Sole Source for Management of Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square, Inc. (PCSI) has successfully managed The Square on behalf of the City on a continuous basis for over 40 years. This continuity of management uniquely positions PCSI to maintain a level of service that has become an expectation of the City and of community members and partners who value the Square as a safe, interactive, and accessible public space. The previous agreements (30006698 & 30008158) ran from December 12, 2018 to July 5, 2026 and were procured via Sole Source and Ordinance 190912. PCSI is a non-profit corporation whose volunteer Board of Trustees is composed of civic leaders who bring business, planning, financial and organizational expertise and are directly connected to a broad array of City priorities. The Board of Trustees contribute significant time, expertise, and organizational support to activation, planning and general operations at The Square, and the City’s relationship with them as Board members – individually and as a group – leverages their service with PCSI in support of numerous City goals. This network of relationships is valuable and important. Under guidance from an active and knowledgeable Board of Trustees, PCSI has extensive history and knowledge managing The Square. This, along with PCSI’s ability to provide a full scope of services, makes PCSI uniquely qualified to continue managing The Square. PCSI’s ability to provide a full scope of services is a cost benefit to the City, in that City resources are more efficiently allocated to managing one agreement and working with a single, seasoned vendor, rather than being spread across multiple agreements with multiple new vendors. Additionally, because PCSI provides comprehensive management services, they can efficiently ensure that the many aspects of service are aligned and coordinated. This arrangement is more efficient on the vendor side and on the City side. PCSI was created specifically for the purpose of managing The Square, which has grown from a service into a significant partnership with the City and greater community. PCSI programs more than 300 diverse community events per year. There are no known firms that possess equivocal qualifications. Finally, PCSI’s historical knowledge managing The Square avoids time and expense, and significant disruption to services and activations, related to a transition to multiple new vendors. The scope of work includes performing management, programming, maintenance, long-term planning, financial management, marketing and advertising, security, and operation of The Square. Responsibilities also include, but are not limited to, encouraging local business development, coordinating volunteer opportunities, protecting and enhancing the asset values, and carrying out business functions through its independent Board of Trustees.