Mayor’s Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity: E-Sports Play & Career Exploration RFP

The City of Cleveland, through the Mayor's Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity, is soliciting proposals to provide 38 weeks of out-of-school time e-sports career exploration and programming for youth ages 8–18 across six Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Centers, with proposals due October 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Only established providers with evidence-based or research-based programs and documented past success are eligible.

The scope spans four sessions from September 2026 through August 2027 (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) and must align with the Municipal Cabinet for Children and Youth priorities, connecting participants to college and career pathways while supporting violence reduction and prevention efforts. Programming must be culturally relevant and delivered by trained on-site staff capable of serving all six sites simultaneously. Proposers must submit SMART goals with measurement strategies, recruitment and retention plans, staff resumes, and FBI/BCI background clearances for youth-facing personnel.

The annual program budget ceiling is $120,000 across all six sites and four sessions. Compensation may be structured as hourly billing rates or fixed price, with reimbursable expenses governed by the City of Cleveland's Professional Services Contracts Reimbursables Policy (effective January 1, 2023). Equipment replacement may be budgeted up to 10 percent of the total submitted budget. No subcontractor participation goal applies, though all proposed subcontractors must be disclosed.

Evaluation criteria are proposal quality (20 points), program outcomes alignment with Municipal Cabinet priorities (15 points), required program documentation including assessment and recruitment plans (20 points), program logistics and budget (15 points), program design methodology (15 points), and evidence of past program success (15 points). Fee proposals are not scored.

Contractors must maintain professional liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, workers' compensation insurance, and unemployment insurance. The City of Cleveland Area Business Code applies. Questions are due September 28, 2026; an RFP addendum is expected September 29, 2026. Contact: Michael Cook, (216) 664-7268 or mcook2@clevelandohio.gov. Anticipated selection date is October 21, 2026, with a provider meeting October 28, 2026.