Parks and Recreation Department Organizational Assessment Services

The City of Santa Cruz is soliciting proposals under solicitation number PR-0318 for professional organizational assessment services for its Parks and Recreation Department. The objective is to engage an independent consultant to evaluate current operations, staffing, and organizational structure to improve effectiveness and long-term sustainability. The scope of work includes reviewing budgets and strategic plans, conducting on-site visits and stakeholder interviews, and benchmarking the department against five comparable California agencies with budgets of at least 15 million dollars. Key deliverables include a Project Management Plan, an Existing Conditions Summary, and a Final Organizational Assessment Report featuring prioritized action items and fiscally responsible recommendations. The project is expected to be completed within a 12-week performance period. Proposals must be submitted via the City's e-Procurement Portal by August 21, 2026, and must be divided into a separate Written Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal. Award selection is based on a best-value trade-off methodology, with the highest weight placed on project understanding and work plan (60 percent), followed by quality of presentation (35 percent), and firm qualifications (25 percent). The selected consultant must provide professional, general, auto, and workers compensation insurance, as well as performance and payment bonds. Additionally, contractors must comply with the City's Living Wage Ordinance and provide disclosures regarding the California Levine Act and any potential conflicts of interest. Preference points are available for businesses that are local to the City of Santa Cruz or locally owned within Santa Cruz County.