About this opportunity
AI summaryThe City of Cincinnati's Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement requires a qualified consultant to design and conduct a disparity study. The study must determine whether statistically significant disparities exist between minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises and their actual utilization on city contracts. The scope includes analyzing city contracting practices, reviewing business enterprise policies, and an optional construction workforce study. Only USA-based organizations are eligible to bid. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's Bonfire portal by 3:00 PM ET on December 15, 2026, and all questions are due no later than November 20, 2026. Submissions will be evaluated based on data collection understanding, cost and budget, experience and expertise, key personnel qualifications, an organizational project management plan, and compliance with industry standards, which includes MBE (8%) and WBE (4%) subcontracting goals.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- City of Cincinnati
- Solicitation No.
- RFP275X901198
Scope of work
- Develop a project management plan and robust community engagement strategy
- Perform legal analysis of relevant disparity study jurisprudence
- Conduct availability review and determine relevant market area
- Execute prime contract and subcontract utilization statistical analysis disaggregated by spend, ethnicity, and gender
- Collect anecdotal evidence and analyze potential active or passive discrimination
- Review City procurement policies, procedures, and practices
- Formulate race-neutral and race-conscious remedy recommendations compliant with legal standards
- Deliver draft reports, a final written report with presentation, and an optional construction workforce study
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Option I: Data collection | 30 points |
| Option I: Cost & Budget | 20 points |
| Option I: Experience & Expertise | 15 points |
| Option I: Qualifications of Key Personnel | 15 points |
| Option I: Project Management Plan | 10 points |
| Option I: Compliance with Industry Standards and Regulations | 10 points |
| Option II: Data collection | 30 points |
| Option II: Cost & Budget | 20 points |
| Option II: Experience & Expertise | 10 points |
| Option II: Qualifications of Key Personnel | 10 points |
| Option II: Project Management Plan | 15 points |
| Option II: Compliance with Industry Standards and Regulations | 15 points |
Minimum qualifications
- Onshore (USA Organization Only)
- Project Manager must have served in the same capacity on a similar study
- Subcontracting commitment to utilize MBEs (8%) and WBEs (4%) based on total proposed price
Documents to include with your response
- Narrative on firm history, size, legal structure, and experience
- Project Manager and key personnel resumes and profiles
- List of completed and ongoing disparity studies with past 10 studies detailed
- Disparity Study Timeline and detailed methodology
- Itemized Budget for Project
- Statement indicating compliance with Terms and Conditions
- ATTACHMENT 1 – Offeror Corporate and Contact Information
- ATTACHMENT 2 – Affidavit of Accuracy and Signature Page
- ATTACHMENT 3 – Subcontracting Outreach Program (Form 2003)
- ATTACHMENT 4 – Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Form (DEI147)
Key dates
- ISSUE DATE
- October 28, 2026
- Questions due
- November 20, 2026, at 11:00 am ET
- Proposals due
- 3:00 PM ET on December 15, 2026
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via the City's Bonfire portal
- Instructions
- Submitted electronically via https://cincinnati-oh.bonfirehub.com/. Hard copy, mail, or email submissions will not be accepted.
Contract details
- Term
- Completed within no more than fifteen (15) months of the effective date of the Agreement
- Place of performance
- Cincinnati, OH / Offsite
- Insurance and bonding
- Workers Compensation; General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate naming City as additional insured; Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions of $1,000,000 per occurrence; Automobile Liability minimum $100,000 per occurrence; Umbrella Liability of $1,000,000.