously conducted a city-wide classification and compensation study. Proposals may be structured as fixed-fee or time-and-materials arrangements. The contract term is two years with three optional one-year renewal periods, not to exceed five years total, with work assigned on an as-needed basis and no guaranteed minimum compensation.

Evaluation criteria are weighted: Organizational Capacity and Experience (35%), Method of Approach (35%), Training and Communications Reporting (20%), and Reasonableness of Cost (10%). Proposers must demonstrate at least three years of experience providing classification and compensation studies for public agencies with public safety departments and proven expertise in advanced data analysis.

Mandatory attachments include Authorization and Certification, Equal Benefits Ordinance Form, and Local Preference Program certification. Upon award, contractors must submit W-9, California Secretary of State registration proof, business license, and certificates of insurance (commercial general liability $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate; professional liability $1,000,000 per claim; workers' compensation). Questions were due April 16, 2026; responses were posted April 30, 2026. Addenda 1, 2, and 3 were issued April 14, April 23, and April 23, 2026, respectively; Addendum 2 updated the proposal due date from May 14 to May 21, 2026.