Project Information

Bid Title

DOWNTOWN DURHAM MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT OPERATIONS

Issuing Agency

City of Durham

Location

North Carolina

Published Date

Feb 23, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 9, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

26-1035

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Number:	26-1035
Bid Title:	DOWNTOWN DURHAM MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT OPERATIONS
Category:	Requests for Proposals/Qualifications and Services
Status:	Open

Description: **** RFP date, time, via EMAIL:  Monday March 9, 2026, by 5:00 PM - Send to: Christina Tookes For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. **** Publication Date/Time: 2/23/2026 8:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 3/9/2026 5:00 PM Contact Person: Christina Tookes [email protected] Related Documents: 2026 MSD BID Operator RFP Final 02.18.26

Attachment Preview

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

DOWNTOWN DURHAM

MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT

OPERATIONS

Issue Date: FEBRUARY 23, 2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 9, 2026 5:00PM EST

Questions:

Christina Tookes, Project Manager

Business Services Administrator

Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Christina.Tookes@durhamnc.gov

919.560.4965 X 15201

CONTENTS

Purpose

3

Background

3

Downtown Durham Municipal Service District (Business Improvement District)

3

SECTION II. Scope of Work

Statutory Compliance, Budget Determination and Required Reporting

5

Annual Cost Proposal

5

Annual City Budget Allocation

5

Mandatory Reporting

5

Community Engagement

5

Clean and Safe Services

5

Economic Development, Marketing & Creative Placemaking/Placekeeping

6

SECTION III. Evaluation Criteria

Scoring Criteria

7

SECTION IV. Proposal Requirements

Response Schedule

8

Submittal Format

8

Questions regarding RFP

8

Submittal of Proposals

9

1. Concise Letter of Interest

9

2. Executive Summary

9

3. Project Understanding and Plans for Implementation

9

4. Team Organization, Experience and Qualifications

9

5. Consultants and Subcontractors

10

6. References

10

7. Cost Proposal

10

8. Financial Statement/Documentation

10

9. Supplemental Documentation

11

SECTION V. Contract Requirements

RFP Definitions

11

UBE Participation

11

Contract Period

11

Payment by the City

12

Assumption Regarding City of Durham Actions and Participation

12

Insurance

12

Proposer Expense

12

State Treasurer’s list regarding Iran and Boycott of Israel

12

Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

12

Values of City of Durham regarding Treatment of Employee of Contractors

13

- Statement of City EEO Policy

13

- Livable Wage

13

ATTACHMENTS

Appendix A – Municipal Service District Statue (NCGS Article 23, Chapter §160A)

15

Appendix B – Resolution #9761 Establishing a Business Improvement District

25

Appendix C – Insurance Requirements

26

Appendix D – RFP Certification Form

27

Appendix E – Equal Business Opportunity Program Statement/Form

28

Appendix F – Sample Contract Template for Services

43

Appendix G – W-9 Form

52

Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026

2

BACKGROUND AND GENERAL INFORMATION

PURPOSE

This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to identify a MSD Operator qualified to provide the Scope of

Services outlined herein for a period of up to 5 years, or City of Durham fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

BACKGROUND

The City of Durham, North Carolina, hereinafter, referred to as “City” is the fourth largest city in North

Carolina. Durham has a strong association with learning, creativity, research, and industry and is amid a

revitalization driven by the adaptive reuse of historic buildings and the construction of new ones that

support the live, work, play and learn vision of an enhanced quality of life for all Durham residents.

Durham’s economic transformation over the last 25 years has been marked by significant investment in

infrastructure, education and clean energy. The city has seen a shift towards a more sustainable and

resilient economy, with a focus on enhancing the quality of life for all Durham residents and attracting

businesses. Durham’s economic transformation is a testament to its strategic planning and commitment

to growth, ensuring that the city remains a vibrant center of community and commerce.

A strong talent pool, abundant educational and community resources, and a high quality of life have all

helped make Durham an attractive home to many employers. Known as the “City of Medicine,” Durham

is home to six of the best hospitals in the state. Durham is home to Research Triangle Park (RTP), the site

of more than 300 companies encompassing greater than 22.5 million square-feet of developed space and

employing more than 65,000 full-time employees.

As of 2025 downtown Durham boasted:

2019

7,200

21,300

716

91%

391K sf

3.6M sf

3500

167

94

3.1M

32K

$1.8B

TOTAL

Residents

Employees

Hotel Rooms

Office Occupancy

Coworking Space

Office

Residential Units

Shops/Restaurants

Walkability Score

Visitors Annually

Pedestrians Weekly

OVERALL INVESTMENT

Source: State of Downtown Durham 2025

2025

12,172

21,453

827

84%

170K sf

4.8M sf

6914

288

95

9.82M

37K

$2.65B

DOWNTOWN DURHAM MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISTRICT (BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT)

The North Carolina General Statutes, at Chapter 160A, Article 23 prescribe purposes for which a Municipal

Service District (MSD) may be established. A city council may define any number of service districts in

order to finance, provide, or maintain for the districts one or more services, facilities, or functions in

addition to or to a greater extent than those financed, provided or maintained for the entire city. The

statute provides that districts may be established for purposes of downtown revitalization. Downtown

revitalization projects are defined as improvements, services, functions, promotions, and developmental

Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026

3

activities intended to further the public health, safety, welfare, convenience, and economic well-being of

the central city or downtown area.

A MSD is a defined geographic area within a municipality in which the City Council or other governing

body levies an additional property tax to provide a variety of services that enhance, not replace, existing

municipal services within the district. A MSD is not a separate unit of government. It is simply a

mechanism whereby local government may raise money to pay for, and deliver services or projects, from

those property owners that most directly benefit from the services or projects. A MSD is commonly

referred to as a Business Improvement District (BID).

The MSD in downtown Durham was authorized in 2011 and implemented in July 2012. MSD operation, to

date, has been administered by a contractor, with select services provided through a subcontract with a

third-party vendor. MSD programmatic services provided in downtown Durham, to date, include:

1. Clean and Safe Services.

2. Downtown Economic Development, Marketing, and Creative Placemaking/Placekeeping.

Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026

4

SECTION I. SCOPE OF WORK

A. STATUTORY COMPLIANCE, BUDGET DETERMINATION, REQUIRED REPORTING

The selected Proposer shall be subject to and shall maintain compliance with certain statutory, budgeting

and reporting requirements, including however not limited to the following:

1. Annual Cost Proposal

Proposers must submit an annual cost proposal to manage the downtown Durham MSD based upon

the complete Scope of Services described in the RFP, to include all administrative costs, expenses, and

overhead (including staff salaries and benefits). Proposers should submit proposals which include

anticipated revenues from non-City sources (if any), including ticket sales, grants, donations, etc.

2. Annual City Budget Allocation

The Durham City Council may modify the City budget allocation annually, in total and/or per each

budget subcategory. The annual City budget allocation is additionally subject to adjustment based

upon the approved MSD tax rate established by the Durham City Council as part of its annual budget

adoption process, as well as by actual revenue receipts collected from the MSD tax.

The Downtown Durham Municipal Service District funding allocation for Fiscal Year 2026 was

$2,278,030.

3. Mandatory Reporting

The selected Proposer shall submit a detailed report for each quarter (with the beginning of each fiscal

year being July 1) of program activities and accomplishments in accordance with the Scope of Services.

Reports shall be submitted to the implementing department within 20 days of the end of each quarter.

Reports shall conform to the reasonable requirements of the implementing department.

Consistent with MSD statute, the selected Proposer shall additionally compile and deliver an annual

report and presentation to the City Council prior to the end of each fiscal year on a date and time

specified by the City. In addition to other data mandated by statute, annual reports shall include a

record of community engagement activities undertaken during the prior 12-months, as well as the

name, location, purpose, and amount paid to any person or entity with whom the selected Proposer

subcontracted to perform or complete any purpose for which the City moneys were used for in the

MSD.

4. Community Engagement

The selected Proposer shall solicit opinions, feedback, and input annually, or more as needed,

regarding the effectiveness of MSD operations consistent with minimum requirements provided by

MSD statute, and otherwise to the reasonable satisfaction of the City.

B. CLEAN AND SAFE SERVICES

The MSD Operator will ensure downtown Durham is clean, safe and welcoming for visitors, workers and

residents by:

1. Tracking and responding to Durham One Call initiated requests and/or work orders within the

MSD, and where appropriate reporting work items outside the contracted scope of services to

the City;

2. Emptying public trashcans, including coordination with appropriate City departments to facilitate

maintenance, replacement and/or reinstallation of damaged trashcans, dumpsters, recycling

receptacles, rodent mitigation tools, etc.;

Request for Proposals | Downtown Durham Municipal Service District Operations FY 2027-2031| Issued February 2026

5

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 561210Facilities Support Services

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