Title
Trade Development Services in Hermosillo and Mexico City Request for Proposals Contract Award (RFP-CED20-TDS) (Ordinance S-48004)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a contract with Discover Phoenix and Arizona, LLC, or its City-approved designee, to provide trade development consulting services in and around Hermosillo, Mexico. The aggregate amount for this one-year contract will not exceed $90,000. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available in the Downtown Community Reinvestment Fund.
Report
Summary
In December 2019, City Council authorized staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Trade Development Consulting Services in Hermosillo and Mexico City to facilitate activity between Mexico and Phoenix. The City's former trade offices in these cities closed in July 2019 with the expiration of the previous trade development consulting services contract.
If approved, Discover Phoenix and Arizona, LLC will:
- Operate the City's trade development services office in Hermosillo, Mexico.
- Conduct one outbound trade mission to Mexico or represent the City in one business expo in Mexico.
- Develop and enhance business to business connections between Mexico-based companies and Phoenix-based companies.
- Foster Phoenix business expansion connections for Mexico-based companies seeking growth opportunities in the U.S.
- Identify perspective Phoenix investments for Mexico-based investors seeking both development investment opportunities and business ventures in the U.S.
Procurement Information
RFP-CED20-TDS, Trade Development Consulting Services in Hermosillo and Mexico City, was issued on Feb. 21, 2020 and conducted in accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10. The City received three proposals, all responsive, for the Mexico City office and two proposals for the Hermosillo office, only one of which was responsive. Shortly after conducting proposer interviews for the Mexico City office, staff was directed to pause all procurement processes while the City focused on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impacts on the community. Recently staff reviewed this solicitation to determine whether the scope of work still met the City's needs. Staff recommends moving forward with Discover Phoenix and Arizona, LLC, the sole responsive proposer, as the recommended proposer for the Hermosillo office; however, based on shifting market conditions and priorities for Mexico City, staff has canceled the Mexico City office portion of the RFP and will conduct additional research that will be beneficial to the future solicitation for these services.
Contract Term
If approved, the term of the contract is for one year with no options to extend.
Financial Impact
The aggregate amount for this one-year contract will not exceed $90,000. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available in the Downtown Community Reinvestment Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On Dec. 10, 2019, City Council authorized staff to issue an RFP for Trade Development Services in Hermosillo and Mexico City to facilitate economic activity between Mexico and Phoenix.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the Community and Economic Development Department.