Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

City of Palm Desert - CMO - City Manager has issued request for information, solicitation 2026-RFI-059.

The City of Palm Desert (“City”) is requesting information from qualified firms and multidisciplinary teams with demonstrated experience n feasibility study services, public-private partnerships (“P3”), facility operations, economic impact analysis, and strategic implementation planning for regional indoor sports, recreation, entertainment, or similar facilities. The City is considering the potential development of a regional indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility on approximately 18 to 20 acres of former Redevelopment Agency property located within an approximately 170-acre area generally situated at the northeast corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue, as shown on the attached site map. Through this Request for Information (“RFI”), the City seeks to identify firms with relevant qualifications and experience in areas such as market and financial feasibility analysis, facility planning and operations, sports tourism and recreation programming, economic impact analysis, P3, funding strategies, and implementation planning. Respondents are requested to provide information regarding their firm’s qualifications, relevant experience, key areas of expertise, and examples of comparable feasibility studies or related assignments completed for public agencies or similar clients. Respondents should also describe where applicable, their experience participation in or structuring P3's and any potential interest or role in the development, financing, operation, or management of a similar facility. Respondents are requested to provide information regarding their firm’s qualifications, relevant experience, key areas of expertise, and examples of comparable feasibility studies or related assignments completed for public agencies or similar clients. Respondents should also describe, where applicable, their experience participation in or structuring P3’s and any potential interest or role in the development, financing, operation, or management of a similar facility. The information received may be used by the City to better understand the available expertise and potential project delivery approaches to determine whether to proceed with subsequent procurement, partnership process, or other solicitation related to the project.

In April 2024, Visit Greater Palm Springs completed the Feasibility Study of a New Amateur Sports Complex in the Greater Palm Springs/Coachella Valley Area. The study is included as Attachment B for informational purposes and to provide regional background relevant to this RFI. That study concluded that the regional market could support an approximately 140,000-square-foot indoor sports and recreation facility and identified opportunities to expand sports tourism, enhance recreational amenities, and generate regional economic benefits. Visit Greater Palm Springs has also explored the potential creation of a Tourism Business Improvement District as a possible funding mechanism to support the development and long-term operation of a regional sports facility. On February 12, 2026, the Palm Desert City Council directed staff to seek proposals from qualified development and operations partners and conduct a detailed evaluation of capital costs, operating projections, funding strategies, fiscal impacts, and potential return on investment, and to return to the City Council with a proposed deal structure if viable. Additionally, the Palm Desert City Council has identified studying the feasibility of build a regional indoor sports facility as one of its 2026 City Council Goals. The proposed indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility would be located on approximately 18 to 20 acres within a larger, approximately 170-acre vacant area generally situated at the northeast corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue. The 170-acre area is located within the University Neighborhood Specific Plan and is currently being planned for future development. The City is currently updating the Specific Plan to accommodate the potential development of an indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility and to complete the associated environmental review. The Specific Plan update is currently anticipated to be completed by March 2027. In addition to the potential indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility, the 170 acre site is anticipated to include up to 2,200 multifamily residential units, approximately 12 acres of commercial, retail, and hospitality uses, 24.5 acres of open space, approximately 28 acres of lighted regional sports fields, and approximately 3 acres of public facility uses that may support shared parking opportunities. The approximately 18 to 20 acre facility site would therefore be part of this larger planned development area. Its proximity to regional sports fields, residential development, commercial and hospitality uses, and other planned public amenities could provide opportunities for complementary uses, shared infrastructure, and increased regional activity.

Responses are due October 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM PDT.

Questions must be submitted by September 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT.

Commodity categories: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Management Consulting Services; Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services; Other Management Consulting Services; Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services; Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services.

Contact: Erika Castellano, Management Analyst (ecastellano@palmdesert.gov, (760) 346-0611).

5 documents are attached to the notice: Site Map; Indoor Sports Facility Staff Report-February 12, 2026; Indoor Sports Facility PPT Presentation-February 12, 2026; Visit Greater Palm Springs Feasibility Study-2024; Visit Greater Palm Springs Feasbility Study-2025.

The full solicitation document, addenda and the question-and-answer thread are on the agency's OpenGov portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityofpalmdesert/projects/303076. Responses are submitted electronically there, and a free vendor account is required before you can upload one.