LTC 286-2018 Request for Letters of Interest (RFLI) NO. 2018-185AM1BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC# 286-2018 LETTER , 0 COMMISSION
TO: Dan Gelber and Members of the Cit Commissi
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: May 18, 2018
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF INTEREST (RFLI) NO. 2018 -185 -WG
CHRISTMAS TREE CONCESSIONAIRE
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide a status update regarding Request for
Letters of Interest (RFLI) No. 2018 -185 -WG for Christmas Tree Concessionaire.
At the September 25, 2017 City Commission meeting, pursuant to agenda item R9AE, the Mayor
and City Commission directed staff to attempt to identify a Christmas tree concessionaire for the
2018 holiday season. Accordingly, the Administration issued Request for Letters of Interest
(RFLI) 2018 -185 -WG for Christmas Tree Concessionaire seeking responses from firms or non-
profit organizations interested in operating a Christmas tree concession within the City. RFLI
responses were due April 20, 2018. The Procurement Department issued solicitation notices to
441 firms and organizations, including those identified by the Tourism, Community and Economic
Development Department performing these services locally. However, no responses to the RFLI
were received.
As a result, staff queried prospective proposers to determine why no responses to the RFLI were
received. The common response was that Christmas tree concessions require a great deal of
resources and manpower and the revenue margins are very small. The queried vendors stated
their reluctance to invest the necessary resources to establish the concession given, what they
have deemed to be, potentially low sales volume.
As a reminder, the aforementioned RFLI represents the City's second attempt to solicit proposals
for a Christmas tree concession. In August 2017, the Administration issued a previous RFLI that
also resulted in no responses.
j
JLM/KGB/E / D/KB/WG
c: Kathie Brooks, Assistant City Manager
Eva Silverstein, TCED Director
Alex Denis, Procurement Director
F:\PURC\Solicitations\2018\2018-185-WG Christmas Trees Concession\LTC - RFLI 2018-185-WG.docx