RFP- international and national sports & entertainment business development support services

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority, operating as Events DC, a District of Columbia government agency, is issuing RFP 25-S-025 for International and National Sports & Entertainment Business Development Support Services. The procurement seeks one or more qualified contractors to provide comprehensive support services encompassing response development to international and national sporting event solicitations or bids, signature event planning for major events including the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2031/2033 Rugby World Cups, and international destination marketing to promote the District as a sports tourism destination. Qualified contractors must demonstrate a minimum of ten years of documented experience developing marketing and communications strategies for international and national sports and entertainment events and must employ in-house key personnel including a Senior Level Executive, Project Manager, Creative Director, and Senior Event Manager, each with at least ten years of related experience. Contractors must provide evidence of successful work on RFP responses and event activations for major sporting events within the past four years. Pricing shall be submitted as fully loaded, fixed hourly rates for all personnel and other direct costs on a cost-reimbursement basis, with contractors responsible for all travel-related expenses. A virtual pre-proposal conference is scheduled for March 24, 2026, with a Questions and Answers deadline of April 1, 2026, and proposals due no later than 3:00 PM EST on April 9, 2026. The base contract term runs from the date of award through September 30, 2026, with four one-year renewal options available. Evaluation is based on technical merit (80 points maximum), emphasizing key personnel qualifications (20 points), specialized experience and technical competence (30 points), and technical approach (30 points), plus price evaluation (20 points maximum). Comprehensive insurance requirements include commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, umbrella liability of $5,000,000, and professional liability of $5,000,000.

This RFP is restricted exclusively to District of Columbia Small, Local, and Business Development (DSLBD) certified small business enterprises, with DSLBD certified businesses eligible to receive up to 12 additional preference points based on classifications such as small business enterprise, resident-owned business, or disadvantaged business enterprise status. The solicitation requires all bidders to submit tax compliance certifications, W-9 forms, disclosure statements regarding conflicts of interest with Events DC Board members and staff, and representations and certifications confirming independent price determination and equal employment opportunity policies. Contractors must comply with the District of Columbia Living Wage Act of 2006, the First Source Employment Agreement Act of 1984 (requiring 51% District resident hiring for contracts exceeding $100,000), prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Events DC intends to award multiple Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts through task orders, with contract awards exceeding $100,000 requiring Operations Committee or Sports and Entertainment Committee approval, awards exceeding $250,000 requiring full Board approval, and awards over $1,000,000 requiring approval by both the WCSA Board and the District of Columbia Council. No specific budget or award value is stated in the RFP documents, though the presence of tiered approval thresholds suggests potential contract values in the six or seven-figure range.