Equity and Inclusion Consulting Services

The City of Tempe, located in Arizona's Maricopa County, has issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ# 26-014) for Equity and Inclusion Consulting Services, seeking a qualified consultant to design and deliver comprehensive training programs focused on strengthening employee engagement and fostering mutual respect across diverse workplace environments. The procurement aims to enhance internal and external customer service for approximately 750 employees, with services scheduled to commence on July 1, 2026, and conclude by January 31, 2027. The initial contract term is one year, with potential renewals for up to four additional annual increments. Vendors must submit proposals by November 12, 2025, at 3:30 P.M. local Arizona time, with preliminary questions due by November 4, 2025. The evaluation process will utilize a cumulative point system assessing qualifications and experience (40 points), method of approach (30 points), pricing (20 points), availability (5 points), and responsiveness (5 points), with proposals rated on a 0-10 scale. The City reserves the right to award contracts to multiple companies and expects vendors to propose pricing structures including hourly rates, two-hour and four-hour session rates for groups of 10-25 employees.

While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the procurement emphasizes sustainability, requiring vendors to complete a Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire as part of their proposal submission. The contract will terminate if costs exceed $100,000, suggesting a budget constraint for potential vendors. The City's Climate Action Plan indicates a preference for environmentally conscious service providers. No incumbent vendors are identified in the documentation, and no specific integration requirements with existing infrastructure or technology are noted. Proposing vendors should be prepared to demonstrate expertise in designing training programs that address workplace diversity, inclusion, and sensitivity, with a comprehensive approach to enhancing employee engagement across varied backgrounds and perspectives. The procurement appears open to a wide range of consulting firms with demonstrated experience in equity, inclusion, and organizational development training.