RFP Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance II

Agency:	City of Denver
State:	Colorado
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Posted Date:	Feb 14, 2024
Due Date:	Mar 8, 2024
Bid Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

Closing date March 08, 2024, 04:00 PM

General Statement of Work

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to design, implement, and administer a small business program to support social equity applicants to establish a cannabis business in the City and County of Denver. The program will be funded using $380,000 from cannabis sales tax revenues. The selected organization will administer a program citywide, serving as the prime contractor and utilizing suitable community partners to deliver business supports and tools in which they specialize. Additional funding at the same or reduced levels could be provided annually for two to three years based on demand and success of the initial phase.

Materials and Information
RFP Guidelines (PDF, 304KB)
2020 Denver Cannabis Business and Employment Opportunity Report
Diversity & Inclusion Form
Opportunity Zone Map
Signed Cover Sheet - Exhibit A

Application
The proposal deadline is Friday, March 8, 2024 at 4 p.m.

Proposals will only be accepted electronically via the Application Portal

Contact details

Lisa Rather

dedo.proposals@denvergov.org

Important Dates

Proposal deadline
Friday, March 8, 2024
at 4 p.m.

Virtual pre-bid meeting
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
from 11-11:45 a.m.
Register

Questions on RFP Guidelines due
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
at 4 p.m.

Access and Accommodation

For a sign language interpreter or real-time captioning via CART Services, contact
DeafHHServices@denvergov.org
with at least three (3) business days' notice.
For other public accommodation requests/concerns related to a disability, contact
DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org .
For non-English language interpretation services, contact
DEDO@denvergov.org with at least five (5) business days' notice.

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2024 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – 20240213

Denver Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance Round II

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

SECTION A GENERAL INFORMATION

A.1 INTRODUCTION

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) is seeking proposals from

qualified organizations to design, implement, and administer a small business program

to support social equity applicants to establish a cannabis business in the City and

County of Denver. The program will be funded using $380,000 from cannabis sales tax

revenues. Additional funding at the same or reduced levels could be provided annually

for two to three years based on demand and success of this initial program. The

selected organization will administer a program citywide, serving as the prime contractor

and utilizing suitable community partners to deliver business supports and tools in which

they specialize.

A.2 BACKGROUND

The purpose of the Request for Proposal is to support social equity applicants operating

a licensed cannabis-related business within the City and County of Denver.

In 2021, the city adopted a comprehensive social equity and technical assistance

program for cannabis licensing. Social equity applicants qualified for waived and

reduced license and application fees; exclusive access to store, manufacturing,

cultivation, hospitality and sales, and transporter licenses until July 1, 2027; and the

exclusive ability to conduct home delivery on behalf of stores.

To qualify as a social equity applicant, a person must meet one of the following: 1) the

applicant’s household income in the prior year was less than 50% of the state median

income, or 2) the applicant lived in an opportunity zone or disproportionately impacted

area for 15 years between 1980 and 2010, or 3) the applicant or a member of the

applicant’s family had an arrest or conviction or suffered civil asset forfeiture due to a

marijuana offense. 4) A social equity applicant must own, alone or in combination with

other social equity applicants, at least 51% of the cannabis business.

In 2021-22 DEDO funded a Cannabis Social Equity Technical Assistance program that

provided education and technical assistance to business curious and early-stage

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entrepreneurs in the cannabis sector. This program sought to build on those services to

reduce barriers to entry into the cannabis industry, create opportunities for individuals

disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement, and increase

racial and ethnic representation among cannabis business owners and employees.

The 2020 Denver Cannabis Business and Employment Opportunity Report provides

more details on the demographic composition of the cannabis industry and the barriers

to cannabis business ownership and employment. Technical assistance (TA) is critical

to helping social equity applicants leverage the exclusive licensing opportunities offered

by the social equity program.

Who the program will assist: The selected vendor(s) will provide services to eligible

program participants which include individuals who have received an approved finding

of suitability from the State Licensing Authority confirming their qualification as a social

equity applicant. Program participants should have completed a cannabis industry basic

education program. Individuals may participate if they have already applied for or

received a cannabis business license from the state and/or city.

Participation in the program does not guarantee licensure by the City and County of

Denver. The program participant must plan to open the business in Denver but is not

required to be a resident of the City and County of Denver.

A.3 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

DEDO may award funding to one or more entities that demonstrate an ability to

effectively deliver and manage services described within this RFP at the best value.

The professional services agreement is anticipated to have a contract term effective

May 31, 2024 through December 31, 2025. DEDO reserves the right to renew the

agreement annually for two to three years based on contractor performance, the

achievement of benchmarks, funding availability, and compliance with all applicable

regulations and other program requirements.

A.4 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• RFP released - Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 4 p.m.

• Preproposal virtual meeting - Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 11-11:45 a.m.

o Please use the following link to register for the live pre-proposal

conference: Register

• Questions due - Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 4 p.m.

o Any final questions regarding the RFP must be submitted in writing

by this date and time to: dedo.proposals@denvergov.org.

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• Addendum to RFP released – Friday, March 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.

o If necessary, the city will issue an addendum with answers to questions

and any significant changes to the RFP. DEDO will release the Addenda

to its Bidding Opportunities page: DEDO Bidding Opportunities Page.

• Proposals due - Friday, March 8, 2024 @ 4 p.m.

Note: Proposals must be received no later than date and time listed in the Schedule of

Events. Proposals not submitted through the online application will not be considered.

Individual proposals will not be read in public or available for public inspection until after

an award determination has been made and agreement is executed.

• Finalists virtual interviews – Friday, March 29 - Wednesday, April 3, 2024

• Award Letter issued – Friday, April 5, 2024

Note: All times are Mountain Standard Time (MST). Technical questions and technical

support regarding the online application will be accepted and answered individually up

to the proposal submission deadline listed above in the Schedule of Events.

A.5 ELIGIBLE RESPONDENTS

Eligible respondents include governmental, educational, for-profit or not-for-profit

organizations or agencies engaged in a public service. Entities must be registered with

the Colorado Secretary of State to do business within the state of Colorado. Entities that

are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or

voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or

agency are not eligible to respond to this RFP or to receive a contract.

Proposal reviews and awards are contingent upon respondent being current with the

city on any loan, contractual, or tax obligation as due, or in compliance with any rule,

regulation, or provision on existing or past city contracts.

A.6 EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

All proposals will be reviewed by an Evaluation Team comprised of DEDO staff and

Excise and Licensing staff and, additional evaluators with subject matter expertise. All

data and information from the proposer must be submitted as described in Section A.8,

Electronic Submission of Proposals. No additional information, documents, or inquiries

pertaining to the proposal submittal, including email and phone calls, will be considered

during the selection process.

The Evaluation Team will determine which of the proposals will provide the best value to

the city while meeting the intended outcomes of the Cannabis Social Equity Technical

Assistance program, using the criteria outlined in Section E: Evaluation of Proposals.

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The city may request oral presentations or interviews as part of the evaluation process.

Additionally, the city reserves the right to conduct negotiations with one or more

proposers.

A.7 DECISIONS

Based upon the information provided by the proposers, the Evaluation Team will

evaluate proposals. The evaluations will be ranked according to scores and proposed

services, and recommendations forwarded to DEDO Senior Management for review and

approval.

Successful proposers will be invited to enter into contract negotiations and development

of a final scope of services. Any award(s) as a result of these proposals shall be

contingent upon the execution of a contract. Proposal reviews and awards are

contingent upon proposers being current to the city on any loan, contractual, or tax

obligation as due, or with any rule, regulation, or provision on existing or past city

contracts.

A.8 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Proposals must be submitted through the online application available at: Zengine.

• Proposals must be submitted no later than date and time listed above in Section

A.4 Schedule of Events.

• Proposals not submitted through the online application will not be considered.

• Individual Proposals will not be read in public or available for public inspection

until after an award determination has been made.

See Appendices for the templates and forms to familiarize yourself with the templates

and forms available in Zengine. DO NOT COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE TEMPLATES

AND FORMS IN THE APPENDICES OF THIS RFP, THESE ARE FOR

INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

• Signed Cover Sheet Appendix A

• Proposer response to Section C.1 and C.2. delivery of Scope of Service

• Organization Responses Section D.3

• Additional Requirements outlined in Section F:

o F.1: W-9 Form

o F.2: Colorado Secretary of State registration

o F.3: The City’s Diversity & Inclusion form is online and must be submitted

to E-Mail: dedo.proposals@denvergov.org prior to the proposal due date

and time. Completion of the online form will be verified by DEDO staff. Do

not include a copy in the PDF version of your proposal.

o F.4: Certificates of Insurance – see requirements under Section F.4

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A.9 RFP QUESTIONS

• All questions regarding the RFP must be submitted via email by Wednesday,

February 28, 2024 @ 4 p.m. Answers to all questions and any significant

changes to the RFP will be made available to known interested proposers via

DEDO’s Bidding Opportunities page.

• The city shall not be bound by, and the Proposer shall not request or rely on any

oral interpretation or clarification of, this RFP. Therefore, any questions regarding

this RFP are encouraged and should be submitted in writing by email to:

Lisa Rather

dedo.proposals@denvergov.org

A.10 ADDENDA

In the event it becomes necessary to revise, change, modify or cancel this RFP or to

provide additional information, addenda will be made available on the DEDO Bidding

Opportunities page. In the online Zengine platform, the proposer will be required to

certify that they have acquired all addenda related to this solicitation and they have

reviewed and complied with the requirements therein.

A.11 ACCEPTANCE PERIOD

Proposals in response to this RFP shall remain valid for a period no less than 120 days

from the proposal submission deadline listed above in A.4, Schedule of Events.

A.12 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS/ SCOPE OF SERVICES

• Sections A and B of this RFP contain General RFP Information and City RFP

Requirements.

• Section C contains expected Scope of Work.

• Sections D, E and F contain Proposal & Response Requirements. The

Proposer’s response and entries to its online application shall form the basis of a

Contractual Agreement covering the subject matter of this RFP.

A.13 PRICING/BUDGET

• Pricing shall be in the format contained in Section D of this RFP. Do not include

cost or price figures anywhere except in the cost and pricing section of your

online application.

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