Town fireworks display

The Town of Manchester, Connecticut, located in Hartford County, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a fireworks display vendor to provide professional pyrotechnic services for the town's annual Independence Day celebration. The procurement seeks a qualified vendor to design and execute a 25-minute fireworks display synchronized to music appropriate for a July 4th event at Manchester Community College Campus, 60 Bidwell Street, Manchester, Connecticut. Scheduled event dates are Saturday, July 10, 2027 (rain date July 11) and Saturday, July 8, 2028 (rain date July 9), with showtime at approximately 9:00 p.m. Proposals must include comprehensive details on the number of pyrotechnic shooters, show design specifications, custom soundtrack selection, ground setup and cleanup procedures, travel expenses, labor requirements, materials costs, weather contingency policies, and documentation of compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, OSHA requirements, and necessary fire department permits. The evaluation criteria consists of three weighted components: quality and thoroughness of the proposal and scope of services (70 points), cost (20 points), and prior history with the Town of Manchester or similar projects in other municipalities (10 points). The question deadline is March 12, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., and all proposals must be submitted electronically through the Town of Manchester's OpenGov portal by March 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The Town reserves the right to shortlist proposals and conduct interviews or oral presentations before making a final award decision.

Vendors responding to this procurement must obtain and submit the completed Living Wage Certification form, declaring their status as either a covered employer subject to the Manchester Living Wage Ordinance or an exempt entity. Covered employers—those with more than 25 eligible employees and contract values exceeding $25,000 annually—must pay the established living wage of $17.78 per hour for employees with comprehensive health benefits or $26.07 per hour without such benefits. Exemptions are available for employers with fewer than 25 eligible employees, contracts valued below $25,000, or organizations that are charitable foundations, trusts, or nonprofit agencies exempt from federal income taxation under IRC Section 501. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000), Workers' Compensation as required by Connecticut law, and Umbrella/Excess Coverage ($1,000,000), with the Town of Manchester named as an additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis. The budgeted contract value for each annual fireworks display is $32,000, which represents the maximum award value for the 2027 and 2028 events. Proposal prices must remain firm for 90 days following bid opening, and the Town is exempt from federal excise taxes and Connecticut sales tax on all deliverables.