Summary Sheet- RFCA SUMMARY

CITY OF TEMPE
Meeting Date: 1/8/2026  
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Item: 7B6
ACTION:  Authorize the City Manager or designee to proceed to a formal negotiation phase with 
Conquer Franchise Group, LLC, to formulate an agreement for operation of recreational activities and 
support amenities at the Tempe Town Lake.
FISCAL IMPACT:  Financial details will be determined through negotiations of the terms of the final 
agreement and subject to City Council approval.
RECOMMENDATION:  Authorize City Manager or designee to conduct negotiations with Conquer 
Franchise Group, LLC.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:  (RFP 25-142) The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) 
inviting qualified parties to submit proposals for the development and operation of recreational and 
support amenities at the Rio Salado Parks (RSP), adjacent to Tempe Town Lake (TTL). Through the 
RFP it is the City’s objective to enter into a public private partnership that:
•
Provides regionally distinct, unique experiences.
•
Complements existing activities and expands opportunities to a wide and diverse audience.
•
Contributes to the development of TTL, RSP, and downtown Tempe.
•
Is privately funded and does not require City funding.
•
Yields revenue to the City.
The proposal from Conquer Franchise Group, LLC, is for the development and operation of the Conquer 
Floating Padel Club. The proposed project includes enclosed padel courts, a swimming pool and food 
and beverage support amenities. Padel is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. 
The project is proposed to sit on floating platforms that are anchored at the shoreline, however, actual 
project elements, including placement, will be determined during the negotiation process.
Evaluation Process
The RFP was sent to all registered firms for this commodity area and advertised in the Arizona Republic. 
A total of 93 firms downloaded the solicitation from Tempe’s e-procurement portal, and the City received 
six (6) proposals from the following firms:
•
Conquer Franchise Group, LLC
•
Desert Lotus Paddle Boards
•
Stand & Surf
•
Tempe Tees
•
The Wet Clam
•
The Aqua Ace Challenge
The proposals were evaluated by a committee comprising Community Services, Economic 
Development, the Downtown Tempe Authority, Tempe Tourism, and Procurement staff. The evaluation 
criteria are shown in the following table:

2
Evaluation Criteria
Weight (%)
1
Response to Scope of Work/Specifications, and overall feasibility & 
proof of concept
40
2
Qualifications, Experience, Expertise
30
3
Financial Strategy and Capacity
30
The following table displays the scoring results:
Conquer 
Franchise 
Group, LLC
The Aqua Ace 
Challenge
Stand & 
Surf
Desert 
Lotus
Tempe 
Tees
Wet Clam
Evaluation 
Criteria
Points
Points
Points
Points
Points
Points
1
Eval Criteria 1
309
177
143
91
120
91
2
Eval Criteria 2
249
60
99
86
21
60
3
Eval Criteria 3
240
120
90
39
73
47
Score (Max 1000)
797
357
331
216
214
199
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
The highest scoring firm, Conquer Franchise Group, LLC, was selected for an interview with the 
evaluation committee that included a presentation on the proposed concept and responses to committee 
member questions.
The scoring results from the interview is shown in the table below:
Conquer Franchise Group, 
LLC
Evaluation Criteria
Points
1
Interview, Presentation and 
Questions
360
Rank
1
Among the criteria considered by the committee when evaluating the proposals were the firms’ response 
to the scope of work of the RFP and the feasibility of their proposals, the qualifications and experience 
of the teams making the proposals, and the financial strategy and the potential financial return for the 
City. After a comprehensive evaluation process, the committee determined that Conquer Franchise 
Group, LLC, was the highest scoring firm and, therefore, the committee recommends that the City enter 
into negotiations with Conquer Franchise Group, LLC, to determine if the parties are able to agree on a 
final contract.
ATTACHMENTS:  Vendor’s Offer Page
STAFF CONTACT(S):  Craig Hayton, Community Services Director, (480) 350-5234
Department Director:  Laura Calder, Financial Services Director  
Legal review by:  Clarence Matherson, Jr., Deputy City Attorney
Prepared by:  John Snow, Procurement Officer