Title
Authorization to Issue Request for Proposals for Mexico Trade Development Consulting Services
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Mexico Trade Development Consulting Services.
Report
Summary
In 2014, with City Council authorization, the Community and Economic Development Department issued a solicitation and subsequently entered into a professional services contract for Mexico trade development representative services to position the City and its partners to be proactive, focused and committed to long term, bilateral and strategic economic engagement with Mexico. As part of these services, the City opened trade offices in Mexico City and Hermosillo. The contract resulting from this solicitation expires on June 30, 2019.
The City has established a recognized leadership position in Mexico as it relates to key relationships and economic opportunity. Maintaining this leadership position requires a sustained effort to leverage the success to date, and position Phoenix for increased economic opportunity. Mexico remains the top trading partner for both the City of Phoenix and State of Arizona. The Phoenix Metro region has experienced record exports to Mexico for the three most recent years for which data is available, 2015 ($4.2 billion), 2016 ($3.5 billion) and 2017 ($3.02 billion). Active engagement with Mexico is necessary to further expand these record exports.
With approval, the Community and Economic Development Department will issue an RFP for Mexico Trade Development Consulting Services to facilitate economic activity between Mexico and Phoenix. These services will focus on:
- Expanding the City’s footprint in Mexico through the existing City offices and potentially additional offices in Guadalajara and Monterrey.
- Developing and enhancing business to business connections between Mexico-based companies and companies operating in Phoenix.
- Fostering Phoenix business expansion connections for Mexico-based companies seeking growth opportunities in the United States.
- Identifying perspective Phoenix investments from Mexico-based investors seeking both development investment opportunities and business ventures in the United States.
The successful proposer will also conduct outreach to support strong relationships between the City and local, state, and federal government agencies in Mexico.
It is anticipated the RFP will be open at least 30 days and will require each proposer and its primary consultant to have three years' experience providing Mexico trade development consulting services.
Responsive proposals will be evaluated by a panel based on the following evaluation criteria (1,000 possible points):
- Approach to Scope of Work (0-300 points).
- Primary Consultant’s Qualifications & Experience (0-250 points).
- Proposer’s Qualifications & Experience (0-250 points).
- Fees (0-200 points).
Staff will return to the Planning and Economic Development Subcommittee and full City Council for contract award approval.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund by this action.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On Oct. 22, 2013, City Council approved the Community and Economic Development Department's Mexico Trade and Investment Update, which included a request to issue an RFP to select a qualified Mexico City based firm specializing in international trade promotion and foreign direct investment to represent the City in Mexico in order to open a trade and investment office in early 2014.
This item was recommended for approval at the Planning and Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on March 13, 2019, by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Deanna Jonovich and the Community and Economic Development Department.