Holiday Express Program Manager

The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department is requesting proposals for a Holiday Express Program Manager to support Pullen Park's annual holiday event, with proposals due September 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EST under RFP #274-PullHEXManager.

The scope covers specialized event management including planning, vendor coordination, ticketing consultation, operational guidance, on-site event support, and post-event analysis. Proposers must demonstrate previous experience performing similar work, vendor and public engagement capabilities, and quality execution on comparable projects.

Evaluation uses weighted scoring: previous experience with similar work (30 points), vendor and public engagement experience (30 points), work quality on similar projects (20 points), project understanding (15 points), and proposed cost (5 points). Stage 2 interviews (maximum 5 additional points) follow initial scoring to determine final rankings. Cost scoring awards maximum points to the lowest-cost proposal, with remaining proposals scored proportionally.

The contract term will be defined at award. Renewal options may be available and will be detailed in the final executed contract. Financial documentation is required, including audited or reviewed financial statements, compiled statements with supporting evidence, or CPA certification of financial viability.

Submission requires one signed original, one electronic PDF version on USB flash drive, and three hard copies of the complete proposal; cost proposals must be in a separate sealed envelope. Written questions are due September 3, 2026, with anticipated City responses September 4. A pre-proposal conference is encouraged but not mandatory. The evaluation meeting is scheduled for September 14, 2026, with selection announcement on September 15. The City will not reimburse proposer expenses for proposal development or interview participation. All proposals become City property subject to North Carolina public records law.