Title
AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SMG DBA ASM GLOBAL FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF MAGGIE DALEY PARK
SPECIFICATION NO. P-24009
Body
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that the General Superintendent and CEO or her designee enter into a contract with SMG dba ASM Global (“ASMG”) for the purpose of managing and operating Maggie Daley Park. The contractor was selected pursuant to a publicly advertised Request for Proposals. No work may commence, and no payment shall be made to vendor prior to the execution of a written agreement.
II. Award Information
Company: SMG dba ASM Global
300 Conshohocken State Road, Ste 770
Conshohocken, PA 19248
Company Type: Delaware LLC
Majority Interests: SMG Holdings I - LLC 50%
SMG Holdings II - LLC 50%
Contract Type: Term Agreement
Contract Term: 7 years with one (1) three (3) year extension options
Contract Amount: See Exhibit A
Scope of Services: Management and operation of Maggie Daley Park, Cancer Survivors Garden and Peanut Park.
Compliance Goals: The Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation for this contract meets the compliance goals of 25% MBE participation and 5% WBE participation. The proposal for this authorization includes 67% MBE participation and 15% WBE participation.
Authorization: Authorize the General Counsel to include other relevant terms and conditions in the written Agreement. Authorize the General Superintendent to execute the Agreement and the related extension options and the Secretary to attest as to the signing of the Agreement and keep an original copy of the Agreement on file.
III. Budget and Financial Information
Budget Classification: Operating and Capital
Fiscal Year: 2025-2034
Source of Funds: 001.1303.1303.626060.00001.01.01.00001
IV. Procurement Information
Date Advertised: September 5, 2024
Maggie Daley Park Site Visit
and Pre-Submittal Meeting: October 24, 2024
Date Proposals Due: December 3, 2024
Number of Proposals Received: Three (3)
This contract was publicly advertised as a Request for Proposals (“RFP”). Three proposals were received on the proposal due date, and the Department of Purchasing (“Purchasing”) deemed all to be responsive and compliant.
The EC began their evaluation of the proposals at their first meeting on December 18, 2024, with a discussion of only the non-financial sections of the proposals. Upon conclusion of this meeting, the EC members initially scored the proposals according to the criteria in the RFP that related to these sections of the proposals. The Department of Purchasing then distributed the financial sections of the proposals to each EC member for their review on December 19, 2024. Oral presentations with the three proposers were held on January 29, 2025, and January 30, 2025; each session lasted approximately two hours. The EC continued their discussion immediately following the last oral presentation January 30, 2025. At the conclusion of this meeting the EC decided to send a request for Best and Final Offers to all three proposers. Purchasing sent the request for Best and Final Offers to all three proposers on January 31, 2025, and received them on the due date of February 4, 2025. The EC selected for Recommendation of Award (“ROA”), ASMG based on the Evaluation Criteria in the RFP.
V. Explanation
The Chicago Park District (“CPkD”) requires the services of a firm to manage, maintain and operate Maggie Daley Park located at 337 East Randolph Street including the fieldhouse and exterior site and its features such as an ice ribbon, climbing walls, children’s play garden, etc. (collectively the “Park”) and related services. The Park has a distinctive world-class presence that annually delights nearly 4.5 million Chicagoans and visitors with signature elements noted above. As visitors follow major pathways through the park, they are introduced to an array of multisensory seasonal landscape experiences that are interspersed with views of the lake, the city, Buckingham Fountain and the rest of Grant Park.
The CPkD’s goals and objectives of the Awardee’s services shall be:
1. To maximize the attendance and utilization of Maggie Daley Park by all segments of the local and regional population
2. To maximize the revenue generated by or for CPkD from the Park
3. To make the operation of the Park green and eco-friendly by minimizing its negative environmental impact
4. To keep the Park in a clean, safe, well-maintained and attractive state at all times
5. To involve all segments of the City in the employment and business opportunities arising as a direct or indirect result of the management and operation of the Park
6. To provide services of the highest quality in a manner that equals or exceeds the highest standards in the industry
7. To be responsible to the needs of customers and patrons
The scope of services included providing expertise in four key areas: (i) Maintenance; (ii) Management; (iii) Operations and (iv) Customer Service.
The manager’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Staffing and operation of Park
• Maintenance and management of ice skating ribbon, climbing walls/boulders, children’s play garden, tennis/pickleball courts, groves and lawns, hardscape and walkways, landscape (excluding natural areas), Cancer Survivor’s Garden, Peanut Park, field house and restrooms at the Park in a clean, safe and attractive state at all times and free of debris, dirt and litter by providing general upkeep and custodial services
• 24-hour security of the Park utilizing electronic surveillance, motorized patrols and foot patrols
• All maintenance as well as routine preventative maintenance and non-capital repair services. Includes management of garbage collection, removal and recycling, graffiti removal, security and fire prevention systems, hardscape, electrical, plumbing, painting, signs, pest control, snow and ice removal among other items as outlined in the Request for Proposals which shall be included in the agreement as an exhibit
• Programming ice ribbon, climbing park and other outdoor recreational activities (indoor activities are programmed by CPkD staff)
• Developing, implementing and enhancing activities, outreach programs, and other initiatives designed to increase local community engagement, public awareness, and revenue
• Event rentals including coordination with City agencies and other activities taking place in the vicinity
• Management of concessions
• Customer service
• Marketing and promoting the Park including via social channels and selling sponsorships
• Implementation of environmental stewardship program and energy conservation program
• Implementing capital improvements at the Park
• Maintaining financial controls, providing reports such as annual park operations plan including budget, management plan, capital plan and monthly reports
• providing reports and annual plans
• Implementing strategies to ensure the long-term success of the Park
The EC evaluated proposals in terms of alignment with the goals and objectives of CPD in the following categories:
1. Company Experience - The proposer must be an established firm whose experience and professional qualifications demonstrate it has the professional and technical competence, ability, and capacity necessary to perform the services required by the RFP. Further, the submitter must have good past and present experience on comparable projects.
2. Implementation Plan - The proposer’s ability and capacity to provide all services described in the RFP effectively, efficiently, and in a timely manner in accordance with CPD’s specifications.
3. Personnel - Key personnel and subcontractor teams assigned to or committed to this contract have the appropriate professional qualifications, experience, professional licenses, and certifications to successfully manage the Park.
4. Cost Proposal - The overall strength of the financial proposal and proven ability to optimize and grow revenue and operate efficiently.
The EC determined that ASMG presented an impressive and responsible proposal, considering all evaluation criteria, to manage the Park as well as to make a positive impact on both the local community and millions of visitors. ASMG currently manages Soldier Field, the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center and four other sports facilities for CPkD. The EC felt they had a very strong plan to manage the unique nature of the Park which includes many specialty and custom features and activities. Their decades of management experience and vision and passion for the customer experience, cleanliness, facility and landscape management and public safety aligns with that of CPkD. The strength of both their personnel and subcontractors shows a strong commitment to diversity, which will continue to move the Park forward with a focus on sustainability and inclusion.
ASMG is an international leader in venue operations and asset management that spans nearly 50 years. In addition to managing similar high profile recreation centers and amenities such as Albuquerque Regional Sports Complex, Dempsey Anderson Ice Rink in Anchorage and Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex in Austin, ASMG manages stadiums, theaters and convention centers among other venue types. They are one of the world’s largest venue management companies with a presence on 5 continents, managing over 400 facilities and hosting 165 million guests at over 20,000 live events annually. Their notable Chicago presence provides opportunities to drive resources and efficiencies to their operations and effectively optimize local partnerships.
SMG dba ASM Global has the demonstrated experience and capability to manage and operate Maggie Daley Park. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the Chicago Park District to recommend SMG dba ASM Global for the award for the management and operations of Maggie Daley Park contract.
VI. General Conditions
1) Conflicts: The Agreement shall not be legally binding on the Chicago Park District if entered into in violation of the provisions of 50 ILCS 105, the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act.
2) Ethics: The agreement shall contain a provision requiring compliance with Chapter III of the Code of the Chicago Park District (“Governmental Ethics”).
3) Contingent Liability: Any agreement lawfully entered into for a period of more than one year shall be executory only for the amounts for which the Park District may become liable in succeeding fiscal years pursuant to Section 17(i) of the Chicago Park District Act, 70 ILCS 1505/17(i). All agreements authorized herein shall contain a clause that any expenditure beyond the current fiscal year is subject to appropriation in the subsequent fiscal year budget.
4) Economic Disclosure Statement (“EDS”): Contractor has submitted a full and complete EDS.