Strategic Planning Consulting Services

The City of Lake Forest, California is requesting quotations for strategic planning consulting services to facilitate development of a seven-year Strategic Plan and conduct staff training, with responses due November 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

The scope includes designing and conducting a half-day (3–4 hour) strategic planning workshop for 15 executive management and department leadership members in late Fall/early Winter 2026; designing and conducting a one- to 1.5-hour city-wide strategic planning session for approximately 80 full-time employees during lunch in mid-December 2026 to early January 2027; and conducting initial interviews with 9 management team members and 5 City Council members. Optional services include facilitating a joint commissioners workshop on February 23, 2027; facilitating a strategic planning workshop with City Council on March 23, 2027; and conducting follow-up interviews with City Council members in late March/early April 2027. The consultant must provide a summary document detailing results from workshops, training, and interviews. The City provides all meeting facilities, supplies, refreshments, and up to two revisions to presentation materials; the consultant bears all travel and transportation costs.

Pricing shall be submitted as total fees for each scope item (management team workshop, city-wide staff session, management team interviews, initial City Council member interviews, joint commission workshop facilitation, strategic planning commission workshop facilitation, and follow-up City Council member interviews) rather than hourly rates. The contract term includes automatic renewal for up to three consecutive one-year terms at the City's sole discretion, with the City retaining termination rights without cause upon seven days' written notice. The consultant must carry Commercial General Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, Workers' Compensation as required by California law, and Professional Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000. Questions are due October 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Anticipated contractor selection is November 16, 2026. Electronic submissions through the OpenGov Procurement portal are required.