Vision & Voice – Cultivating Identity, Purpose, and Creative Direction

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking qualified vendors to deliver innovative arts programming for middle school youth through the "Vision & Voice – Cultivating Identity, Purpose, and Creative Direction" initiative. The procurement focuses on providing hands-on visual and applied arts programming, including design, illustration, digital media, and studio-based practices that help students explore identity and creative career pathways. Vendors must have at least three years of youth arts education experience and a project manager with a bachelor's degree and five years of applicable experience. The evaluation criteria will assess vendor experience (29 points), technical competence (29 points), capacity to accomplish work (19 points), past performance (9 points), and total cost (8 points). The solicitation was released on November 3, 2025, with responses due by December 4, 2025, at 3:00 pm. The initial contract term will cover up to two academic years or until funds are expended, with comprehensive reporting requirements including mid-project and final reports documenting student participation, creative outputs, career exploration activities, and community engagement.

The procurement includes additional point opportunities for small business enterprise (SBE), minority business enterprise (MBE), and women business enterprise (WBE) certifications, which can provide competitive advantages during evaluation. The estimated contract expenditure is approximately $50,000, with the agreement allowing for potential renewal under the same terms and conditions. Contractors must maintain specific insurance coverage, including commercial general liability, automobile liability, workers' compensation, and abuse and molestation coverage, with the city named as an additional insured. The contract mandates competitive pricing and allows for potential price adjustments with 30 days' prior notice and mutual written agreement. While no incumbent vendors are specifically mentioned, the city currently funds youth programs in music, dance, and theater and is expanding into visual, digital, and applied arts programming. The service agreement provides flexibility for potential multi-year engagement, subject to performance and mutual written consent.