LA28 Events, Public Events, Marketing, Branding & Community Engagement Services

The City of Santa Monica is soliciting proposals for LA28 Events, Public Events, Marketing, Branding & Community Engagement Services under an RFP with proposals due November 25, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., questions due November 5, 2026, and responses due November 16, 2026.

The City seeks qualified producers, consultants, arts and cultural organizations, nonprofits, multidisciplinary teams, businesses, and individuals to develop and implement creative activations, public programming, public art initiatives, and community events across three service categories: Marketing & Design, Production & Event Execution, and Community Engagement. Proposed projects range from neighborhood cultural programs and temporary public art installations to large-scale festivals, waterfront activations, and major event-related programming tied to Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Deliverables include strategic planning, major event production, community activation, creative producing, project management, partnership development, and audience development initiatives. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of five years of relevant experience in the applicable category or categories.

The contract term is three years with two optional one-year renewals exercisable at the City's sole discretion. Individual project authorizations will be issued separately through Notices to Proceed based on City priorities, available funding, and project needs. Vendors physically located in Santa Monica must obtain a City business license; those conducting business in the City must obtain an Out-of-City Business License. The Living Wage Ordinance applies to contracts exceeding $54,200, requiring compliance certification and a minimum wage of $25.00 per hour.

Proposals will be evaluated on community partnerships and collaboration (15 points), creative vision and programming approach (20 points), experience and qualifications (25 points), alignment with City Strategic Priorities (10 points), project management and operational capacity (20 points), and references (10 points). Cost proposals should include total fees, hourly rate schedules for all personnel with fringe benefits and indirect costs, and percentage of scope completion by individual or pay classification. Selection will be made to the best qualified proposer(s), not necessarily the lowest cost bidder. All proposals become public record subject to California Public Records Act provisions, except elements marked as trade secrets or confidential.

Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 per accident, and Workers' Compensation as required by California law. The City must be named as additional insured on the CGL policy.