Summer in the City 2026 Planning

Location:	Indiana
Posted:	Mar 25, 2026
Due:	Apr 10, 2026
Agency:	City of Indianapolis and Marion County
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction
Solicitation No:	RFQual-19PHS-41
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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City of Indianapolis and Marion County

Request for Qualifications

Release Date

March 25, 2026

Request for Qualifications

Reference Number

Request for Qualifications

Title

Agency

Agency Contact

RFQual-19PHS-41

Summer in the City 2026 Planning

Office of Public Health and Safety

Emily Koschmeder

Tel: (317) 327-3940

Email: Emily.Koschmeder@indy.gov

Fax: (317) 327 – 4493

Written Questions Due

Date: April 1, 2026 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time by email to

Emily.Koschmeder@indy.gov or faxed to (317) 327 – 4493.

Request for Qualifications

Submittal Deadline Delivery

Due Date and Time (Eastern

Time)

April 10, 2026 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time

Delivery by email only to Emily.Koschmeder@indy.gov

Electronic Submissions Only

DO NOT SUBMIT BUDGET OR COMPENSATION INFORMATION AT THIS STAGE. Any

Vendor submission of compensation/budget will cause your submittal to be rejected

Request for Qualifications Cover

City of Indianapolis Request for Qualifications

Summer in the City 2026 Planning

For the Office of Public Health and Safety

Questions pertaining to the Request for Qualifications (RFQUAL) documents may be directed to

Emily Koschmeder, in writing either by email to Emily.Koschmeder@indy.gov or fax (317) 327-44930, no later than

April 1, 2026 by 12:00 Noon Eastern Time.

NOTE: Any related addenda to this RFQUAL, including written answers to questions, will be

posted on the Purchasing Division’s official website at www.indy.gov/purch under the appropriate

project heading. Addenda will NOT be sent directly to vendors. Vendors will be responsible for

periodically checking this website for any related addenda up to and including the due date.

Vendors should print out, sign, and return written acknowledgement(s) with their RFQUAL.

Failure to sign and return the addenda may cause a response to be determined as non-

responsive for review purposes.

The City of Indianapolis and Marion County by and through the Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) is

seeking Request for Qualifications (RFQUAL) submittals in regard to the contents herein. The City is looking for

qualified organizations to provide a Summer in the City youth program outline/curriculum and staffing proposal at

a location within Central Indianapolis and Marion County. The City is also looking for qualified organizations to

provide transportation and/or food services, including staffing and equipment on Fridays and Saturdays only, for

an eight (8) week summer program which will be held throughout Marion County. In your submission, please

indicate whether you are applying as: (1) fiscal agent and site manager only, with all programming subcontracted

to partner organizations, or (2) fiscal agent, site manager, and program entity, delivering some of the

programming directly while subcontracting the remainder or (3) fiscal agent, site manager, and full program

provider.

1. Project Overview

Summer in the City violence prevention initiative providing safe, structured, high-energy programming during

high-risk summer hours. The focus is on keeping teens ages 15–17 meaningfully engaged on Friday and

Saturday nights, with strong emphasis on safe transportation and curfew compliance.

2. Role of the Selected Organization

The Lead Convener will serve, at minimum, as fiscal agent, site manager, transportation coordinator, and

safety compliance lead. Key requirements:

 Must include OPHS and City branding on programming marketing and materials.

 Cannot restrict participation based on organizational membership, affiliation, or eligibility. Eligibility will be

designed jointly based on target population and program needs and success.

 Joint submissions with partner or subcontractor organizations are welcome. However, one organization

must serve as lead organization and contract with the City.

3. Qualifications Criteria and Selection Process

Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet required programming criteria set forth in section 3.1,

below. Applicants who have been determined, by City, to have met the required criteria in 3.1 will be

considered for final selection and negotiations based on quality of program design and the program

preferences set forth in section 3.2, below. City may invite qualified organizations to conduct in-person/virtual

interviews and submission of proposed program budgets—DO NOT SUBMIT BUDGET/COMPENSATION AT

THIS STAGE. City reserves the right to contract with one or more applicants meeting minimum qualifications

or to not contract with any respondents.

OPHS – Summer in the City 2026 Programming

FINAL – March 2026 RFQual-19PHS-41

3.1. Required qualifications and criteria (i.e. minimum qualifications):

 Must have at least five years’ experience in running similar summer programs.

 Must have ability to provide or arrange for a substantial meal provided on-site on each night of

programming. Vendor is responsible for all health regulation compliance.

 Must have a transportation and safe dismissal plan that complies with section 5, Transportation & Safe

Dismissal, below.

 Must own, lease, or have confirmed access to a facility capable of hosting up to 75 youth (see section

7.3)

 Proposals must address/respond to each of Required Program Components (see section 4)

 Proposals must address/respond to Special Requirements related to safety and safety planning (see

section 6)

 Proposals must include/respond to all Submission Requirements (see section 7)

 Proposals must include plan for tracking and maintaining appropriate data and reporting (e.g. resource

referrals, attendance, etc.)

 Demonstrated financial capacity to operate and sustain program costs on a reimbursement basis for a

minimum of 60 days

 CPR and First Aid Certification

 Status as a legal entity

 Have sufficient liability insurance coverage. (see requirements listed on page 11 and 12 of this

RFQual)

3.2. Applicants meeting some or all of the following criteria will be preferred:

• List any special certificates and/or licenses

• Facility is located within a City-designated priority zip code: 46218, 46201, 46208, or 46222

• Demonstrated ability to recruit and engage youth in programming

• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering programming specifically for high school-aged youth

(ages 14–18).

• Demonstrated experience managing multi-partner or collaborative initiatives

• Demonstrated partnerships or relationships for resource referral, including but not limited to: workforce

resources, mental health referrals, and mentorship/case management as needed

4. Required Program Components (Each Night)

4.1. Structured Programming

One or two structured activity blocks per night. Examples include workforce readiness, sports/recreation,

arts & music, leadership development, entrepreneurship, STEM, and wellness programming.

Unstructured free time does not qualify.

4.2. On-Site Meal Service

A substantial meal must be provided on-site each night. Vendor is responsible for all health regulation

compliance.

4.3. Nightly Celebration Block

A structured 90 –120 minute high-energy closing block engagement options required each night, such as,

but not limited to, DJ music component themed activities, and supervised environment with clear

behavioral expectations.

4.4. Wrap-Around Supports

Coordinators must connect youth to workforce resources, mental health referrals, and mentorship/case

management as needed. Referral tracking is required.

OPHS – Summer in the City 2026 Programming

FINAL – March 2026 RFQual-19PHS-41

5. Transportation & Safe Dismissal

Transportation planning carries significant evaluation weight. The plan must include:

• Dismissals and close-out announcements at 10:00 PM with signal 15 minutes prior.

• Safe return options for youth without reliable transportation.

• Licensed and insured drivers; attendance verification at departure.

• Parent/guardian communication process.

• Curfew compliance ensuring youth arrive home before 11:00 PM.

• Outdoor monitoring during dismissal; no unsupervised loitering near site.

6. Special Requirements

• Enhanced staffing and safety measures are required for the July 4th weekend and any additional

City-designated high-risk weekends.

• Must provide an adequate “Safety SOP.”

7. Submission Requirements

All submittals must include the following:

7.1. Cover Letter

Organization name, contact name, address, phone number, and email address.

• Organizational overview and experience managing collaborative initiatives

• Staffing structure and supervision plan.

• Transportation and dismissal plan.

• Safety and incident response plan.

• Site description.

• Implementation timeline.

• Partner/facilitator engagement strategy.

• List of partner/subcontractor organizations and their role

7.2. Qualifications Criteria

• Clearly state which required qualifications criteria (see section 3.1) your organization meets

with reference to where in the proposal that is detailed (e.g. has ability to provide substantial

meal each night, see section XX)

• Clearly state which preferred criteria (see section 3.2) your organization meets with reference

to where in the proposal that is detailed

7.3. Facility

• Organization must own, lease, or have confirmed access to a facility capable of hosting up to

75 youth.

• Facility must be located within a City-designated priority zip code: 46218, 46201, 46208, or

46222.

7.4. Team Experience and Qualifications

• Detail each team member's role on this project.

• Describe experience designing and delivering programming specifically for high school-aged

youth (ages 14–18).

• Describe experience managing multi-partner or collaborative initiatives.

• Meets County and State guidelines for food services.

• Describe experience in running similar summer programs and list number of years.

OPHS – Summer in the City 2026 Programming

FINAL – March 2026 RFQual-19PHS-41

• Demonstrated ability to recruit and engage youth in programming.

7.5. Relevant Organizational Experience

 Provide a description of the organization’s experience in youth orientated planning.

 Document the organization’s capacity and intent to proceed without delay if selected for this work.

 Provide a detailed description of the Organization’s ability to implement the Anticipated Scope of

Work as detailed in Section, 4.

 Three (3) business references; preference will be given to references where similarly requested

services were performed. Do not include references that are currently employed by City.

References should be formatted as follows:

 Name:

 Title:

 Address:

 Phone Number:

 Email Address:

 Brief description of the services performed:

 If applicable, please provide a list of lawsuits that your company has been a party to as related to

the types of services provided in this RFQUAL. For each lawsuit, please provide a brief

description of the facts at issue as well as the resulting outcome.

7.6. MBE/WBE/VBE/DOBE (“XBE”) participation form or waiver

It is the policy of the City that Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises

(WBEs), Veteran Business Enterprises (VBEs), and Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs)

shall have the maximum feasible opportunity to participate in the performance of

contracts. Consequently, the City, through Article IV, Section 202-401 of the revised municipal code &

The Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County MBE/WBE/VBE/DOBE Business Utilization

Plan in Indianapolis, has established MBE participation goals of 15%, WBE participation goals of 8%,

VBE participation goals of 3%, and DOBE participation goals of 1% for its dollars spent on public

works, goods, and services.

In order to help accomplish this goal, the City is requesting that you include with your submittal

information regarding your status as an MBE, WBE, VBE, or DOBE. Additionally, please include

contact information for any MBE, WBE, VBE, or DOBE owned Vendors directly participating in your

business operations. The City also requests contact information for any MBE, WBE, VBE, or DOBE

sub-contractors that you might use in the course of doing business with the City. Some examples of

this kind of service include, but are not limited to: office suppliers, courier services, shipping services,

etc. These services can occur at the local, state, or national level. Please include an estimated

percentage or dollar amount that you anticipate using.

Be advised that the information provided on MBE/WBE/VBE/DOBE participation will be included as

part of the scoring criteria for this RFP. Accordingly, it is imperative that you do everything possible to

obtain the information above and supply it as part of the submittal.

In order to be recognized by the City of Indianapolis/Marion County as an MBE/WBE/VBE/DOBE

participant, your company must be certified with the Office of Minority &Women Business Development

(OMWBD). The City will recognize only City of Indianapolis certified firms regardless of any other state

or national affiliation.

If you should need assistance in obtaining information or certification for possible participation in a

contract, please contact the OMWBD on the Internet at www.indy.gov/omwbd or by phone at (317)

327-5262.

OPHS – Summer in the City 2026 Programming

FINAL – March 2026 RFQual-19PHS-41

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Summer in the City 2026 Planning

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