Local Supplier Development and Entrepreneurship Consultant

Louisville Jefferson County Metro Government's Office of Equity is seeking a Local Supplier Development & Entrepreneurship Consultant through RFP260071 to support the Equity in Procurement and Contracting Task Force. The primary objective is to broaden the pool of qualified local vendors for goods, services, small construction, and repair opportunities. The selected Subject Matter Expert will develop an annual Outreach & Education Plan, conduct workshops, webinars, vendor fairs, and matchmaker events, and grow opt-in vendor lists. Key deliverables include creating a centralized bid-document repository, publishing comprehensive opportunity lists, and producing quarterly dashboards and an annual report. The proposal evaluation will be based on technical approach (25 points), relevant experience (25 points), project management (25 points), key personnel (12.5 points), and price (12.5 points). The contract term is from October 2025 to July 2026, with bid opening on September 4, 2025, questions due by September 11, 2025, and proposals due by September 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT through the Bonfire procurement portal.

The procurement includes several preferences and set-aside considerations for diverse businesses, with specific goals for Minority Business Enterprise (15%), Female Business Enterprise (5%), and Historically Black Enterprise (0.5%) participation. Vendors can claim local vendor preference (5% reduction) and minimum wage preference for paying employees at least $10.10 per hour. The solicitation encourages participation from businesses owned by minorities, women, disabled individuals, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, with opportunities to self-identify through certification processes. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract supports businesses in Bath County, Kentucky, and aims to create a more inclusive procurement ecosystem. Insurance requirements include commercial general liability, workers' compensation, network security/cyber liability, and professional liability coverage with specific minimum limits. The evaluation will be conducted by representatives from the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Equity, and the Equity in Procurement Task Force subcommittee, though a specific contract value or budget range is not explicitly stated in the provided documents.