Executive Search Services

The City of Detroit Office of Contracting and Procurement is requesting proposals for Executive Search Services to recruit candidates for multiple municipal executive positions, with proposals due October 5, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST and questions due by September 29, 2026. Detroit Equalization Credits of up to 10 additional points are available for prime contractors meeting local business criteria, including Detroit Headquartered Business designation, Detroit-based operations, Detroit resident ownership, and small or micro business status.

Respondents must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience providing similar services for projects of comparable scope and size. The scope includes sourcing and identifying qualified candidates for positions such as Deputy Director, Director of Department, and Executive Assistant to the Mayor; conducting regional or national searches; developing marketing plans to attract candidates; and providing candidate names, contact information, and resumes to the City's Talent Acquisition Division. Upon contract execution, the successful respondent must comply with City data standards including API access, secure data handling, and compliance with HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and NIST standards. Respondents must also provide ISO 27001 certification or a SOC 2 Type 2 Report annually.

The contract term is three years with renewal options subject to Detroit City Council approval. Compensation is structured as a fee tied to the first-year annual salary of successfully placed employees, with the firm earning compensation only after the employee begins work; if an employee leaves within three months, the firm must provide a replacement at no additional cost. Pricing must be submitted by position level category (Senior Level Leadership, Mid-Level Leadership, and All Other Positions).

Evaluation criteria are scored on a 100-point scale: demonstrated experience (25 points), technical approach and marketing methods (25 points), strength of team and talent acquisition specialists (20 points), candidate assessment methodology (20 points), and pricing (10 points). Proposals must remain firm for 120 days from the due date. All submissions must be made through the EUNA Bonfire Supplier Portal at detroit.bonfirehub.com. The City reserves the right to request oral presentations or demonstrations from selected respondents. Conditions of award include notarized City of Detroit Consolidated Affidavits, a Certificate of Insurance, proof of active SAM registration, and City Treasury Clearance.