RFQ #FMARC-348 - PRESIDENT’S DAY PARADE

The County of Riverside Purchasing on behalf of Community Centers Division is soliciting quotations for the President’s Day Parade as detailed in this RFQ. The County of Riverside is seeking a qualified and experienced parade production and coordination services provider to support the planning and execution of the annual Presidents Day Parade held in conjunction with the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.

The Presidents Day Parade is a high-profile community event traditionally held on Presidents Day and serves as an important component of the County's annual Fair and National Date Festival activities.

The parade attracts community organizations, schools, elected officials, dignitaries, veterans, civic groups, businesses, entertainers, and other participants. The awarded vendor will be responsible for providing comprehensive parade planning, coordination, production, and day-of-event support.

The intent is to secure a vendor with demonstrated experience producing successful community parades and the ability to coordinate effectively with County staff, participating organizations, public safety agencies, and local governmental partners.

The procurement will obtain comprehensive professional parade coordination and production services, including, but not limited to: • Overall parade planning and coordination • Participant and entry management • Parade staging and line-up • Route coordination and operational planning • Coordination with the City of Indio • Coordination with the Indio Police Department and other public safety agencies • Coordination with the County of Riverside and applicable County departments • Judging and judging support • Parade staffing and volunteers • Equipment and production support • Announcer and emcee services, as applicable • Permitting and coordination of required approvals • Insurance requirements • Awards and recognition • Participant communications • Day-of-parade operations and execution • Post-event coordination and closeout The 2027 Presidents Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, February 15, 2027, in conjunction with the 2027 Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, scheduled for February 11–28, 2027.

Because the parade is an annual event, the County is proposing a one-year initial contract with four one-year renewal options to allow for continuity of services for future Presidents Day Parades. The parade will take place in and around the City of Indio and the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival grounds, with the final route, staging areas, and operational locations coordinated with the County, City of Indio, Indio Police Department, and other applicable agencies.

The purpose of the procurement is to secure a qualified professional parade services provider capable of managing the logistical, operational, and production requirements associated with a high-profile public event.

The County requires a contractor with demonstrated parade production experience and the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and public agencies to ensure the event is organized, safe, and successfully executed. The awarded vendor will work closely with County staff and the appropriate local agencies throughout the planning process.

The contractor will be expected to develop and maintain a comprehensive parade plan, coordinate participants and parade entries, manage staging and day-of-event logistics, coordinate with public safety and governmental partners, and provide the personnel and equipment necessary for successful execution of the parade.