City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Sponsorship and Trademark-Licensing RFQI
The City of Sturgis invites qualified consultants to help assess market opportunities, develop and sell sponsorship and licensing offerings, and strengthen the program’s financial and community benefits.
Status: Open
Response deadline: November 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM Mountain Time
Please review the RFQI for the scope of the opportunity, submission instructions, evaluation process and anticipated schedule.
Documents
Request for Qualifications and Interest (PDF) — Issued October 15, 2026
Authorizing City Council Resolution (PDF) — Resolution 2026-47, adopted October 5, 2026
Authorizing Mayoral Appointment of the RFQI Review Panel Resolution (PDF) - Resolution 2026-49, adopted Nov. 3, 2026
Press Release (PDF) — October 15, 2026
Updates and Addenda
Official updates, addenda, notices and additional public information concerning this solicitation will be posted on this page. Interested parties should check regularly, including before submitting a response.
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October 27, 2026 - RFQI CLARIFICATION NOTICE
The City has received several questions and requests for clarification concerning the RFQI. The following addresses the issues raised and provides additional context for prospective respondents.
For the 2027 87th Rally, the City believes it has or can secure physical activation and promotional space, including banner and billboard placements, to support approximately two to four additional Official category sponsorships with customary print and digital benefits. The initial emphasis is filling vacancies or adding appropriate categories within the established structure while developing expanded offerings for later years. The City intends to make feasible opportunities available promptly and refine them with the consultant. Specific sponsorship and licensing assignments and material restrictions will be addressed during interviews, if held, and negotiations, subject to existing commitments and City approval. Differentiated commissions, potentially including higher commissions for qualifying 2027 sales, may be considered during negotiations. Rates and treatment of subsequent business, multiyear agreements, and renewals remain open for negotiation.
The City also confirms or clarifies:
- Commercial agencies, Rally venues, and other businesses are not automatically disqualified because they maintain their own sponsorship programs or have potentially competing commercial interests. The City is willing to work with qualified respondents to establish safeguards, including separation of responsibilities and protection of confidential information. Disclosed conflicts will be evaluated individually to determine whether they can be acceptably managed.
- Integrated teams may demonstrate sponsorship-sales and licensee-recruitment capabilities through different assigned participants, with clearly allocated responsibilities and one accountable contracting entity.
- Work is expected to begin as soon as reasonably practicable after approval and execution of an agreement. No fixed start date or minimum time commitment has been established. Respondents should identify availability and material constraints; the work schedule will be negotiated.
RFQI submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines remain unchanged.
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November 4, 2026 - RFQI REVIEW PANEL NOTICE
Resolution 2026-47 reserved RFQI review panel composition and appointment for subsequent Council action. Through Resolution 2026-49, the Council has authorized the Mayor to determine the panel’s composition and appoint qualified reviewers as part of administering the RFQI process.
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