26-AA19 RFP for Job Classification and Total Compensation Study

Location:	Minnesota
Posted:	Jul 1, 2026
Due:	Jul 16, 2026
Agency:	City of Duluth
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Purchasing Division, Finance Department

218-730-5340 | purchasing@duluthmn.gov

Room 120 | 411 West First Street | Duluth, Minnesota 55802

www.duluthmn.gov

City of Duluth Request for Proposals

Job Classification and Total Compensation Study

RFP Number 26-AA19

Issued June 22, 2026

PROPOSALS DUE 3:00 PM CENTRAL TIME, THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Submit to

City of Duluth

Attn: Purchasing Division

City Hall, Room 120

411 West 1st Street

Duluth, MN 55802

The City of Duluth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PART I – GENERAL INFORMATION

I-1. Introduction and project Summary. The City is seeking proposals from consultants for

professional services for completion of a comprehensive job classification and total compensation

study, as well as proposing an update and implementation process for a new job classification and

compensation system. Additional detail is provided in Part IV of this RFP.

I-2. Calendar of Events. The City will make every effort to adhere to the following schedule:

Activity

Date

Pre-proposal Conference at 2:00 pm Central Time

June 25, 2026

Deadline to submit Questions via email to

purchasing@duluthmn.gov is 12 noon Central Time

Answers to questions will be posted to the City website no later

than this date.

Proposals must be received in the Purchasing Office by 3:00 PM

Central Time on this date.

Interviews tentatively scheduled the week of:

July 2, 2026

July 9, 2026

July 16, 2026

July 27, 2026

I-3. Pre-proposal Conference. The City will hold a virtual pre-proposal conference as specified in

the Calendar of Events. Interested Bidders can attend via Microsoft Teams and find the link at

https://www.duluthmn.gov/purchasing/bids-request-for-proposals/.

I-4.Questions & Answers. Any questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by e-mail to the

Purchasing Office at purchasing@duluthmn.gov no later than the date indicated on the Calendar of

Events. Answers to the questions will be posted as an Addendum to the RFP.

I-5.Addenda to the RFP. If the City deems it necessary to revise any part of this RFP before the

proposal response date, the City will post an addendum to its website

(https://duluthmn.gov/purchasing/bids-request-for-proposals/) under Current Bids & Projects, and this

solicitation number. Although an e-mail notification will be sent, it is the Bidder’s responsibility to

periodically check the website for any new information. Any addenda issued must be acknowledged

on the Proposal Sheet attached as Appendix A.

I-6.Interviews/Demonstrations. The City reserves the right to request interviews or demonstrations

with top scoring proposers.

I-7.Rejection of Proposals. The City reserves the right, in its sole and complete discretion, to reject

any and all proposals or cancel the request for proposals, at any time prior to the time a contract is fully

executed, when it is in its best interests. The City is not liable for any costs the Bidder incurs in

preparation and submission of its proposal, in participating in the RFP process or in anticipation of

award of the contract.

I-8.Small Diverse Business Information. The City encourages participation by minority, women, and

veteran-owned businesses as prime contractors, and encourages all prime contractors to make a

significant commitment to use minority, women, veteran-owned and other disadvantaged business

entities as subcontractors and suppliers. A list of certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises is

maintained by the Minnesota Unified Certification Program at http://mnucp.metc.state.mn.us/ .

I-9. Agreement. The awarded proposer will be required to sign the agreement attached as Appendix

B. Questions about the agreement should be submitted to purchasing@duluthmn.gov by the question

deadline in the schedule above.

I-10. Award. The agreement award amount will be based on the time and materials submitted in the

proposal, but will be a lump sum, not-to-exceed agreement.

I-11. Term of Contract. The term of the contract will begin once the contract is fully executed and is

anticipated to end by December 31, 2027. The selected Bidder shall not start the performance of any

work nor shall the City be liable to pay the selected Bidder for any service or work performed or

expenses incurred before the contract is executed.

I-12. Mandatory Disclosures. By submitting a proposal, each Bidder understands, represents, and

acknowledges that:

A. Their proposal has been developed by the Bidder independently and has been submitted

without collusion with and without agreement, understanding, or planned common course

of action with any other vendor or suppliers of materials, supplies, equipment, or services

described in the Request for Proposals, designed to limit independent bidding or

competition, and that the contents of the proposal have not been communicated by the

Bidder or its employees or agents to any person not an employee or agent of the Bidder.

B. There is no conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists if a Bidder has any interest that

would actually conflict, or has the appearance of conflicting, in any manner or degree with

the performance of work on the project. If there are potential conflicts, identify the

municipalities, developers, and other public or private entities with whom your company

is currently, or have been, employed and which may be affected.

C. It is not currently under suspension or debarment by the State of Minnesota, any other

state or the federal government.

D. The company is either organized under Minnesota law or has a Certificate of Authority

from the Minnesota Secretary of State to do business in Minnesota, in accordance with

the requirements in M.S. 303.03.

I-13. Notification of Selection. Bidders whose proposals are not selected will be notified in writing.

PART II – PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

II-1. Proposal Submission. To be considered, hard copies of proposals must arrive at the City on

or before the time and date specified in the RFP Calendar of Events. The City will not accept

proposals via email or facsimile transmission. The City reserves the right to reject or to deduct

evaluation points for late proposals.

Proposals must be signed by an authorized official. If the official signs the Proposal Cover Sheet

attached as Appendix A, this requirement will be met. Proposals must remain valid for 60 days or

until a contract is fully executed. Terms of the awarded proposal as stated must be valid for the

project length of time.

Please submit one unbound paper copy of the Technical Submittal and one unbound paper copy of

the Cost Submittal. Cost Submittals are to be submitted in an envelope sealed separate from

the Technical Submittals.

All materials submitted in response to this RFP will become property of the City and will become

public record after the evaluation process is completed and an award decision made.

II-2. Proposal Content.

1. Completed Appendix A Proposal Cover Sheet

2. Cover letter providing the history of your company

3. Comprehensive services offered (limit to 10 pages)

4. Three references

The proposal shall contain the following information:

A. Provide references of municipalities in the State of Minnesota for whom bidder has completed

similar compensation studies and/or similarly designed, developed, and implemented job

classification and compensation systems. Include the name and phone number of a contact

person at each municipality, as well as a description of the services performed, implementation

date, and the names of the personnel from your office that worked on the project at each

municipality.

B. Names and relevant experience of the personnel to be assigned to the project.

C. Work plan detailing your organization’s approach to the Scope of Work outlined below for the

study and development of a job classification and compensation system for the City of Duluth.

Include plans and proposed outcomes and deliverables for the job classification and

compensation evaluation system being proposed. Provide any questionnaires employees will be

required to complete as part of the study, as well as sample updated job descriptions, policies and

procedures; and include information on how your organization will handle evaluation of each

aspect identified.

D. Identify your approach to creating union and non-union involvement with the development of the

position classification and compensation schedules.

E. Identify a concrete, but reasonable timeline for the completion of each component in the process

as well as implementation guidelines.

F. The proposal should clearly define the timelines, proposed fees, and the scope of services to be

provided during each of the following specific project components:

1. Introduction and Project Orientation

2. Position Analysis and descriptions for full-time, part-time, seasonal, and variable hour workers.

3. Position Classifications/Ranking/Grades/Evaluation.

4. Market Study.

5. Design a proposed update to the total compensation structure according to Duluth’s

compensation philosophy.

6. System testing for equity and fairness.

7. Preparation of final documents for the plan, including presentation, policy, guidelines and

procedures for implementation and any other pertinent information. Any written and

computerized data and supporting information must be submitted as appropriate or requested.

8. Training on the system maintenance and updating such as position additions, position

reclassifications, and wage structure updates.

9. System implementation plan with recommendations of who is involved at each step of that

plan.

10. Future assistance that can be provided by your organization.

a) Proposals shall clearly define additional services and/or reimbursable costs not included in

the basic fees, including any hourly rates or fees for post-contract services.

b) Proposals shall include a “not to exceed” lump sum fee protection.

c) Identify cost estimates for all aspects including potential areas in which the City of Duluth

staff can provide assistance resulting in cost savings to the City.

PART III – CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

The proposals will be reviewed by City Staff. The intent of the selection process is to review

proposals and make an award based upon qualifications as described therein. A 100-point scale will

be used to create the final evaluation recommendations. The factors and weighting on which

proposals will be judged are:

Qualifications of the Bidder and Personnel

25%

Prior experience with similar work

30%

Work Plan

25%

Cost

20%

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

26-AA19 RFP for Job Classification and Total Compensation Study

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