Title
Authorization to Enter Into Contract With Maroon Society, Inc. for Community Needs Assessment Consulting Services (Ordinance S-53084) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, to enter into a contract with Maroon Society, Inc. to provide Consulting Services to conduct a Community Needs Assessment for the Human Services Department (HSD). The contract term will begin on or about July 1, 2026, for a three-year term with no options to extend. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The total value of the contract will not exceed $188,250. Funds are available from a combination of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Head Start funding, Community Services Block Grant funding, and the City of Phoenix General Funds contingent upon annual budget approval.
Report
Summary
Every three years, DHHS requires HSD to conduct a Community Assessment of its service area to determine whether there have been significant changes in participant demographics and needs. The Community Needs Assessment must be updated to better serve adults, children, and families. The assessment data is analyzed and the information is used in HSD’s planning process. This includes, but is not limited to, long- and short-term goals and program and fiscal considerations, such as philosophy, needed services, program options, recruitment area, and selection criteria. The Consultant will conduct a comprehensive community assessment for HSD in the first year of the contract. Over the next two years, the Consultant will review the assessment and submit brief updates.
Procurement Information
A Request for Proposal procurement was processed in accordance with City of Phoenix Administrative Regulation 3.10. HSD received nine officers on March 16, 2026, of which one was deemed non-responsive and eight were determined responsive and responsible for meeting the solicitation requirements.
An evaluation committee of City staff evaluated those offers based on the following criteria, with a maximum possible point total of 1,000:
Method of Approach (0 - 600 points)
Qualifications and Experience (0 - 300 points)
Price Proposal (0 - 100 points)
Vendor total scores of a possible 1,000 points are as follows:
Keen Independent Research LLC - 838
Maroon Society, Inc. - 890
Metopio, Inc. - 736
Myndhack LLC - 615
Public Consulting Group LLC - 753
Samira Cook dba Purposeful World Strategies - 766
Saragad, LLC - 819
Velasco Consulting, LLC - 640
After reaching consensus, the evaluation committee recommends an award to the following vendor:
Maroon Society, Inc. - 890 points
Contract Term
The contract will begin on or about July 1, 2026, for a three-year term with no options to extend.
Financial Impact
The total contract value will not exceed $188,250. Funding is available from a combination of DHHS Head Start funding, Community Services Block Grant funding, and City of Phoenix General Funds, upon annual budget approval.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.