RFP professional owner’s representative to explore public/private partnership

The City of Birmingham, Michigan, located in Oakland County, is seeking a Professional Owner's Representative (POR) through a Request for Proposals (RFP) to explore public/private partnership opportunities. The procurement aims to identify private sector entities interested in leveraging public land while pursuing collaborative projects that benefit the city and its residents. Qualified individuals, firms, and contractors will be evaluated based on their ability to conduct comprehensive project analyses, prepare detailed evaluation reports, and facilitate negotiations between the city and potential private partners. Key deliverables include strategic assessments of partnership advantages, such as accessing additional capital, achieving cost savings, sharing risks, improving infrastructure, and enhancing operational efficiencies. Evaluation criteria will encompass strategic alignment with city goals, value creation potential, risk allocation strategies, legal compliance, financial impacts, and broader social considerations. The RFP was posted on October 8, 2025, with proposals due on November 21, 2025, at 10:00 am, and any clarification requests must be submitted via the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network (MITN) no later than October 22, 2025. The anticipated contract term is three years, with contractor selection expected by January 12, 2026.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, suggesting the opportunity is open to a broad range of professional consulting firms and individual representatives. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the city emphasizes that the selected contractor will serve in an advisory capacity, with final decision-making authority remaining with the City Commission. The RFP requires bidders to submit cost proposals specifying hourly fees for client analysis, evaluation reports, and administrative services, though a precise budget range is not predetermined. Contractors will be compensated on an hourly basis for each explored public/private partnership opportunity. The procurement appears designed to be flexible, allowing potential partners to propose innovative approaches to leveraging public assets and resources. The city's objective is to establish a collaborative relationship with a professional representative who can effectively navigate complex public-private partnership negotiations while maintaining transparency and prioritizing the city's strategic interests.