Management and operation of “JAX on ICE” (holiday ICE rink)

The City of Jacksonville, Florida is requesting proposals for management and operation of "Jax on Ice," a seasonal holiday ice rink at Artist Square, 718 Riverside Avenue, with responses due August 28, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. A local business preference of 5 points (of 100 total evaluation points) applies.

Contractors must demonstrate a minimum of two years of experience operating seasonal ice rinks and maintain legal authorization to do business in Duval County, Florida. The facility operates seasonally from the Friday following Thanksgiving through Martin Luther King Day in January. The City retains responsibility for utilities (water, sewer, electricity), provides a 600-amp power box with Camlock access, performs major structural repairs, and manages landscaping and dumpster services. The contractor supplies all ice rink infrastructure, equipment rental, on-site staffing, security, marketing, maintenance, and facility upkeep.

Pricing is structured as a lump-sum end-of-season fee due March 1st following each season. Evaluation criteria weight price at 20 points (with the highest percentage of gross revenue submitted receiving maximum points), business description and experience at 25 points, financial responsibility at 20 points, maintenance plan at 15 points, marketing and measurement strategy at 15 points, and local business preference at 5 points. Contractors must provide proof of business licenses, insurance certificates, financial statements for the past two years, and evidence of similar programming experience. All responses must be submitted through the City's 1Cloud e-procurement system.

The question cutoff was August 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference was held August 18, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. The contract term is to be determined upon award and is structured as a revenue-generating agreement between the City and the selected operator.