DOWNTOWN DURHAM MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT OPERATIONS
| Location: | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Feb 23, 2026 |
| Due: | Mar 9, 2026 |
| Agency: | City of Durham |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
|
| Solicitation No: | 26-1035 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
| Bid Number: |
26-1035
|
| Bid Title: |
DOWNTOWN DURHAM MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT OPERATIONS
|
| Category: | Requests for Proposals/Qualifications and Services |
| Status: | Open |
|
Attachment Preview
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
DOWNTOWN DURHAM
MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT
OPERATIONS
Issue Date: FEBRUARY 23, 2026
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 9, 2026 5:00PM EST
Questions:
Christina Tookes, Project Manager
Business Services Administrator
Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Christina.Tookes@durhamnc.gov
919.560.4965 X 15201
CONTENTS
Purpose
3
Background
3
Downtown Durham Municipal Service District (Business Improvement District)
3
SECTION II. Scope of Work
Statutory Compliance, Budget Determination and Required Reporting
5
Annual Cost Proposal
5
Annual City Budget Allocation
5
Mandatory Reporting
5
Community Engagement
5
Clean and Safe Services
5
Economic Development, Marketing & Creative Placemaking/Placekeeping
6
SECTION III. Evaluation Criteria
Scoring Criteria
7
SECTION IV. Proposal Requirements
Response Schedule
8
Submittal Format
8
Questions regarding RFP
8
Submittal of Proposals
9
1. Concise Letter of Interest
9
2. Executive Summary
9
3. Project Understanding and Plans for Implementation
9
4. Team Organization, Experience and Qualifications
9
5. Consultants and Subcontractors
10
6. References
10
7. Cost Proposal
10
8. Financial Statement/Documentation
10
9. Supplemental Documentation
11
SECTION V. Contract Requirements
RFP Definitions
11
UBE Participation
11
Contract Period
11
Payment by the City
12
Assumption Regarding City of Durham Actions and Participation
12
Insurance
12
Proposer Expense
12
State Treasurer’s list regarding Iran and Boycott of Israel
12
Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
12
Values of City of Durham regarding Treatment of Employee of Contractors
13
- Statement of City EEO Policy
13
- Livable Wage
13
ATTACHMENTS
Appendix A – Municipal Service District Statue (NCGS Article 23, Chapter §160A)
15
Appendix B – Resolution #9761 Establishing a Business Improvement District
25
Appendix C – Insurance Requirements
26
Appendix D – RFP Certification Form
27
Appendix E – Equal Business Opportunity Program Statement/Form
28
Appendix F – Sample Contract Template for Services
43
Appendix G – W-9 Form
52
Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026
2
BACKGROUND AND GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSE
This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to identify a MSD Operator qualified to provide the Scope of
Services outlined herein for a period of up to 5 years, or City of Durham fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
BACKGROUND
The City of Durham, North Carolina, hereinafter, referred to as “City” is the fourth largest city in North
Carolina. Durham has a strong association with learning, creativity, research, and industry and is amid a
revitalization driven by the adaptive reuse of historic buildings and the construction of new ones that
support the live, work, play and learn vision of an enhanced quality of life for all Durham residents.
Durham’s economic transformation over the last 25 years has been marked by significant investment in
infrastructure, education and clean energy. The city has seen a shift towards a more sustainable and
resilient economy, with a focus on enhancing the quality of life for all Durham residents and attracting
businesses. Durham’s economic transformation is a testament to its strategic planning and commitment
to growth, ensuring that the city remains a vibrant center of community and commerce.
A strong talent pool, abundant educational and community resources, and a high quality of life have all
helped make Durham an attractive home to many employers. Known as the “City of Medicine,” Durham
is home to six of the best hospitals in the state. Durham is home to Research Triangle Park (RTP), the site
of more than 300 companies encompassing greater than 22.5 million square-feet of developed space and
employing more than 65,000 full-time employees.
As of 2025 downtown Durham boasted:
2019
7,200
21,300
716
91%
391K sf
3.6M sf
3500
167
94
3.1M
32K
$1.8B
TOTAL
Residents
Employees
Hotel Rooms
Office Occupancy
Coworking Space
Office
Residential Units
Shops/Restaurants
Walkability Score
Visitors Annually
Pedestrians Weekly
OVERALL INVESTMENT
Source: State of Downtown Durham 2025
2025
12,172
21,453
827
84%
170K sf
4.8M sf
6914
288
95
9.82M
37K
$2.65B
DOWNTOWN DURHAM MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISTRICT (BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT)
The North Carolina General Statutes, at Chapter 160A, Article 23 prescribe purposes for which a Municipal
Service District (MSD) may be established. A city council may define any number of service districts in
order to finance, provide, or maintain for the districts one or more services, facilities, or functions in
addition to or to a greater extent than those financed, provided or maintained for the entire city. The
statute provides that districts may be established for purposes of downtown revitalization. Downtown
revitalization projects are defined as improvements, services, functions, promotions, and developmental
Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026
3
activities intended to further the public health, safety, welfare, convenience, and economic well-being of
the central city or downtown area.
A MSD is a defined geographic area within a municipality in which the City Council or other governing
body levies an additional property tax to provide a variety of services that enhance, not replace, existing
municipal services within the district. A MSD is not a separate unit of government. It is simply a
mechanism whereby local government may raise money to pay for, and deliver services or projects, from
those property owners that most directly benefit from the services or projects. A MSD is commonly
referred to as a Business Improvement District (BID).
The MSD in downtown Durham was authorized in 2011 and implemented in July 2012. MSD operation, to
date, has been administered by a contractor, with select services provided through a subcontract with a
third-party vendor. MSD programmatic services provided in downtown Durham, to date, include:
1. Clean and Safe Services.
2. Downtown Economic Development, Marketing, and Creative Placemaking/Placekeeping.
Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026
4
SECTION I. SCOPE OF WORK
A. STATUTORY COMPLIANCE, BUDGET DETERMINATION, REQUIRED REPORTING
The selected Proposer shall be subject to and shall maintain compliance with certain statutory, budgeting
and reporting requirements, including however not limited to the following:
1. Annual Cost Proposal
Proposers must submit an annual cost proposal to manage the downtown Durham MSD based upon
the complete Scope of Services described in the RFP, to include all administrative costs, expenses, and
overhead (including staff salaries and benefits). Proposers should submit proposals which include
anticipated revenues from non-City sources (if any), including ticket sales, grants, donations, etc.
2. Annual City Budget Allocation
The Durham City Council may modify the City budget allocation annually, in total and/or per each
budget subcategory. The annual City budget allocation is additionally subject to adjustment based
upon the approved MSD tax rate established by the Durham City Council as part of its annual budget
adoption process, as well as by actual revenue receipts collected from the MSD tax.
The Downtown Durham Municipal Service District funding allocation for Fiscal Year 2026 was
$2,278,030.
3. Mandatory Reporting
The selected Proposer shall submit a detailed report for each quarter (with the beginning of each fiscal
year being July 1) of program activities and accomplishments in accordance with the Scope of Services.
Reports shall be submitted to the implementing department within 20 days of the end of each quarter.
Reports shall conform to the reasonable requirements of the implementing department.
Consistent with MSD statute, the selected Proposer shall additionally compile and deliver an annual
report and presentation to the City Council prior to the end of each fiscal year on a date and time
specified by the City. In addition to other data mandated by statute, annual reports shall include a
record of community engagement activities undertaken during the prior 12-months, as well as the
name, location, purpose, and amount paid to any person or entity with whom the selected Proposer
subcontracted to perform or complete any purpose for which the City moneys were used for in the
MSD.
4. Community Engagement
The selected Proposer shall solicit opinions, feedback, and input annually, or more as needed,
regarding the effectiveness of MSD operations consistent with minimum requirements provided by
MSD statute, and otherwise to the reasonable satisfaction of the City.
B. CLEAN AND SAFE SERVICES
The MSD Operator will ensure downtown Durham is clean, safe and welcoming for visitors, workers and
residents by:
1. Tracking and responding to Durham One Call initiated requests and/or work orders within the
MSD, and where appropriate reporting work items outside the contracted scope of services to
the City;
2. Emptying public trashcans, including coordination with appropriate City departments to facilitate
maintenance, replacement and/or reinstallation of damaged trashcans, dumpsters, recycling
receptacles, rodent mitigation tools, etc.;
Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026
5
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
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