Columbia Ionwave #RFP001-26-27-AMS

City of Columbia Seeks Contractor for Finlay Park Music, Festival, and Event Planning Services

The City of Columbia is seeking a contractor to provide comprehensive music, festival, and event planning services for Finlay Park, a major downtown venue. - Government Buyer: - City of Columbia, Department of Procurement and Contracts - Parks and Recreation Department - Scope of Services: - Full-service event planning and management for concerts, festivals, and public events at Finlay Park - Talent booking, artist agreement execution, and production management (sound, lighting, staging) - Marketing, communications, and sponsorship management - Event operations, logistics, and safety/emergency coordination - Accessibility, inclusion, and sustainability support - Post-event reporting and site protection - Contractor responsible for all artist/vendor payments as pass-through costs - Management of approximately 30-40 Friday night concerts, 2-4 city-produced festivals, and 6-10 third-party events annually - Notable Requirements: - Contractor acts as the contracting party for artist agreements - No city indemnification; full transfer of event management duties to contractor - Emphasis on inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability - Encouragement of Local Business Enterprises and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises participation - City currently rents production equipment but plans to build permanent infrastructure covering most event needs - No specific OEMs, part numbers, or product quantities are named; the contract is for all-inclusive annual services

Description

This solicitation is a Request for Proposal issued by the City of Columbia for a contractor to provide music and festival planning services at Finlay Park. The contractor will be responsible for executing artist agreements, managing event production, and coordinating various aspects of event planning and execution. The contract includes managing existing and new events, with responsibilities such as booking talent, vendor coordination, and financial administration. The project is scheduled to start on October 1, 2026, with a proposal submission deadline of August 26, 2026.

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