REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Arena, Conference, & Convention Management Companies CITY OF GRAND FORKS ALERUS CENTER 1200 42ND STREET SOUTH GRAND FORKS, ND 58201 DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL: Tuesday, March 21st, 2017 2:00 P.M. (CST) Page | 1 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS DATE ISSUED: Saturday, February 25, 2017 TITLE: Management and Operation of the Alerus Center DESCRIPTION: The Alerus Center Commission is seeking proposals from experienced organizations or firms interested in managing and operating the Alerus Center on their behalf. DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ): Proposals must be received at the address shown below by Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. Central Standard Time POINT OF CONTACT: Todd Feland, City Administrator City of Grand Forks 701-787-3735 [email protected] RFQ DELIVERY ADDRESS: By USPS: City of Grand Forks, Finance Department, P.O. Box 5200, Grand Forks, ND 58206-5200 By Courier or Hand Delivery: City of Grand Forks, Finance Department, 255 N 4th St, Grand Forks, ND 58203 OFFEROR’S MEETING REQUEST: Requests for individual Offeror’s appointment to meet with the City of Grand Forks and the Alerus Center officials during the RFQ advertising period should be scheduled with Todd Feland, Grand Forks City Administrator, at 1-701-787-3750. Page | 2 1.0 Introduction The Alerus Center Commission is issuing a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) to identify arena, conference, and convention management companies that have proven experience in providing comprehensive management and full operations of facilities in similar markets to the Alerus Center. Services shall include, but not be limited to, general management, scheduling and promotion of events, marketing the venue, ticketing services, food and beverage service, building and equipment maintenance, and capital improvement planning. Accordingly, the Alerus Center Commission is inviting experienced facility management companies with strong track records in the industry to respond to this RFQ. The Mission of the Alerus Center is to provide premier entertainment and events that stimulates economic impact and improves the quality of life for Grand Forks area citizens. 2.0 2017 City of Grand Forks Regional Overview Grand Forks is innovative, entrepreneurial and committed to ensuring “All individuals and businesses have the opportunity to grow”, as ascribed by the Grand Forks Promise by making quantifiable and measurable commitments in the five Grand Forks Promise areas of: 1) A Safe Environment; 2) An Affordable and Competitive Place to Live and Do Business; 3) A Commitment to our Youth; 4) Opportunities to be Engaged; and 5) Rich Cultural and Healthy Experiences. Located on the eastern border of North Dakota in the rich Red River Valley, one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the world, the City of Grand Forks was incorporated in 1881. Grand Forks history shows it to be a popular gathering spot for both Native American and early settler populations engaged in fur trapping and trading. Steamboats on the river and the expansion of the railroad facilitated much trade on the Red River Corridor from southern and eastern areas of the U.S. through Grand Forks to western and northern areas, including Winnipeg, Canada. Besides the trading, the agricultural industry has been a major factor in the City’s continued growth and development of the successful business climate in the region. Presently, the City serves as a regional trade center serving approximately 250,000 people including visitors from Canada. Grand Forks currently occupies a land area of 26.86 square miles and serves a population of 58,277. Grand Forks is the proud home to the University of North Dakota that has a student body of 14,951 and is the premiere flagship institution of the Northern Plains. Located approximately 15 miles west of Grand Forks is the Grand Forks Air Force Base, which has a population of approximately four thousand. Grand Forks Page | 3 International Airport, located 5 miles west of the City, is served by the commercial air carriers Delta and Allegiant Airlines with non-stop service to Minneapolis, MN, Las Vegas, NV, Orlando, FL, and Phoenix, AZ. The City also continues to have both passenger and freight rail services with Amtrak’s “Empire Builder” and BNSF. Two bus lines serve the area and a number of trucking firms provide daily service. Grand Forks adopted its Home Rule Charter in 1970 and operates under a strong mayor- council form of government. Policymaking and legislative authority vests with the City Council, which is made up of seven Council Members, one from each ward of the City, and the Mayor. Under the direction of the Mayor, the City Administrator carries out the policies of the City Council and oversees the day-to-day operations of city government. Grand Forks continues to play a vital role as a “Destination City” for the region with its prime location and robust social and physical infrastructure. It is the health and education center, as well as the retail shopping and entertainment center. The City- owned Alerus Event Center and the attached privately-owned Canad Inn Hotel; with its 40,000 square foot indoor water park is a continued draw to the community for conventions, concerts, and other private events. Other city amenities include the world renowned Ralph Engelstad Arena, home of the University of North Dakota Hockey (located on the University of North Dakota campus); the public owned King’s Walk Arnold Palmer designed golf course, and the nationally designated Greenway Trail system that winds through both Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. These attractions augment the strong retail sector of the community and aid in making Grand Forks a multi-dimensional “Destination City”. Grand Forks’ economy continues to remain strong and growing, coupling retail and building economy with a strong state and regional economy, particularly in the energy, agriculture and tourism sectors. Grand Forks has seen growth in the Agri- Business and Value-added Ag sectors including: Philadelphia Macaroni Co. which recently completed 20,000 square foot expansion to its pasta manufacturing plant, the ND Mill and Elevator that completed a $30M expansion that will increase production 30%, a new $3.5M Ag Country Farm Credit Services Office Complex, JR Simplot Facility renewal and expansion, and the proposed Northern Plains Nitrogen facility which is a $2 Billion plus project and will bring 2,000 workers in for construction and coming online operationally in 2020. The University of North Dakota, led by the new President Mark Kennedy plays a key role in the local, regional, and state economy, with emphasis in the areas of aerospace, energy and the environment, and medicine. Investment in upgrading and expanding facilities on campus continues including a new $125M Medical and Allied Health Sciences School, a $12M renovation and addition to the Law School, a $15M Engineering School Collaborative Energy Center and a $23M Aerospace School and Foundation Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Center.UND also completed construction Page | 4 of a $20M Athletics High-Performance Center, which will provide an indoor training and competition center for UND Athletics. The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation and the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce have helped lead business development and growth through sound investment and planning strategies and continue to be an asset for the region’s economic engine. Examples of growth within the community are a $4M plant expansion at LM Windpower that enables production of larger blades to increase their competiveness in the market place, and a $60M new corporate warehouse/office equipment building development for Minnkota Power Cooperative. The City continues to plan for long-term infrastructure needs and focuses on a proactive development approach. Recent $12M infrastructure investments were made in the Business Park that have incentivized investment by several logistic businesses including Federal Express and Acme Tools, that also completed construction of new Acme Tools corporate offices on the North end of the City. Grand Forks has identified three (3) Strategic Infrastructure Growth areas to focus on that will leverage an innovative $15M loan from the State of ND for infrastructure installation to encourage growth of both new industrial and commercial opportunities. These areas include I-29 South, which will expand on the southwest quadrant of the City and two areas along the Hwy 2 corridor of the City. The City conducted an analysis of several other areas where infrastructure installation could be utilized to spur development. Those will be monitored on the horizon for future inclusion in CIP planning as the City continues to grow. Grand Forks continues to work with community partners to support and benefit from the growth opportunities in the North Dakota energy sector. In addition, we have seen strong growth in the professional services area, with expansions occurring for many local accounting, banking, and engineering and consulting services firms. The Grand Forks Air Force Base is producing new missions to support the country’s defense strategies and capabilities including the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) or Unmanned Aerial systems (UAS). The Air Force is utilizing the base as an operating location for Predator (MQ-1) and Global Hawk (RQ-4) UAV’s. This mission forges even stronger ties with the John D Odegaard School for Aviation and Aerospace Sciences and UND and many other private companies ranging from local start-up to national aviation giants. Grand Forks County received approval from the US Air Force to move forward with the development of Grand Sky, the nation’s first Unmanned Aerial Systems Business and Page | 5 Development Park at the Grand Forks Air Force Base through an enhanced use lease. Giants in the industry, Northrup Grumman and General Atomics, have already established footprint in Grand Sky and others in the industry are expected to follow.