RFP - PW - Public Engagement Consultant

The City of Minneapolis is requesting proposals for a Public Engagement Consultant to support Stage 2 of the SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) Grant, with proposals due October 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM Minneapolis time and a pre-proposal conference on September 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM via Microsoft Teams.

The scope encompasses five primary tasks: project management and coordination with City staff, strategic communications planning and content development, marketing and branding strategy execution, stakeholder engagement and community outreach, and coordination with local organizations for inclusive engagement. Work will span seven focus areas throughout Minneapolis—Nicollet Avenue, Hennepin Avenue South, Uptown, Broadway Avenue, Downtown Core, North Loop, and Dinkytown—to support data-driven curb management initiatives. The consultant must comply with federal grant requirements including civil rights obligations, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Minnesota Data Practices Act, and relevant federal statutes. Professional Liability Insurance of $2 million per claim and $2 million annual aggregate, Commercial General Liability insurance of $2 million, and Cyber Liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence are required. Contractors with contracts valued at $100,000 or more must comply with the Minneapolis Living Wage Ordinance.

The contract is a single award with an approximate two-year term running through December 31, 2028, with an option for the City to extend an additional six months at its sole discretion; total duration shall not exceed four years. Services commence January 2027. The SMART Stage 2 grant is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation with a total award of $14.849730 billion to Minneapolis for May 15, 2025 through May 14, 2028, with no local cost share requirement.

Evaluation criteria are proposal quality and clarity (10%), staff qualifications and client references (25%), scope of services meeting project requirements (25%), company financial responsibility (5%), organization and management approach (10%), and cost of services (25%). Short-listed consultants must participate in formal presentations and interviews. Written questions are due September 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Proposals must not exceed 30 pages excluding financial information and must include executive summary, detailed scope, experience documentation, three references, personnel resumes, year-by-year cost breakdown, and audited financial statements. Consultant selection is anticipated for November 2026.