Community Engagement and Outreach

The City of Long Beach is requesting qualifications from community engagement and outreach service providers to establish a pre-qualified vendor bench for on-demand use by City departments, with qualifications due May 27, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. PST. This is a rolling RFQ with evaluation periods in spring 2025, spring 2026, and spring 2027; no local preference applies, and the bench will accept an unlimited number of qualified vendors.

Minimum qualifications require three years of experience providing similar community engagement services, proof of business authorization, and no federal, state, or local debarment. Responders must be authorized to conduct business in the City; California Secretary of State registration is required at award, not submission. Statements of Qualifications must be submitted in English via LongBeachBuys.com and must include all required addenda acknowledgments (Addenda 1–5 have been issued as of May 6, 2025).

The scope spans 24 disciplinary areas including active transportation, ADA access, arts and culture, budget and finance, capital projects, economic development, emergency preparedness, food security, housing and homelessness, library services, parks and recreation, public health, public safety, public utilities, racial equity, sustainability, technology and digital inclusion, violence prevention, waste management, water systems, youth education, and zoning. Vendors must demonstrate capacity to plan and implement community events, workshops, and focus groups; collect data and produce detailed reports; provide translation and interpretation services; offer participant support such as childcare and incentives; produce educational materials; and develop graphic design content.

Placement on the bench does not guarantee work or contract amounts; individual City departments will issue Requests for Quotes for specific projects and negotiate rates directly with selected vendors. Any awarded contract will be for up to two years with options to renew for up to three additional one-year periods, not to exceed five years total. Evaluation focuses on organizational capacity and experience in historically underserved communities, method of approach and work samples, communications and reporting capabilities including data collection and daily coordination, and reasonableness of cost. The City reserves the right to negotiate fees at vendor selection or project initiation.

A Notice of Intent to Award dated October 23, 2025 reflects 56 pre-qualified vendors selected from 69 responsive submissions. An optional virtual information session was held March 18, 2025, and an optional in-person session April 1, 2025. Questions were due April 22, 2025, with responses posted May 6, 2025. Required attachments include Authorization and Certification, Equal Benefits Ordinance compliance form, and W-9; business license and California registration proof are optional at submission but mandatory upon award. The City Manager's Office oversees contract management. Payment is issued within 30 calendar days of invoice submission.