New Haven Parks Mobile Stage

The City of New Haven Parks Department is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of a single towable mobile stage trailer to support over 50 annual community events and performances throughout New Haven. The solicitation seeks a mobile stage measuring approximately 20 feet by 16 feet with wind resistance of at least 115 miles per hour, capable of being attached to a Parks Department truck via hitch attachment. The stage must feature minimal to no manual assembly requirements for on-site setup, easy maneuverability within park locations, simple operational controls, a weather-resistant and rainproof roof structure, high-power integrated hydraulic systems for raising and lowering the roof mechanism, and rigging systems capable of safely supporting hanging banners. Deliverables required from the selected vendor include certified and stamped technical documents prepared by a licensed professional engineer, all comprehensive technical documentation, delivery and transportation to the New Haven Parks Department at 180 Park Road, Hamden, Connecticut 06517, and a mandatory training course for four to six Parks Department technicians including all associated trainer travel and accommodation expenses. The proposal must address compliance with IBC 2015, SAE, DOT, NFPA, and CWB standards, and include 24/7 technical support capabilities. Evaluation will be weighted as follows: Technical Specification and Structural Integrity (40%), Safety and Certifications (25%), Cost (20%), Service and Training (10%), and Vendor Experience (5%). The RFP was posted April 15, 2026, with a mandatory pre-proposal meeting scheduled for April 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm via Microsoft Teams, a question submission deadline of April 28, 2026 at 5:00 pm, and a proposal submission deadline of May 4, 2026 at 11:00 am through the City's eProcurement Portal.

This procurement is funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds designated for COVID-19 recovery efforts, with all funds requiring obligation by December 31, 2024, and expenditure completion by December 31, 2026. The City requires selected vendors to register their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at SAM.gov and comply with extensive federal requirements including the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), along with Connecticut state and New Haven municipal laws including equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination provisions. Respondents must demonstrate active experience with municipal or concert stage construction projects and maintain General Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Auto Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, Workers' Compensation at statutory limits, and Professional Liability of $1,000,000, with the City of New Haven named as additional insured. The contract term is one year with no optional extension periods; all renewals remain at the City's sole discretion. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents, though the ARPA funding templates reference potential contract values of $100,000 or less or more than $100,000, with indirect costs capped at 10 percent of the total award amount. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation, and no set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or minority business enterprises are explicitly stated, though the City requires contractors to actively engage minority and women business enterprises for subcontracting opportunities where applicable.