Fitness Center Design and Equipment Upgrades

The City of Cincinnati is seeking proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP255X901086) for a comprehensive fitness center design and equipment upgrade project spanning thirteen recreation centers managed by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC). The procurement aims to develop an immediate improvement plan with a five-year equipment upgrade strategy, including both lease and purchase options for cardio and strength training equipment. Vendors must provide detailed proposals covering equipment supply, evaluation and repurposing of existing equipment, identifying and retiring obsolete machines, and creating design layouts optimized for space usage, safety, and ADA compliance. Key deliverables include supplying commercially durable fitness equipment, providing approximately 24 hours of on-site staff training, and participating in a public ribbon-cutting event. Evaluation criteria will assess implementation and design (30 points), proposal quality and repurposing plan (20 points), equipment and maintenance plan quality and price (20 points), key personnel qualifications (10 points), implementation timeline (10 points), and innovativeness and creativity (10 points). Non-mandatory pre-submission site visits are scheduled for January 8-9, 2026, with written questions due by January 13, 2026, and final proposals due by 3:00 PM ET on January 22, 2026, through the City's Bonfire portal.

The contract includes specific requirements for business enterprise participation, with a 2.0% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontracting goal and a 0.0% Women Business Enterprise (WBE) subcontracting goal. Vendors must submit proposals as single legal entities and may hold City of Cincinnati certifications such as Small Business Enterprises (SBE), Emerging Local Business Enterprises (ELBE), or Sheltered Local Business Enterprises (SLBE). Insurance requirements include $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate, and $1,000,000 professional liability insurance. The contract term is three years, with options for two additional one-year renewals, and includes an administrative fee of 1% of total contract sales payable quarterly. Vendors must provide detailed pricing for 36-, 48-, and 60-month lease terms with end-of-term options like Fair Market Value buyout, equipment return, or lease renewal. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the project covering thirteen recreation centers suggests a significant investment in fitness center modernization and equipment upgrades.