Downtown Activation & Events

The City of Long Beach is soliciting proposals to design, implement, and manage a comprehensive downtown activation program under RFP ED-26-737, with proposals due July 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM PST. A local business preference of 5 percentage points applies to vendors with a principal place of business in Long Beach and a current business license; an additional 5 percentage points (10 total) applies to vendors operating from a brick-and-mortar or non-residential commercial location in Long Beach.

Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of two years' experience designing activation programs and producing arts, cultural, and community-based events that stimulate economic activity. The scope encompasses program design and management, marketing and promotion, arts and cultural activations, events and concerts, markets, pop-up retail opportunities, artist and entrepreneur integration, and interactive public experiences targeting Pine Avenue, the East Village, the new amphitheater, and surrounding downtown blocks. Performance metrics include 1–3 activation events per month, minimum one co-sponsored activation monthly by outside funding partners, 75% of vendors selected from Long Beach, 10–15% increase in community participation, decreased vacant storefronts, diverse vendor demographic representation, and marketing KPIs of +10–30% impressions, +5–15% revenue lift, and 30–90 minute dwell time.

Evaluation criteria weighting: organizational capacity and experience (40%), method of approach including equity and inclusion strategies (30%), communications and reporting capability (20%), and cost reasonableness (10%). The City requires certificates of insurance with $2,000,000 general liability per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate, proof of financial stability, valid business licenses, and California Secretary of State registration upon award. Compensation is a one-time award disbursed upon receipt of deliverables, issued within 30 calendar days of invoice submission; no specific funding amount is stated. Contract execution is estimated for late 2026, with project timeline extending to mid-2028. Questions are due by July 2, 2026. The Equal Benefits Ordinance applies to for-profit contractors with contracts valued at $100,000 or more and to for-profit entities leasing City property and generating $350,000 or more in annual gross receipts.