Kentucky State Fair Board Entertainment Manager

The Kentucky State Fair Board issued RFP 235 2600000369 on March 20, 2026, for a Personal Service Contract to procure an Entertainment Manager for the Kentucky State Fair. The procuring agency is the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB), located at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. The scope of services encompasses booking entertainment acts, negotiating and reviewing contracts with entertainers and their managers or agents, and producing actual stage performances during the eleven-day Kentucky State Fair. The Entertainment Manager will also coordinate comprehensive show logistics including security, stagehands, sound and lighting services, catering, and transportation, while ensuring compliance with KSFB Purchasing Department procurement rules and regulations. Key qualifications required include documented experience in booking entertainment acts, managing stage productions, and negotiating contracts for state fairs, festivals, or other mass entertainment events, as well as professional expertise supported by a comprehensive resume. The evaluation methodology utilizes a 1,000-point scoring system consisting of Previous Experience in entertainment booking and stage production management for state fairs and festivals (350 points), Personal Qualifications and Expertise (250 points), and Cost Proposal (400 points). Critical deadlines include written questions due by 3:00 PM on March 27, 2026, with KSFB responses anticipated on April 3, 2026, and proposals due electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service system by 3:00 PM EST on April 10, 2026. The initial contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with the KSFB reserving the right to renew for up to two additional two-year periods subject to Legislative Research Commission approval.

The procurement documentation does not identify specific set-asides or restrictions limiting organizational types that may respond to this solicitation. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available materials, and no existing technology infrastructure integration requirements are specified. Regarding compensation, vendors must agree to receive no additional compensation from artists for services rendered, with all reimbursable expenses itemized separately on the Cost Proposal Form; however, the specific contract award value or budget range is not disclosed in the available documentation. All pricing information must be submitted exclusively on Attachment C (Cost Proposal Form), with no pricing permitted in the technical proposal, and must include yearly costs for the full two-year contract period plus itemized reimbursable expenses. Proposals must remain valid for a minimum of six months following the proposal due date, and the KSFB reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, request Best and Final Offers, conduct discussions with offerors, and negotiate fair and reasonable compensation. Contract award is contingent upon approval and filing with the Legislative Research Commission's Government Contract Review Committee, and billable work cannot commence until the contract is fully executed.