When is the submission deadline?

Submissions are due August 17, 2026. Questions must be submitted by July 22, 2026.

What is the budget for this RFP?

The published budget is $56,000.

It was issued by City Of Madison. The work is located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.

Who is a good fit for this opportunity?

Event programming firm with experience activating downtown or public spaces. Company skilled in multi-month community event planning and execution. Team experienced in permits, approvals, and public event logistics. Marketing and outreach provider with inclusive community engagement capabilities. Firm with partnerships or experience working with local businesses and community organizations. Organization able to track participation, attendance, and program outcomes.

Downtown Programming Services (Due August 17, 2026)

Overview

Arts, Culture & Sports

Madison, Wisconsin, United StatesPosted: July 16th, 2026Deadline: August 17th, 2026

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SUMMARY

A vendor is sought to plan, manage, market, and measure a multi-month series of downtown activities and events running Sunday through Friday. The work includes program design, permitting, community collaboration, outreach, and attendance tracking.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a qualified organization or entity
Must be registered as a local vendor by the RFP due date to receive preference points
Must submit an Affirmative Action Plan if employing 15 or more employees and earning $50,000 or more in annual contracts
Must agree to interview candidates referred through the Referrals and Interviews for Sustainable Employment (RaISE) program if employing 15 or more employees
Must provide a Certificate of Insurance including general liability, workers compensation, and potentially automobile and professional liability insurance
Must not be a producer of nuclear weapons
Must not source apparel from sweatshops
Must be able to provide services from Sunday through Friday
Must be able to provide programming that spans multiple months

BUDGET

Verified

$56,000

TIMELINE

Deadline for questions: July 22nd, 2026

City's answers posted: July 29th, 2026

Proposal due date: August 17th, 2026

QUESTION DEADLINE

July 22nd, 2026

CONTACTS

Primary procurement contact — name, title, email, and phone

Additional decision-makers and their departments

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Issuing Agency

City Of Madison

Organization overview and procurement intelligence available on paid plans.

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DESCRIPTION

The issuing organization seeks a vendor to provide downtown programming services focused on delivering a series of activities and events scheduled from Sunday through Friday over multiple months. The engagement is intended to support sustained activation of the downtown area through coordinated, community-oriented programming.

Scope of responsibilities includes program development and implementation, including the design and planning of proposed activities, identification of suitable locations, and development of implementation strategies. The selected vendor will also be responsible for event and activity management, including securing any required permits and approvals.

Additional responsibilities include marketing and outreach to promote activities to target audiences, using inclusive outreach strategies and collaborating with downtown businesses and community partners. The vendor will also be expected to conduct performance measurement by tracking attendance and participation. All questions are due no later than July 22, 2026.

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Frequently asked questions

When is the submission deadline?: Submissions are due August 17, 2026. Questions must be submitted by July 22, 2026.
What is the budget for this RFP?: The published budget is $56,000.
Who issued this RFP?: It was issued by City Of Madison. The work is located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.
Who is a good fit for this opportunity?: Event programming firm with experience activating downtown or public spaces
Company skilled in multi-month community event planning and execution
Team experienced in permits, approvals, and public event logistics
Marketing and outreach provider with inclusive community engagement capabilities
Firm with partnerships or experience working with local businesses and community organizations
Organization able to track participation, attendance, and program outcomes

Analysis generated by Settle AI from the source RFP.

RFP Hunter shows what is open. Settle shows what is forming.

Settle pieces together buyer signals, budgets, contract activity, and the sources your team already monitors. See why an opportunity fits and what to do before the RFP posts.

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