Mounted Command Horse Trainer (Two Year Contract with Two One Year Options for R

The City of Providence, located in Providence County, Rhode Island, is soliciting proposals for a Mounted Command Horse Trainer through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Board of Contract and Supply. The procurement is for a two-year contract with two potential one-year renewal options to support the Providence Police Department's Mounted Command Unit, which currently maintains five police horses. The primary objective is to secure a certified equine instructor/trainer who can provide comprehensive training services, ensuring each Mounted Officer is assigned a designated horse with two spare horses to accommodate potential training, health, or performance variations. The successful contractor must possess a minimum of 10 years of professional equine experience, demonstrate ability to train a minimum of 10 hours per week, and hold certification as an instructor/trainer. Key qualifications include proficiency in reward-based training styles, capability to work with both green unbacked horses and current program horses, and skills in analyzing horse dispositions and teaching various exercises. The solicitation requires offerors to submit firm-fixed hourly rates for the base two-year period and potential option years, with proposals due by April 21, 2025.

The RFP does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The training may occur at the Providence Police Department facility or offsite, with the trainer required to be self-insured and capable of observing and reporting on horse health. While a specific budget range is not disclosed, the contract involves hourly rate compensation for training services. The solicitation emphasizes the critical nature of consistent, professional horse training to ensure the safety and effectiveness of mounted police officers in potentially unpredictable situations. The contract appears designed to maintain and improve the capabilities of the Providence Police Department's Mounted Command Unit by securing a highly qualified and experienced horse trainer who can support the unit's operational readiness.