The vendor is required to provide business capacity development and management training services.
• Business development seminars and online learning curriculum
• Business resource, support services, and one-on-one business training
• Business recruitment & networking opportunities
- Consultants to develop effective strategies to increase the capacity of certified s/w/mbe firms and non-certified firms to compete and succeed on construction, engineering, professional, and commodity services projects with the district, as well as build the subject matter expertise capacity of non-traditional participants employed by district contractors and consultants.
- Comprehensive business development seminars
• Consultant shall identify core topics to be covered in seminars, ensuring relevance to participants and alignment with industry best practices; core topics may include:
• project management (estimating, scheduling, cost control)
• financial and accounting management
• access to capital
• negotiation skills
• business plan development and marketing
• construction management specific to the district (sewer and water)
• bonding and risk management
• communication and conflict resolution
• succession planning
• company culture
• Seminars should be relevant and clearly connected to the needs of participants, incorporate short-term and long-term evaluation, sensitive to the schedules of entrepreneurs, and taught by industry experts.
• Seminars should be tailored to engineering and construction firms and recognize the variability in educational backgrounds.
• Consultant shall develop and implement an outreach and recruitment plan to reach targeted audience and drive participation in the program; seminars should be marketed to s/w/mbe firms, non-certified firms who have not done business with the district, and non-traditional participants employed by contractors and consultants that work on district projects.
• Consultant will facilitate seminar; at least one seminar per year at district facilities (such as jones island, district HQ); the remaining sessions can be hosted at other locations as approved by the district; or virtually using an online platform such as Microsoft teams or using a hybrid approach.
• Seminars shall have a minimum of five (5) registered participants within 24 hours of the start of the seminar; seminars not meeting the minimum registrations will be rescheduled or cancelled.
• All seminar presenters and topics are subject to the approval of the district; the district may recommend additional presenters or topics at its discretion.
- Online curriculum
• The consultant shall develop and manage online content based on the business development seminars; the content shall be posted to an online learn management system approved by the district.
•content may include:
•video recordings of business development seminars
•audio podcasts
•case study readings
•online discussions
- Business resource & support services
• The consultant shall provide participants with access to a comprehensive suite of prescriptive support services, offering expert assistance tailored to identify business needs; for example, if a participant requires improved financial management, the consultant’s services should include targeted guidance in that area; key areas of expertise may include:
• accounting and financial management
• marketing and business development strategy
• emergency access to capital

- Contract Period/Term: 2 years