220009-CONTRACT-LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION.PDF
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CONTRACT SMALL BUSINESS RESILIENCE PROGRAM 220009-RFP This contract is entered into this 15th day of September, 2021 by and between Maricopa County (“County”), a political subdivision of the State of Arizona, and Local First Arizona Foundation, an Arizona corporation (“Contractor”) for the purchase of services for the Maricopa County small business resilience program. 1.0 CONTRACT TERM 1.1 This contract is for a term of 1 year, beginning on the 15th day of September, 2021and ending the 31st of August, 2022. 2.0 OPTION TO RENEW The County may, at its option and with the concurrence of the Contractor, renew the term of this contract up to a maximum of 4 additional year(s), (or at the County’s sole discretion, extend the contract on a month-to-month basis for a maximum of six months after expiration). The Contractor shall be notified in writing by the Office of Procurement Services of the County’s intention to renew the contract term at least 60 calendar days prior to the expiration of the original contract term. 3.0 CONTRACT COMPLETION In preparation for contract completion, the Contractor shall make all reasonable efforts for an orderly transition of its duties and responsibilities to another provider and/or to the County. This may include, but is not limited to, preparation of a transition plan and cooperation with the County or other providers in the transition. The transition includes the transfer of all records and other data in the possession, custody, or control of the Contractor that are required to be provided to the County either by the terms of this agreement or as a matter of law. The provisions of this clause shall survive the expiration or termination of this agreement. 4.0 PRICE ADJUSTMENTS Any requests for reasonable price adjustments must be submitted 60 calendar days prior to contract expiration. Requests for adjustment in cost of labor and/or materials must be supported by appropriate documentation. The reasonableness of the request will be determined by comparing the request with the Consumer Price Index or by performing a market survey. If County agrees to the adjusted price terms, County shall issue written approval of the change and provide an updated version of the contract. The new change shall not be in effect until the date stipulated on the updated version of the contract. 5.0 PAYMENTS 5.1 As consideration for performance of the duties described herein, County shall pay Contractor the sum(s) stated in Exhibit D – Pricing Sheet. 5.2 Payment shall be made upon the County’s receipt of a properly completed invoice. SERIAL 220009-RFP 5.3 INVOICES 5.3.1 The Contractor shall submit one legible copy of their detailed invoice before payment(s) will be made. Incomplete invoices will not be processed. At a minimum, the invoice must provide the following information: • Company name, address, and contact information • County bill-to name and contact information • Contract serial number • County purchase order number • Project name and/or number • Invoice number and date • Payment terms • Date of service or delivery • Quantity • Contract item number(s) • Arrival and completion time • Description of purchase (product or services) • Pricing per unit of purchase • Extended price • Freight (if applicable) • Mileage with rate (if applicable) • Total amount due 5.3.2 Labor, services, and maintenance must be billed as a separate line item. 5.3.3 Problems regarding billing or invoicing shall be directed to the department as listed on the purchase order. 5.3.4 Payment shall only be made to the Contractor by Accounts Payable through the Maricopa County Vendor Express Payment Program. This is an electronic funds transfer (EFT) process. After contract award, the Contractor shall complete the Vendor Registration Form accessible from the County Department of Finance Vendor Registration Web Site https://www.maricopa.gov/5169/Vendor- Information. 5.3.5 Discounts offered in the contract shall be calculated based on the date a properly completed invoice is received by the County. 5.3.6 EFT payments to the routing and account numbers designated by the Contractor shall include the details on the specific invoices that the payment covers. The Contractor is required to discuss remittance delivery capabilities with their designated financial institution for access to those details. 5.4 APPLICABLE TAXES 5.4.1 It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine any and all applicable taxes and include those taxes in their proposal. The legal liability to remit the tax is on the entity conducting business in Arizona. Tax is not a determining factor in contract award. 5.4.2 The County will look at the price or offer submitted and will not deduct, add, or alter pricing based on speculation or application of any taxes, nor will the County provide Contractor any advice or guidance regarding taxes. If you have questions regarding your tax liability, seek advice from a tax professional prior to submitting your bid. You may also find information at https://www.azdor.gov/Business.aspx. Once your bid is submitted, the offer is valid for the time specified in this solicitation, regardless of mistake or omission of tax liability. If the County finds overpayment of a project due to tax consideration that was not due, the Contractor will be liable SERIAL 220009-RFP to the County for that amount, and by contracting with the County agrees to remit any overpayments back to the County for miscalculations on taxes included in a bid price. 5.4.3 Tax Indemnification: Contractor and all subcontractors shall pay all Federal, State, and local taxes applicable to their operation and any persons employed by the Contractor. Contractor shall, and require all subcontractors to, hold Maricopa County harmless from any responsibility for taxes, damages, and interest, if applicable, contributions required under Federal and/or State and local laws and regulations, and any other costs including: transaction privilege taxes, unemployment compensation insurance, Social Security, and workers’ compensation. Contractor may be required to establish, to the satisfaction of County, that any and all fees and taxes due to the City or the State of Arizona for any license or transaction privilege taxes, use taxes, or similar excise taxes are currently paid (except for matters under legal protest). 6.0 AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS 6.1 The provisions of this contract relating to payment for services shall become effective when funds assigned for the purpose of compensating the Contractor as herein provided are actually available to County for disbursement. The County shall be the sole judge and authority in determining the availability of funds under this contract. County shall keep the Contractor fully informed as to the availability of funds. 6.2 If any action is taken by, any State agency, Federal department, or any other agency or instrumentality to suspend, decrease, or terminate its fiscal obligations under, or in connection with, this contract, County may amend, suspend, decrease, or terminate its obligations under, or in connection with, this contract. In the event of termination, County shall be liable for payment only for services rendered prior to the effective date of the termination, provided that such services are performed in accordance with the provisions of this contract. County shall give written notice of the effective date of any suspension, amendment, or termination under this section, at least 10 days in advance. 7.0 STRATEGIC ALLIANCE for VOLUME EXPENDITURES (SAVE) The County is a member of the SAVE cooperative purchasing group. SAVE includes the State of Arizona, many Phoenix metropolitan area municipalities, and many K-12 unified school districts. Under the SAVE Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, and with the concurrence of the successful respondent under this solicitation, a member of SAVE may access a contract resulting from a solicitation issued by the County. If contractor does not want to grant such access to a member of SAVE, state so in contractor’s bid. In the absence of a statement to the contrary, the County will assume that contractor does wish to grant access to any contract that may result from this bid. The County assumes no responsibility for any purchases by using entities. 8.0 INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENTS (ICPAs) County currently holds ICPAs with numerous governmental entities. These agreements allow those entities, with the approval of the Contractor, to purchase their requirements under the terms and conditions of the County contract. It is the responsibility of the non-County government entity to perform its own due diligence on the acceptability of the contract under its applicable procurement rules, processes, and procedures. Certain governmental agencies may not require an ICPA and may utilize this contract if it meets their individual requirements. Other governmental agencies may enter into a separate Statement of Work with the Contractor to meet their own requirements. The County is not a party to any uses of this contract by other governmental entities. 9.0 DUTIES 9.1 The Contractor shall perform all duties stated in Exhibit B – Scope of Work, or as otherwise directed in writing by the procurement officer. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.0 TERMS AND CONDITIONS 10.1 INDEMNIFICATION 10.1.1 To the fullest extent permitted by law, and to the extent that claims, damages, losses, or expenses are not covered and paid by insurance purchased by the contractor, the contractor shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the County (as Owner), its agents, representatives, officers, directors, officials, and employees from and against all claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including, but not limited to attorneys' fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and the costs and attorneys' fees for appellate proceedings) arising out of, or alleged to have resulted from, the negligent acts, errors, omissions, or mistakes relating to the performance of this contract. 10.1.2 Contractor's duty to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the County, its agents, representatives, officers, directors, officials, and employees shall arise in connection with any claim, damage, loss, or expense that is attributable to bodily injury, sickness, disease, death, or injury to, impairment of, or destruction of tangible property, including loss of use resulting therefrom, caused by negligent acts, errors, omissions, or mistakes in the performance of this contract, but only to the extent caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the contractor, a subcontractor, anyone directly or indirectly employed by them, or anyone for whose acts they may be liable, regardless of whether or not such claim, damage, loss, or expense is caused in part by a party indemnified hereunder. 10.1.3 The amount and type of insurance coverage requirements set forth herein will in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the indemnity in this section. 10.1.4 The scope of this indemnification does not extend to the sole negligence of County. 10.2 INFRINGEMENT DEFENSE AND INDEMNIFICATION 10.2.1 Definitions For purposes of this section: 10.2.1.1 “Claim” means any cause of action in a third-party action, suit, or proceeding against County alleging that Contractor software, or its upgrades, modifications, or revisions, as of its delivery date under this agreement, infringes a valid U.S. patent, copyright, or trademark. 10.2.1.2 “Participate and Share in the Costs” means Contractor will assist the County in the defense of the Claim, to the extent agreed to by the parties, except that Contractor shall be solely responsible for any and all costs adjudged in a successful Claim against the County. 10.2.1.3 “Third-Party Products” means any products made by a party other than Contractor, and may include, without limitation, products ordered by County from third parties. However, components of Contractor branded products are not Third-Party Products if they are both: 10.2.1.3.1 embedded in Third-Party Products (i.e., not recognizable as standalone items); and 10.2.1.3.2 not identified as separate items on Contractor’s price list, quotes, order specifications forms, or documentation. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.2.2 Defense and Indemnity Contractor shall defend, and Participate and Share in the Cost, in the full defense of the County against any Claim, and will indemnify and hold harmless the County, as provided for in this section, for any judgments, settlements, and court awarded attorney’s fees resulting from a Claim where the claimant is adjudged the successful party in the Claim. Contractor’s obligations under this section are conditioned on the following: 10.2.2.1 County promptly notifies Contractor of the Claim, in writing, upon being made aware of the Claim; 10.2.2.2 County gives Contractor lead authority control of the defense and (if applicable) settlement of the Claim, provided that County’s legal counsel may participate in such defense and settlement, at County’s expense; and 10.2.2.3 County provides all information and assistance reasonably requested by Contractor to handle the defense or settlement of the Claim. 10.2.3 Remedial Measures If software becomes, or Contractor reasonably believes use of software may become, the subject of a Claim, Contractor may, at its own expense and option: 10.2.3.1 procure for County the right to continue use of the product; 10.2.3.2 replace or modify the software; or 10.2.3.3 to the extent that neither are deemed commercially practicable, refund to County a pro-rated portion of the applicable fees for software based on a linear depreciation monthly over a 10-year useful life, in which case County will cease all use of software and return it to Contractor. 10.2.4 Exceptions Contractor will have no defense or indemnity obligation for any Claim based on: 10.2.4.1 modifications by someone other than Contractor; 10.2.4.2 software has been modified by Contractor in accordance with County- provided specifications or instructions; 10.2.4.3 use or combination by the County of software with Third-Party Products, open source, or freeware technology; 10.2.4.4 Third-Party Products, open source, or freeware technology; 10.2.4.5 a product that is used or located by County in a country other than the country in which or for which it was supplied by Contractor; 10.2.4.6 possession or use of a product after Contractor has informed County of modifications or changes required to avoid such Claim and offered to implement those modifications or changes, if such Claim would have been avoided by implementation of Contractor's suggestions and to the extent County did not provide Contractor with a reasonable opportunity to implement Contractor's suggestions; or 10.2.4.7 the amount of revenue or profits earned, or other value obtained by the use of products, or the amount of use of the products. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.2.5 The foregoing states Contractor’s entire liability, and County’s sole and exclusive remedy, except as provided by law or equity, with respect to any infringement or misappropriation of any intellectual property rights of another party. 10.3 INSURANCE 10.3.1 Contractor, at Contractor’s own expense, shall purchase and maintain, at a minimum, the herein stipulated insurance from a company or companies duly licensed by the State of Arizona and possessing an AM Best, Inc. category rating of B++. In lieu of State of Arizona licensing, the stipulated insurance may be purchased from a company or companies, which are authorized to do business in the State of Arizona, provided that said insurance companies meet the approval of County. The form of any insurance policies and forms must be acceptable to County. 10.3.2 All insurance required herein shall be maintained in full force and effect until all work or service required to be performed under the terms of the contract is satisfactorily completed and formally accepted. Failure to do so may, at the sole discretion of County, constitute a material breach of this contract. 10.3.3 In the event that the insurance required is written on a claims-made basis, Contractor warrants that any retroactive date under the policy shall precede the effective date of this contract and either continuous coverage will be maintained, or an extended discovery period will be exercised for a period of two years beginning at the time work under this contract is completed. 10.3.4 Contractor’s insurance shall be primary insurance as respects County, and any insurance or self-insurance maintained by County shall not contribute to it. 10.3.5 Any failure to comply with the claim reporting provisions of the insurance policies or any breach of an insurance policy warranty shall not affect the County’s right to coverage afforded under the insurance policies. 10.3.6 The insurance policies may provide coverage that contains deductibles or self- insured retentions. Such deductible and/or self-insured retentions shall not be applicable with respect to the coverage provided to County under such policies. Contractor shall be solely responsible for the deductible and/or self-insured retention and County, at its option, may require Contractor to secure payment of such deductibles or self-insured retentions by a surety bond or an irrevocable and unconditional letter of credit. 10.3.7 The insurance policies required by this contract, except Workers’ Compensation and Errors and Omissions, shall name County, its agents, representatives, officers, directors, officials, and employees as additional insureds. 10.3.8 The policies required hereunder, except Workers’ Compensation and Errors and Omissions, shall contain a waiver of transfer of rights of recovery (subrogation) against County, its agents, representatives, officers, directors, officials, and employees for any claims arising out of Contractor’s work or service. 10.3.9 If available, the insurance policies required by this contract may be combined with Commercial Umbrella Insurance policies to meet the minimum limit requirements. If a Commercial Umbrella insurance policy is utilized to meet insurance requirements, the Certificate of Insurance shall indicate which lines the Commercial Umbrella Insurance covers. 10.3.9.1 Commercial General Liability SERIAL 220009-RFP Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance and, if necessary, Commercial Umbrella insurance with a limit of not less than $2,000,000 for each occurrence, $4,000,000 Products/Completed Operations Aggregate, and $4,000,000 General Aggregate Limit. The policy shall include coverage for premises liability, bodily injury, broad form property damage, personal injury, products and completed operations and blanket contractual coverage, and shall not contain any provisions which would serve to limit third party action over claims. There shall be no endorsement or modifications of the CGL limiting the scope of coverage for liability arising from explosion, collapse, or underground property damage. 10.3.9.2 Errors and Omissions/Professional Liability Insurance Contractor shall maintain Professional Liability insurance which will provide coverage for any and all acts arising out of the work or services performed by the contractor under the terms of this contract, with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 for each claim, and $2,000,000 for aggregate claims. 10.3.9.3 Crime Contractor shall maintain Commercial Crime Liability Insurance with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 for each occurrence. The policy shall include, but not be limited to, coverage for employee dishonesty, fraud, theft, or embezzlement. 10.3.9.4 Cyber, Network Security, and Privacy Liability Cyber, Network Security and Privacy Liability Insurance with a limit of not less than $5,000,000 per occurrence. The policy shall include, but not be limited to; coverage for all directors, officers, agents and employees of the Contractor, losses with respect to network risks (such as data breaches, unauthorized access or use, and ID theft of data), invasion of privacy (regardless of the type of media involved in the loss of private information), crisis management, identity theft response costs, breach notification costs, credit remediation, and credit monitoring, defense, and claims expenses, regulatory defense costs plus fines and penalties, cyber extortion, electronic data restoration expenses (data asset protection), network business interruption, computer fraud coverage, funds transfer loss, third-party fidelity, theft, no requirement for arrest and conviction, and loss outside the premises of the named insured. 10.3.10 Certificates of Insurance 10.3.10.1 Prior to contract award, Contractor shall furnish the County with valid and complete Certificates of Insurance, or formal endorsements as required by the contract in the form provided by the County, issued by Contractor’s insurer(s), as evidence that policies providing the required coverage, conditions and limits required by this contract are in full force and effect. Such certificates shall identify this contract number and title. 10.3.10.2 In the event any insurance policy(ies) required by this contract is (are) written on a claims-made basis, coverage shall extend for two years past completion and acceptance of Contractor’s work or services and as evidenced by annual certificates of insurance. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.3.10.3 If a policy does expire during the life of the Contract, a renewal certificate must be sent to County 15 calendar days prior to the expiration date. 10.3.11 Cancellation and Expiration Notice Applicable to all insurance policies required within the insurance requirements of this contract, Contractor’s insurance shall not be permitted to expire, be suspended, be canceled, or be materially changed for any reason without 30 days prior written notice to Maricopa County. Contractor must provide to Maricopa County, within two business days of receipt, if they receive notice of a policy that has been or will be suspended, canceled, materially changed for any reason, has expired, or will be expiring. Such notice shall be sent directly to Maricopa County Office of Procurement Services and shall be mailed, or hand delivered to 160 S. 4th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003, or emailed to the procurement officer noted in the solicitation. 10.4 FORCE MAJEURE 10.4.1 Neither party shall be liable for failure of performance, nor incur any liability to the other party on account of any loss or damage resulting from any delay or failure to perform all or any part of this contract, if such delay or failure is caused by events, occurrences, or causes beyond the reasonable control and without negligence of the parties. Such events, occurrences, or causes include, but are not limited to, acts of God/nature (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, or other natural disaster), war, invasion, act of foreign enemies, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), civil war, riots, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation, terrorist activities, nationalization, government sanction, lockout, blockage, embargo, labor dispute, strike, and interruption or failure of electricity or telecommunication service, and pandemic. 10.4.2 Each party, as applicable, shall give the other party notice of its inability to perform and particulars in reasonable detail of the cause of the inability. Each party must use best efforts to remedy the situation and remove, as soon as practicable, the cause of its inability to perform or comply. 10.4.3 The party asserting Force Majeure as a cause for non-performance shall have the burden of proving that reasonable steps were taken to minimize delay or damages caused by foreseeable events, that all non-excused obligations were substantially fulfilled, and that the other party was timely notified of the likelihood or actual occurrence which would justify such an assertion, so that other prudent precautions could be contemplated. 10.5 ORDERING AUTHORITY Any request for purchase shall be accompanied by a valid purchase order issued by a County department or directed by a Certified Agency Procurement Aid (CAPA) with a purchase card for payment. 10.6 PROCUREMENT CARD ORDERING CAPABILITY County may opt to use a procurement card (Visa or Master Card) to make payment for orders under this contract. 10.7 NO MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM PURCHASE OBLIGATION This contract does not guarantee any minimum or maximum purchases will be made. Orders will only be placed under this contract when the County identifies a need and proper authorization and documentation have been approved. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.8 PURCHASE ORDERS 10.8.1 County reserves the right to cancel purchase orders within a reasonable period of time after issuance. Should a purchase order be canceled, the County agrees to reimburse the Contractor for actual and documentable costs incurred by the Contractor in response to the purchase order. The County will not reimburse the Contractor for any costs incurred after receipt of County notice of cancellation, or for lost profits, or for shipment of product prior to issuance of purchase order. 10.8.2 Contractor agrees to accept verbal notification of cancellation of purchase orders from the County procurement officer with written notification to follow. Contractor specifically acknowledges to be bound by this cancellation policy. 10.9 BACKGROUND CHECK Respondents may be required to pass multiple background checks (e.g. Sheriff’s Office, County Attorney's Office, Courts, as well as Maricopa County general government) to determine if the respondent is acceptable to do business with the County. This applies to, but is not limited to, the company, subcontractors, and employees, and the failure to pass these checks shall deem the respondent non-responsible. 10.10 SUSPENSION OF WORK The procurement officer may order the Contractor, in writing, to suspend, delay, or interrupt all or any part of the work of this contract for the period of time that the procurement officer determines appropriate for the convenience of the County. No adjustment shall be made under this clause for any suspension, delay, or interruption to the extent that performance would have been so suspended, delayed, or interrupted by any other cause, including the fault or negligence of the Contractor. No request for adjustment under this clause shall be granted unless the claim, in an amount stated, is asserted in writing as soon as practicable after the termination of the suspension, delay, or interruption, but not later than the date of final payment under the contract. 10.11 STOP WORK ORDER 10.11.1 The procurement officer may, at any time, by written order to the Contractor, require the Contractor to stop all, or any part, of the work called for by this contract for a period of 90 calendar days after the order is delivered to the Contractor, and for any further period to which the parties may agree. The order shall be specifically identified as a stop work order issued under this clause. Upon receipt of the order, the Contractor shall immediately comply with its terms and take all reasonable steps to minimize the incurrence of costs allocable to the work covered by the order during the period of work stoppage. Within a period of 90 calendar days after a stop work order is delivered to the Contractor, or within any extension of that period to which the parties shall have agreed, the procurement officer shall either: 10.11.1.1 cancel the stop work order; or 10.11.1.1.1 terminate the work covered by the order as provided in the Termination for Default or the Termination for Convenience clause of this contract. 10.11.1.1.2 The procurement officer may make an equitable adjustment in the delivery schedule and/or contract price, and the contract shall be modified, in writing, accordingly, if the Contractor demonstrates that the stop work order resulted in an increase in costs to the Contractor SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.12 TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE Maricopa County may terminate the resultant contract for convenience by providing 60 calendar days advance notice to the Contractor. 10.13 TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT 10.13.1 The County may, by written Notice of Default to the Contractor, terminate this contract in whole or in part if the Contractor fails to: 10.13.1.1 deliver the supplies or to perform the services within the time specified in this contract or any extension; 10.13.1.2 make progress, so as to endanger performance of this contract; or 10.13.1.3 perform any of the other provisions of this contract. 10.13.2 The County’s right to terminate this contract under these subparagraphs may be exercised if the Contractor does not cure such failure within 10 business days (or more if authorized in writing by the County) after receipt of a Notice to Cure from the procurement officer specifying the failure. 10.14 PERFORMANCE It shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to meet the proposed performance requirements. Maricopa County reserves the right to obtain services on the open market in the event the Contractor fails to perform, and any price differential will be charged against the Contractor. 10.15 CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT 10.15.1 Contractor shall endeavor to maintain the personnel proposed in their proposal throughout the performance of this contract. 10.15.2 If Contractor personnel’s employment status changes, Contractor shall provide County a list of proposed replacements with equivalent or greater experience. 10.15.3 Under no circumstances shall the implementation schedule to be impacted by a personnel change on the part of the Contractor. 10.15.4 Contractor shall not reassign any key personnel identified in their proposal without the express consent of the County. 10.15.5 County reserves the right to immediately remove from its premises any Contractor personnel it determines to be a risk to County operations. 10.15.6 County reserves the right to request the replacement of any Contractor personnel at any time, for any reason. 10.16 INSPECTION OF SERVICES 10.16.1 The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to County covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to County during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires. 10.16.2 County has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract, to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. SERIAL 220009-RFP County shall perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the work. 10.16.3 If any of the services do not conform to contract requirements, County may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no cost to the County. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by re-performance, County may: 10.16.3.1 require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and 10.16.3.2 reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed. 10.16.4 If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, County may: 10.16.4.1 by contract or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor, through direct billing or through payment reduction, any cost incurred by County that is directly related to the performance of such service; or 10.16.4.2 terminate the contract for default. 10.17 USAGE REPORT The Contractor shall furnish the County a usage report, upon request, delineating the acquisition activity governed by the contract. The format of the report shall be approved by the County and shall disclose the quantity and dollar value of each contract item by individual unit of measure. 10.18 STATUTORY RIGHT OF CANCELLATION FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST Notice is given that, pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-511, the County may cancel any contract without penalty or further obligation within three years after execution of the contract, if any person significantly involved in initiating, negotiating, securing, drafting, or creating the contract on behalf of the County is at any time, while the contract or any extension of the contract is in effect, an employee or agent of any other party to the contract in any capacity or consultant to any other party of the contract with respect to the subject matter of the contract. Additionally, pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-511, the County may recoup any fee or commission paid or due to any person significantly involved in initiating, negotiating, securing, drafting, or creating the contract on behalf of the County from any other party to the contract arising as the result of the contract. 10.19 OFFSET FOR DAMAGES In addition to all other remedies at Law or Equity, the County may offset from any money due to the Contractor any amounts Contractor owes to the County for damages resulting from breach or deficiencies in performance of the contract. 10.20 SUBCONTRACTING 10.20.1 The Contractor may not assign to another Contractor or subcontract to another party for performance of the terms and conditions hereof without the written consent of the County. All correspondence authorizing subcontracting must reference the bid serial number and identify the job or project. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.20.2 The subcontractor’s rate for the job shall not exceed that of the prime Contractor’s rate, as bid in the pricing section, unless the prime Contractor is willing to absorb any higher rates. The subcontractor’s invoice shall be invoiced directly to the prime Contractor, who in turn shall pass-through the costs to the County, without mark- up. A copy of the subcontractor’s invoice must accompany the prime Contractor’s invoice. 10.21 AMENDMENTS All amendments to this contract shall be in writing and approved/signed by both parties. Maricopa County Office of Procurement Services shall be responsible for approving all amendments for Maricopa County. 10.22 ADDITIONS/DELETIONS OF REQUIREMENTS The County reserves the right to add and/or delete materials and services to a contract. If a service requirement is deleted, payment to the Contractor will be reduced proportionately, to the amount of service reduced in accordance with the bid price. If additional materials or services are required from a contract, prices for such additions will be negotiated between the Contractor and the County. 10.23 RIGHTS IN DATA 10.23.1 The County shall have the use of data and reports resulting from a contract without additional cost or other restriction except as may be established by law or applicable regulation. Each party shall supply to the other party, upon request, any available information that is relevant to a contract and to the performance thereunder. 10.23.2 Data, records, reports, and all other information generated for the County by a third party as the result of a contract are the property of the County and shall be provided in a format designated by the County or shall be and remain accessible to the County into perpetuity. 10.24 ACCESS TO AND RETENTION OF RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUDIT AND/OR OTHER REVIEW 10.24.1 In accordance with Section MC1-373 of the Maricopa County Procurement Code, the Contractor agrees to retain (physical or digital copies of) all books, records, accounts, statements, reports, files, and other records and back-up documentation relevant to this contract for six years after final payment or until after the resolution of any audit questions, which could be more than six years, whichever is longest. The County, Federal or State auditors and any other persons duly authorized by the department shall have full access to and the right to examine, copy, and make use of, any and all said materials. 10.24.2 If the Contractor’s books, records, accounts, statements, reports, files, and other records and back-up documentation relevant to this contract are not sufficient to support and document that requested services were provided, the Contractor shall reimburse Maricopa County for the services not so adequately supported and documented. 10.25 AUDIT DISALLOWANCES If at any time it is determined by the County that a cost for which payment has been made is a disallowed cost, the County shall notify the Contractor in writing of the disallowance. The course of action to address the disallowance shall be at sole discretion of the County, and may include either an adjustment to future invoices, request for credit, request for a check, or a deduction from current invoices submitted by the Contractor equal to the SERIAL 220009-RFP amount of the disallowance, or to require reimbursement forthwith of the disallowed amount by the Contractor by issuing a check payable to Maricopa County. 10.26 STRICT COMPLIANCE Acceptance by County of a performance that is not in strict compliance with the terms of the contract shall not be deemed to be a waiver of strict compliance with respect to all other terms of the contract. 10.27 VALIDITY The invalidity, in whole or in part, of any provision of this contract shall not void or affect the validity of any other provision of the contract. 10.28 SEVERABILITY The removal, in whole or in part, of any provision of this contract shall not void or affect the validity of any other provision of this contract. 10.29 RELATIONSHIPS 10.29.1 In the performance of the services described herein, the Contractor shall act solely as an independent Contractor, and nothing herein or implied herein shall at any time be construed as to create the relationship of employer and employee, co- employee, partnership, principal and agent, or joint venture between the County and the Contractor. 10.29.2 The County reserves the right of final approval on proposed staff. Also, upon request by the County, the Contractor will be required to remove any employees working on County projects and substitute personnel based on the discretion of the County within two business days, unless previously approved by the County. 10.30 NON-DISCRIMINATION Contractor agrees to comply with all provisions and requirements of Arizona Executive Order 2009-09, including flow down of all provisions and requirements to any subcontractors. Executive Order 2009-09 supersedes Executive Order 99-4 and amends Executive Order 75-5 and is hereby incorporated into this contract as if set forth in full herein. During the performance of this contract, Contractor shall not discriminate against any employee, client, or any other individual in any way because of that person’s age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. (Arizona Executive Order 2009-09 can be downloaded from the Arizona Memory Project at http://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/execorders/id/680/rec/1.) 10.31 WRITTEN CERTIFICATION PURSUANT to A.R.S. § 35-393.01 If vendor engages in for-profit activity and has 10 or more employees, and if this agreement has a value of $100,000 or more, vendor certifies it is not currently engaged in, and agrees for the duration of this agreement to not engage in, a boycott of goods or services from Israel. This certification does not apply to a boycott prohibited by 50 U.S.C. § 4842 or a regulation issued pursuant to 50 U.S.C. § 4842. 10.32 CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION 10.32.1 The undersigned (authorized official signing on behalf of the Contractor) certifies to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that the Contractor, its current officers, and directors: 10.32.1.1 are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from being awarded any SERIAL 220009-RFP contract or grant by any United States department or agency or any state, or local jurisdiction; 10.32.2 have not within a three-year period preceding this contract: 10.32.2.1 been convicted of fraud or any criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or as the result of performing a government entity (Federal, State or local) transaction or contract; or 10.32.2.2 been convicted of violation of any Federal or State antitrust statutes or conviction for embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property regarding a government entity transaction or contract; 10.32.3 are not presently indicted or criminally charged by a government entity (Federal, State or local) with commission of any criminal offenses in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or as the result of performing a government entity public (Federal, State or local) transaction or contract; 10.32.4 are not presently facing any civil charges from any governmental entity regarding obtaining, attempting to obtain, or from performing any governmental entity contract or other transaction; and 10.32.5 have not within a three-year period preceding this contract had any public transaction (Federal, State or local) terminated for cause or default. 10.32.6 If any of the above circumstances described in the paragraph are applicable to the entity submitting a bid for this requirement, include with your bid an explanation of the matter including any final resolution. 10.32.7 The Contractor shall include, without modification, this clause in all lower tier covered transactions (i.e. transactions with subcontractors or sub- subcontractors) and in all solicitations for lower tier covered transactions related to this contract. If this clause is applicable to a subcontractor or sub- subcontractor, the Contractor shall include the information required by this clause with their bid. 10.33 VERIFICATION REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH A.R.S. § 41-4401 AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS 10.33.1 By entering into the contract, the Contractor warrants compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA using E-Verify) and all other Federal immigration laws and regulations related to the immigration status of its employees and A.R.S. § 23-214(A). The Contractor shall obtain statements from its subcontractors certifying compliance and shall furnish the statements to the procurement officer upon request. These warranties shall remain in effect through the term of the contract. The Contractor and its subcontractors shall also maintain Employment Eligibility Verification forms (I-9) as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended from time to time, for all employees performing work under the contract and verify employee compliance using the E- Verify system and shall keep a record of the verification for the duration of the employee’s employment or at least three years, whichever is longer. I-9 forms are available for download at www.uscis.gov. 10.33.2 The County retains the legal right to inspect documents of Contractor and subcontractor employees performing work under this contract to verify compliance with paragraph 10.33.1 of this section. Contractor and subcontractor shall be given reasonable notice of the County’s intent to inspect and shall make the documents available at the time and date specified. Should the County suspect or find that the SERIAL 220009-RFP Contractor or any of its subcontractors are not in compliance, the County will consider this a material breach of the contract and may pursue any and all remedies allowed by law, including, but not limited to: suspension of work, termination of the contract for default, and suspension and/or debarment of the Contractor. All costs necessary to verify compliance are the responsibility of the Contractor. 10.34 Contractor EMPLOYEE WHISTLEBLOWER RIGHTS AND REQUIREMENT TO INFORM EMPLOYEES OF WHISTLEBLOWER RIGHTS 10.34.1 The parties agree that this contract and employees working on this contract will be subject to the Contractor employee whistleblower protections established by Title 41 U.S.C. § 4712 and Section 3.908 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 10.34.2 Contractor shall inform its employees in writing, in the predominant language of the workforce, of employee whistleblower rights and protections under 41 U.S.C. § 4712, as described in Section 3.908 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Documentation of such employee notification must be kept on file by Contractor and copies provided to County upon request. 10.34.3 Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including this paragraph, in all subcontracts over the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000 as of fiscal year 2018). 10.35 CONTRACTOR LICENSE REQUIREMENT 10.35.1 The Contractor shall procure all permits, insurance, and licenses, and pay the charges and fees necessary and incidental to the lawful conduct of his/her business, and as necessary complete any requirements, by any and all governmental or non-governmental entities as mandated to maintain compliance with and remain in good standing. The Contractor shall keep fully informed of existing and future trade or industry requirements, and Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations which in any manner affect the fulfillment of a contract and shall comply with the same. Contractor shall immediately notify both Office of Procurement Services and the department of any and all changes concerning permits, insurance, or licenses. 10.36 INFLUENCE 10.36.1 As prescribed in MC1-1203 of the Maricopa County Procurement Code, any effort to influence an employee or agent to breach the Maricopa County Ethical Code of Conduct or any ethical conduct, may be grounds for disbarment or suspension under MC1-902. 10.36.2 An attempt to influence includes, but is not limited to: 10.36.3 A person offering or providing a gratuity, gift, tip, present, donation, money, entertainment or educational passes or tickets, or any type of valuable contribution or subsidy that is offered or given with the intent to influence a decision, obtain a contract, garner favorable treatment, or gain favorable consideration of any kind. 10.36.4 If a person attempts to influence any employee or agent of Maricopa County, the chief procurement officer, or his designee, reserves the right to seek any remedy provided by the Maricopa County Procurement Code, any remedy in equity or in the law, or any remedy provided by this contract. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.37 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION 10.37.1 Any information obtained in the course of performing this contract may include information that is proprietary or confidential to the County. This provision establishes the Contractor’s obligation regarding such information. 10.37.2 The Contractor shall establish and maintain procedures and controls that are adequate to assure that no information contained in its records and/or obtained from the County or from others in carrying out its functions (services) under the contract shall be used by or disclosed by it, its agents, officers, or employees, except as required to efficiently perform duties under the contract. The Contractor’s procedures and controls, at a minimum, must be the same procedures and controls it uses to protect its own proprietary or confidential information. If, at any time during the duration of the contract, the County determines that the procedures and controls in place are not adequate, the Contractor shall institute any new and/or additional measures requested by the County within 15 business days of the written request to do so. 10.37.3 Any requests to the Contractor for County proprietary or confidential information shall be referred to the County for review and approval, prior to any dissemination. 10.38 PUBLIC RECORDS Under Arizona law, all offers submitted and opened are public records and must be retained by the County at the Maricopa County Office of Procurement Services. Offers shall be open to public inspection and copying after contract award and execution, except for such offers or sections thereof determined to contain proprietary or confidential information by the Office of Procurement Services. If an offeror believes that information in its offer or any resulting contract should not be released in response to a public record request, under Arizona law, the offeror shall indicate the specific information deemed confidential or proprietary and submit a statement with its offer detailing the reasons that the information should not be disclosed. Such reasons shall include the specific harm or prejudice which may arise from disclosure. The records manager of the Office of Procurement Services shall determine whether the identified information is confidential pursuant to the Maricopa County Procurement Code. 10.39 INTEGRATION This contract represents the entire and integrated agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, proposals, communications, understandings, representations, or agreements, whether oral or written, expressed, or implied. 10.40 UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS By entering into this contract, the Contractor agrees to comply with all applicable provisions of Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200—UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS contained in Title 2 C.F.R. § 200 et seq. 10.41 GOVERNING LAW This contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of Arizona. Venue for any actions or lawsuits involving this contract will be in Maricopa County Superior Court, Phoenix, Arizona. SERIAL 220009-RFP 10.42 PRICES Contractor warrants that prices extended to County under this contract are no higher than those paid by any other customer for these or similar services. 10.43 ORDER OF PRECEDENCE In the event of a conflict in the provisions of this contract and Contractor’s license agreement, if applicable, the terms of this contract shall prevail. 10.44 INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS 10.44.1 The following are to be attached to and made part of this Contract: 10.44.2 Exhibit A – Vendor Information and Budget Summary 10.44.3 Exhibit B – Scope of Work 10.45 NOTICES All notices given pursuant to the terms of this contract shall be addressed to: For County: Maricopa County Office of Procurement Services 160 S. 4th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1647 For Contractor: Local First Arizona Foundation 407 E Roosevelt St Phoenix, AZ 85004 10.46 INQUIRIES 10.46.1 Inquiries concerning information herein must be submitted prior to the question deadline date/time posted in the e-procurement platform, Periscope S2G, using the link in the “Q&A” tab. 10.46.2 Administrative telephone/email inquiries shall be addressed to: JOEY MOLINA, PROCUREMENT MANAGER TELEPHONE: (602) 506-3454 Joey.molina@maricopa.gov 10.46.3 Inquiries may be submitted by telephone but must be followed up in writing. No oral communication is binding on Maricopa County. SERIAL 220009-RFP IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this contract is executed on the date set forth above. CONTRACTOR AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE PRINTED NAME AND TITLE ADDRESS DATE MARICOPA COUNTY CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DATE ATTESTED: CLERK OF THE BOARD DATE APPROVED AS TO FORM: DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY DATE Kimber Lanning, CEO 407 E. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix AZ 85004 9-1-21 September 2, 2021 SERIAL 220009-RFP EXHIBT A VENDOR INFORMATION/BUDGET SUMMARY COMPANY NAME: Local First Arizona DOING BUSINESS AS (dba): MAILING ADDRESS: 407 E Roosevelt St REMIT TO ADDRESS: 407 E Roosevelt St TELEPHONE NUMBER: 602-956-0909 FAX NUMBER: n/a WWW ADDRESS: www.localfirstaz.com REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Thomas Barr REPRESENTATIVE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 480-217-3807 REPRESENTATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS thomas@localfirstaz.com YES NO REBATE WILL ALLOW OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO PURCHASE FROM THIS CONTRACT: N/A WILL ACCEPT PROCUREMENT CARD FOR PAYMENT: NET 30 DAYS SERIAL 220009-RFP EXHIBIT A BUDGET SUMMARY ATTACHMENT D 220009 - RFP SMALL BUSINESS RESILIENCE PROGRAM BUDGET SUMMARY OF COST WORKSHEET Respondent Local First Arizona LINE ITEM BUDGET LINE ITEM DETAIL PROPOSED BUDGET TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SALARY and WAGES: (Identify Each Position) CEO (4.7% of time for 98 hours @ $50.48/hour) $ 4,947.00 VP Business Development (46.1% of time for 960 hours @ $38.46/hour) $36,921.60 Director of Food Programs (28.8% of time for 600 hours @ $35.34/hour) $21,204.00 Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy (11.5% of time for 240 hours @ $40.87/hour) $ 9,808.80 Senior Manager Small Business Development (31.4% of time for 880 hours @ $31.45/hour) $27,676.00 Small Business Development Manager (51.9% of time for 1080 hours @ $24.05/hour) $25,974.00 Fuerza Local Manager (46.2% of time for 960 hours @ $19.23/hour) $18,460.80 Public Relations Manager (7.2% of time for 150 hours @ $33.65/hour) $ 5,047.50 Director of Sustainability Programs (46.1% of time for 960 hours @ $32.65/hour) $28,732.00 Special Programs Manager (28.8% of time for 600 hours @ $26.92/hour) $16,152.00 Small Business Success Specialist (46.1% of time for 960 hours @ $21.15/hour) $20,304.00 Small Business Development Manager (51.9% of time for 1080 hours @ $29.57/hour) $31,935.60 Small Business Support Manager (51.9% of time for 1080 hours @ $23.08/hour) $24,926.40 Director of Rural Programs (6.7% of time for 140 hours @ $43.27/hour) $ 6,057.80 Small Business Development Coordinator (47.1% of time for 980 hours @ $19.23/hour) $18,845.40 Rural Development Coordinator (28.8% of time for 600 hours @ $19.23/hour) $ 7,692.00 Economic Development Program Manager (34.6% of time for 720 hours @ $29.81/hour) $21,463.20 Small Business Coordinator (28.8% of time for 600 hours @ $21.63/hour) $12,978.00 Director of Operations (4.4% of time for 92 hours @ $40.87/hour) $ 3,760.00 Sustainability Program Manager (46.1% of time for 960 hours @ $26.44/hour) $25,382.40 Small Business Engagement Coordinator (23.1% of time for 480 hours @ $20.19/hour) $ 9,691.20 SERIAL 220009-RFP Food Program Coordinator (5.7% of time for 120 hours @ $20.67/hour) $ 2,480.40 Food Initiatives Manager (5.7% of time for 120 hours @ $33.65/hour) $ 4,038.00 Small Business Manager (11.5% of time for 240 hours @ $23.32/hour) $ 5,596.80 Small Business Manager (11.5% of time for 240 hours @ $23.08/hour) $ 5,539.20 TOTAL SALARY and WAGES: @ Percentage Rate EXAMPLES (Identify Each Program Expense) $395,614.00 FRINGE BENEFITS: TOTAL FRINGE BENEFITS: 12% $47,473.00 TOTAL PERSONNELL COSTS $443,087.00 Examples - identify each program expense Office Space 0.00 Equipment (Computer) 10 refurbished laptops for underserved clients $ 5,000.00 Repair and Maintenance 0.00 Instructional Materials $ 1,613.00 Internet/Telephone/Fax 0.00 Office Supplies 0.00 Utilities 0.00 Copying/Printing (entpreneur manuals for accelerator) $ 4,000.00 Meetings 0.00 Audit Services $ 2,300.00 Staff (Local Travel) 0.00 TOTAL DIRECT COST: $12,913.00 TOTAL OF ALL COST CATERGORIES: $ 456,000.00 Indirect Cost Rate: (If applicable) TOTAL INDIRECT COST RATE: 0.00 @Percentage Rate 0.00 TOTAL OF ALL COST CATEGORIES PLUS INDIRECT COST RATE: $ 456,000.00 Profit TOTAL PROFIT @ % Total Budget $ 456,000.00 SERIAL 220009-RFP EXHIBIT B SCOPE OF WORK LOAL FIRST ARIZONA SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Founded in 2003 by Kimber Lanning, Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization working to build a more diverse and inclusive Arizona economy. Today, Local First is the largest coalition of independently owned businesses in the United States representing over 3,000 local businesses with a staff of 40. Local First is uniquely positioned to provide technical assistance and training to small businesses with a well-equipped team of leaders committed to ensuring small businesses are prioritized in Maricopa County. Local First uses a multi-pronged approach to tackling Arizona’s most critical challenges, and uses systems-change processes to strengthen opportunities for all. There are six programmatic areas that Local First has developed which work synergistically to build a better Arizona: ■ Small Business Advocacy and Support: Relationship-based small business support and policy development to sustain and grow a healthy small business infrastructure for Arizona’s economy. ■ Micro-enterprise Development: Business accelerator programs Fuerza Local and We Rise provide tools, resources, and financial opportunities for low-income Latino and Black-owned entrepreneurs. ■ Localized Food Systems: Food systems development to grow jobs and resources for Arizona food producers while providing greater access to healthy food. The Restaurant Bootcamp program is designed to provide training and resources to Arizona's food entrepreneurs to grow successful businesses. ■ Environmentally Sustainable Businesses: Audits, recommendations, and training for small businesses looking to reduce water and energy usage, and to minimize waste in order to help the environment while reducing costs. ■ FOR(U)M: Place based development work focused on influencing walkable urban cores in Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix. This program helps developers create profitable, place-based projects that better respond to the needs of the community. ■ Arizona Rural Development Council: Rural community and economic development initiatives driven to improve quality of life in towns throughout Arizona. Leveraging nearly 20 years of curriculum developed for classrooms and in-person cohorts in English and Spanish, Local First offers in-person and online classes in order to meet the continued need to accommodate all businesses. Our focus areas of Triage, Recovery, and Resiliency, adds timely curriculum to existing workshops, technical assistance, and coaching, in addition to years of experience training small business owners and entrepreneurs in a traditional classroom setting. Our team will incorporate detailed and personalized one on one technical assistance, group training, workshops and education in cohort modeled accelerator programs, and unique support that is focused on assisting Maricopa County's small businesses revive from the challenges brought on by the pandemic. SERIAL 220009-RFP Local First Arizona has provided small business technical assistance in a variety of contracts since the organization's inception in 2003. We have demonstrated through previous contracts with Arizona-based municipalities and additional partnerships throughout Arizona that our team is very communicative with the businesses we provide services to, with other partner organizations contributing services, and with the main contacts through our contract to ensure the highest quality of support is provided to the businesses impacted by the work. Local First's team commits to cooperating with the Maricopa County's staff and will be available virtually and in person to deliver the described services in this proposal. We will communicate our assessments of the small business community with staff and will be available to shift educational focus areas and training based on the county staff's recommendations throughout the program. Key staff and descriptions of their experience are included below to inform the county of the wealth of qualifications our team brings to delivering services to Maricopa County's small businesses. Major areas of experience represented by the Local First Arizona project team include: • Facilitation and distribution of $12 Million in small business grants activated in all 15 Arizona counties to assist entrepreneurs most economically challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. • Fluency among multiple team members in English, Spanish and French. • Small businesses ownership experience for 35+ years. • Executive chef experience and a track record of successfully operating multiple commercial kitchens incubating food and beverage entrepreneurs. • Hosting 80+ annual networking events convening small businesses in communities throughout Arizona. • Local, national and international recognition for economic development strategy, marketing, environmental sustainability, community leadership and small business support services. • Engagement of 3000+ small businesses throughout Arizona providing education, networking and support services. • Strategic planning and community development experience with neighborhood associations, small business networks, community organizations and state leadership. • Financial literacy training in classroom settings for cohorts of multilingual entrepreneurs. • Planning and execution of major events and experiences for consumers and businesses throughout Arizona attracting 30,000 attendees. • Advanced photography, videography and editing skills for small businesses. We hope that Maricopa County will appreciate this demonstration of leadership in the small business community and see Local First's qualifications to perform the described services. SERIAL 220009-RFP As Arizona works to re-energize the economy, it is important to consider the long path small businesses will be on in order to rebuild their companies and the community. Local First Arizona has created the following road map to rebuilding the small business sector which is centered in our work with small business development. AREA 1: TRIAGE Small businesses have been attempting to navigate all the available resources to keep their businesses from closing through the COVID-19 pandemic and are working to navigate what more may become available in the coming months. Businesses will not have a predictable revenue flow from which to pay their monthly rent, utilities, or payroll. These small businesses need direct assistance in navigating the onslaught of resources available to them, as well as education on how to maximize their benefit. They will also need creative thinkers to help form new ideas for how to pivot their business models. Since the pandemic began, Local First Arizona has shared the best, most efficient information for small businesses in the state. Through its infrastructure of 40 staff offering direct support to 3000+ statewide businesses, LFA utilizes its position as a trusted resource to aid small businesses in survival strategies. Additionally, our leadership at Local First Arizona continues to convene working committees to push strategies forward so that small businesses come out of this crisis as a stronger sector. The TRIAGE stage focuses on the following areas: ■ Resource Aggregation: Through Local First’s statewide collaborative approach to assisting small businesses, our team continues to aggregate the most timely, correct, and useful information to assist small businesses. The knowledge of the accurate and available resources to best assist businesses is critical in order to set them on a path to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. SERIAL 220009-RFP ■ Education: Education is always a component of small business assistance. In unprecedented times however, the right education is critical to aid businesses in accessing funding and knowing what best steps to take to sustain themselves. Knowing about the Payroll Protection Plan is important, but knowing how to use it so it becomes a forgivable loan is critical. ■ Pivoting Business Models: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses to transition many ways that they operate, what products and services they offer, and who they market to. Small businesses need guidance and support in order to properly pivot themselves to a path of recovery. AREA 2: RECOVERY As businesses begin to reopen and consider the adaptations that must be made, Local First Arizona will work to help the businesses take necessary steps to restart. Our tactics will help businesses pivot and prepare them to execute and communicate messaging in a post-pandemic world. Businesses will need guidance and recommendations for safety, are prepared/able to follow the recommendations, and are ready to safely open and support themselves over the coming months. Additionally, businesses will need guidance on how to respectfully market their businesses as “COVID Clean” and communicate this messaging to their supporters. Our team will work to provide guidance and information on what businesses can and can’t do around reopening and rehiring as information continues to develop. Lastly, our team will offer resources on debt management and debt restructure over time so businesses that are currently crippled by debt accrued can survive without closing their businesses. The RECOVERY stage focuses on the following areas: ■ Reopening Businesses: Small businesses have different sizes, structures, customers and strategies. It will be important that all scenarios are evaluated and businesses are provided ideas and expertise for how to effectively and safely reopen to the public. This will be a slow process with lots of changes businesses will need to navigate. ■ Marketing: Businesses always need to consider how they are spreading the word about the products and services they offer. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the way businesses market themselves will be critical. Technology, storytelling, safety, and relationships must all be considered when businesses reinvent their marketing strategies. Small businesses must be equipped to best predict and plan for changes in their traditional markets, and be flexible enough to continue to pivot their plans. ■ Rehiring: As the economy recovers from the pandemic, rehiring staff will change for businesses as well. Employees will be looking for long term, sustainable opportunities to make a proper income and will be in high SERIAL 220009-RFP demand. Additionally, small businesses need to consider changes in training staff as they look to adapt best practices within their businesses, adhering to new cleanliness and communication strategies of high importance. Small businesses will need support navigating these ongoing changes. ■ DebtRelief: It is inevitable that many small businesses will not receive adequate funding to ideally sustain themselves through the TRIAGE stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Helping businesses navigate debt relief they may have endured will be critical as they attempt to drive new revenue to sustain their businesses. Local First’s team utilizes relationships and knowledge of opportunities available to assist businesses attempting to relieve themselves from debt. AREA 3: RESILIENCY As we look long term for small businesses to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and attempt to recover, we must also plan and build resources to assist businesses in becoming truly resilient. Using the TRIAGE and RECOVERY areas as a foundation, phase 3, RESILIENCY, is when Local First Arizona will position its resources, messaging, and ideas to help rebuild a more just economy to restore the vitality of small businesses. Here we will leverage wins and lessons learned and will position small businesses to become the centerpiece of growth in the new Arizona Economy. The RESILIENCY stage focuses on the following areas: ■ Equity: As businesses begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic it’s important for community organizations to prioritize an equitable landscape of opportunity for all businesses to succeed in the community. While some small businesses may be quicker to recover from the economic crisis more quickly than others, it’s important to provide a comprehensive approach to assisting businesses that considers the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and situations that businesses hold in order to properly grow a strong and sustainable economy. Local First will partner to ensure it’s most vulnerable businesses will not be left behind as the economy restarts. ■ Financial Stability and Banking: As small businesses exit recovery from the pandemic and look long term to grow their businesses to positively impact the community, it is essential that all businesses are provided financial and banking services that are in the best interest of the small business. While the majority of Arizonans rely on banking relationships with large, non-local banks, we know that the local community banks will be an important component to ensuring the highest level of success for the business. Local First looks to work with the small business community to partner with regional community banks that take a personalized approach to doing busines. Local First looks forward SERIAL 220009-RFP to expanding on its 15+ year track record of close relationships with local banks and credit unions in order to best assist small businesses long term. ■ Relationships Matter Most: The traditional components to doing business effectively will never change and as small businesses pivot their businesses models after the pandemic, they will need to prioritize the relationships with other small businesses, their staff, customers, and clients, and the community as they continue forward. After the pandemic ends, those small business owners who prioritize people in the community will transition and grow most effectively. Threaded through our technical assistance and group training, Local First will underscore the importance of building strong relationships in order to aid businesses in attaining a positive path to long term success. This will be a key ■ competitive strategy to combat online shopping - people actually want to know who they’re doing business with, and businesses prioritizing relationships will fare best in a post-COVID economy. ■ Increasing Sustainability Practices: It’s inevitable for our communities and small businesses to embrace the need for environmental sustainability practices in order to build prosperity. Waste reduction, minimizing water usage, composting excess food, pollution prevention, and reduced energy consumption are all practices that business owners can learn to incorporate into their business not only to prioritize good environmental practices, but to save money and tap into a growing landscape of consumers interested in supporting eco-friendly businesses. SERIAL 220009-RFP ONE ON ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Local First will leverage a wide variety of expertise to assist the businesses including consulting on social media, digital marketing and SEO searchability, event management and marketing, video production, recommendations for marketing efforts and savings, and business liability assistance to share trends and claims that are occurring in the industry. Anticipated consulting services include operations and inventory control, marketing and social media support, community engagement and communication as well as others. With such a wide variety of needs among the business community Local First is proud to have a robust network of trusted partners that have provided expertise unique to each business served. ■ Ongoing Immediate Technical Assistance: In response to the ongoing and rapid changing landscape of operating a business through the COVID-19 pandemic, Local First’s team has continued to provide ongoing guidance to our network of 3,000+ businesses to navigate the many resources available and challenges utilizing them. In order to provide the highest level of services to small businesses, Local First will extend this readiness and preparedness to respond to small business needs as they grow and evolve. Our team takes an action-oriented approach built on collaboration and resource allocation to guide businesses that need assistance as quickly as possible when deemed necessary. Our team commits to providing ongoing evaluation of needs and developing corresponding recommendations to small businesses as they navigate the challenges of reopening and rebuilding their businesses in the future economy. ■ Assessments: These assessments will be administered by trained staff of Local First Arizona to assess the situation of each business in order to determine the best recommendations. Local First’s expertise is grounded in a relationship-based approach to understanding what barriers exist for small businesses, determining opportunities that may be available for the business, and then thorough follow-through with recommendations for each business on next steps for technical assistance, group training, marketing strategies, and a plan to set the business on a course for success. ■ Recommendations and Training: As each assessment is conducted, direct recommendations and training will be provided to an agreed upon number of businesses based on our team’s findings. Examples of specific training for businesses include accounting assistance and cash flow management, guidance and human resources management support, specific legal advice based on business situations, marketing and public relations ideation sessions, inventory and supply chain guidance, ecommerce and SERIAL 220009-RFP digital growth strategies, and general business coaching and consulting to help businesses develop growth tactics. These are examples of ways businesses can be assisted, and the Local First team will utilize business professionals and trained consultants in a personalized approach based on the individual business needs. Local First will schedule and follow up on all training, ensuring the business is successfully utilizing recommendations and on a positive path forward. SMALL BUSINESS GROUP TRAINING In addition to providing personalized assistance and consulting to businesses that are rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, Local First is equipped to facilitate trainings on a variety of topics that all small businesses in the region will have access to participating in. This education will be delivered over an agreed upon period of time in order for small businesses to receive ongoing and up to date information and ideas to sustain their companies. Local First will recommend content based on feedback received from businesses through assessments, market trends after COVID-19, and projections of information small businesses should be prepared for as our team assesses future opportunities. A sample of proposed training sessions include: ■ Social Media for Small Businesses: Elevating Your Business Exposure in an Ever-Changing Digital World ■ Leverage Your Localness: Relationships and Collaboration Matter Most in a Post-Pandemic Economy ■ Google My Business: Level Up to Your Competition and Get Found in Search Engines ■ Ecommerce in 2021: The Tools You're Not Using to Drive More Business ■ Communications 2.0: Crafting Effective Messaging to Gain Customer Loyalty ■ Business Leadership: Showing Up for Your Team, Fellow Businesses and Community ■ LinkedIn 2.0: Growing Your Business Effectively through Online Professional Networks ■ Laws and Policies: The Continual Changes in Operating a Small Business That You Need to Know SERIAL 220009-RFP Over the past 20 years, Local First Arizona has facilitated business trainings and small business technical assistance support throughout Arizona. We have also proudly hundreds of businesses in the food industry throughout the county. The core focus of the work has involved leveraging pre-existing partnerships and relationships built within the community to gain the trust of businesses in order to support them. Local First brings a relationship focused approach to its small business training and technical assistance. Local First proposes a customized focus on restaurant revitalization as an opportunity to ensure the county's robust variety of food and beverage entrepreneurs receive the training and expertise needed. Local First has produced business assessments and thorough business consultations to 400+ businesses and 150+ workshops and small business trainings over the last 5 years. A wide variety of expertise from our team was utilized to assist businesses including consulting on social media, digital marketing and SEO searchability, event management and marketing, video production, environmental sustainability and recommendations for marketing efforts and savings. Consulting services also include operations and inventory control for restaurants, community engagement, communications, and local inventory sourcing. SERIAL 220009-RFP RESTAURANT TRAININGS AND CONSULTATIONS As food businesses in Maricopa County look to recover from challenges from the pandemic, providing tailored recovery training services and marketing resources for the restaurants, bars, and other small businesses will be critical in sustaining high standards and revival efforts. The Local First team has detailed insight of what is most needed to provide the best resources to this specific sector of the business community. Restaurants will continue to deal with adaptations like no other industry over the coming years. They need to think collaboratively, creatively and realistically about how to attract and retain customers safely. Local First recommends providing specific one on one trainings through technical assistance specific to restaurants with content experts bringing practical knowledge to the industry, paired with group trainings to build collaborative strategies. Facilitated by our Director of Food Programs, himself a life-long hospitality professional, these trainings include a foundation for entrepreneurial growth which is the backbone of robust, inclusive, and accessible local economies. The content that we have identified through our thorough assessments of restaurants across Arizona cover a variety of topics that will be provided through both group trainings and personal consulting services to individual businesses based on their background, length of time in business, unique situation, and current needs. Topics Covered Through Trainings and Individual Consulting Include: • Rethinking Menu Design to Maximize Profits • Hiring in a Post-Pandemic World: How to Find and Retain Top Talent • Reimagine Your Dine-In Space, Creative Options for Safety on a Budget • Make the Most of Outdoor Seating: Utilizing Patio and Sign Ordinances for Your Restaurant’s Advantage • Increasing Profitability through Food Cost Strategies • Leveraging Social Media to Grow Sales for Restaurants • Profitable Menu Re-Creation and implementation • Point-Of-Sale Systems management and best practices post-pandemic • Local Procurement recommendations, scalability and marketing opportunities • Front & Back of House Relations and Food Service Logistics • Leveraging Your Localness as a restaurant • Marketing your restaurant in a post-pandemic world SERIAL 220009-RFP Studies conducted by the Federal Reserve, the SBA, BYU, Rutgers, and Utah State all found evidence of discrimination in the small business lending industry. According to a recent study from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, American Hispanic and African- American entrepreneurs leave 1.3 trillion dollars on the table in the form of criminally high interest rates, fees, and lost sales. In response, Local First Arizona created Fuerza Local in 2013, a 6-month business accelerator program, serving Latino micro- entrepreneurs. In 2021, Local First Arizona introduced We Rise, a similarly modeled program serving Black- owned businesses in Maricopa County. Fuerza Local and We Rise level the playing field by providing a structured business curriculum taught by experienced professionals improving businesses opportunities to access capital. These are the the first entrepreneurial training programs in the country to incorporate money-pool savings to help develop credit history bringing under-served populations into mainstream banking. Graduates gain access to credit at fair market rates, allowing them to build businesses, sustain their families, and rebuild their neighborhoods. Businesses will attend weekly two-hour workshops covering a wealth of business development curriculum. The skills acquired, paired with access to traditional capital, within the context of a growing network of other small business owners, creates sustainability and success for participants. In addition to the workshops, participants must attend one general meeting each month, creating five touch points per month for the duration, plus any one-on-one meeting scheduled with staff, instructors, or personally assigned mentors for as long as needed. Our intention is to keep the graduates engaged and participating with Local First over the long-term. These programs will operate two semesters per year, serving 12 entrepreneurs in each cohort. The timetable is not flexible. The program lasts a full six months, to complete two cohorts each year, a strict schedule must be adhered. Using pre- and post-surveys, Local First measures registered businesses, job creation and growth, revenue, access to capital (loans, rates, and terms). SERIAL 220009-RFP Projected outcomes for 60 business accelerator graduates: • 60 business plans. • 40 new websites. • 50 graduates will form an LLC while in the program. • 45 new social media pages and comprehensive marketing strategies. • 25 first-time checking accounts. • 15 first-time loans approved at a fair-market financial institution (outside of a title loan or pay-day loan establishment). 15 new jobs created in Maricopa County: these jobs range from $24,000 - $40,000 within 2 years of program completion. The structured curriculum for each program includes the following required trainings: • Preparing a Business Plan • Strategic Planning • Business Model Development • Legal Structure and Business Responsibilities • Corporate Image • Marketing Strategies • Digital Media Management • Human Resources and Recruitment • Finance Fundamentals • Access to Capital • Tax Planning Principles • Risk Assessment and Business Insurance • Pricing and Sales Forecast • Sales Training for Business Owners • Managerial and Soft Skills • Customer Service and Business Ethics As a direct result of Fuerza Local, people from marginalized communities and neighborhoods are creating successful businesses, creating jobs, and new revenue. Fuerza Local is a viable program with a strong record of success and bright future on the horizon. Since 2013, the Fuerza Local program has admitted 520 businesses. Of those, 497 have completed the program and created over 400 new businesses in the community. Fuerza graduates have created over 600 new jobs and generated $11,171,700 in new revenue to date. As the We Rise program continues, we expect to measure similar results with the businesses in Maricopa County. As Maricopa County assesses the greatest needs to support the small business community through economic recovery efforts, offering these accelerator programs will stimulate strong growth in the region, and provides a comprehensive approach to support services. SERIAL 220009-RFP Local First Arizona Foundation’s SCALE UP (Sustainable Communities Accessing Lending and Expertise Upon Performance) program provides training and technical assistance for businesses to assist them in reducing energy, utility, and operating costs with large energy use intensity, and to increase their budgetary savings through decreasing their energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions. SCALE UP is positioned to prioritize cost savings for businesses in Maricopa County to create new business models that meet evolving consumer demands and regional environmental goals. Businesses participate in cohorts related to transportation systems, energy, water, and waste through SCALE UP to receive the education they need to adopt long term strategic plans to become more sustainable. As we strengthen the regional economy in the county after the pandemic, small businesses need to be thinking creatively and proactively about long-term sustainability goals and the SCALE UP program is specifically designed to deliver this education and training. The SCALE UP program structure adopts a workshop series model. A cohort of 10-15 businesses will participate in a series of comprehensive sustainability planning workshops covering energy efficiency, water conservation, transportation efficiency, waste management, and sustainability plan application in the workplace. Local First Arizona will facilitate a quarterly workshop series over the duration of the technical assistance project allowing up to 60 businesses to go through the program. To help businesses meet their efficiency goals and receive continued education, the program will provide continuing education workshops after course completion to provide technical assistance and consulting in sustainability for each business. SERIAL 220009-RFP The SCALE UP program facilitates the following model in technical training: • Full workshop series for businesses in Maricopa County. • The cohorts will consist of 10-15 participating businesses. • There will be 5 workshops that train businesses in a variety of areas including energy efficiency, water conservation, • waste reduction, transportation efficiency, and application of business sustainability plans. • Ongoing 1 on 1 personalized coaching sessions that would occur at the participant’s business to provide them the technical • consulting needed to advance their plans. Curriculum Focus SCALE UP has the opportunity to educate businesses on simple energy efficiency improvements such as LED light conversions and HVAC tune ups. Additionally, programming focuses more on larger energy efficiency investments that are tied with available rebates from the electric utility providers. Energy costs are where businesses can see the fastest savings in their operational costs. We utilize municipality and utility resources already in place to identify solutions for improved energy efficiency and transportation emissions reduction for each business. In addition to building efficiency improvements, SCALE UP programming trains businesses on fleet electrification, fleet efficiency, and the available electric vehicle rebates to help reduce the business's carbon emissions. These strategies include: • Improving business fleet management and operational efficiencies. • Electrification of company vehicles. • Installment of electric vehicle charging stations at the workplace. • Benchmarking and improving employee commuting habits. • Improving the transportation habits of patrons and employees. Providing this specific training as part of Maricopa County's economic recovery efforts will ensure that small businesses throughout the region have access to the appropriate education and training they need to build back successful enterprises long-term. Local First's team looks forward to the opportunity to provide this one-of-a-kind technical assistance to businesses throughout the county as part of our comprehensive strategy working with small businesses. SERIAL 220009-RFP There are approximately 28.8M small businesses in the United States, which employ 48% of all private sector employees, generate 63% of all new jobs, and 46% of the GDP*. Additionally, independent businesses contribute to the character of a community and raise the standard of living by circulating their profits through other local businesses and employing local residents. Local First Arizona supports a network of 3,000+ Arizona-based businesses, through a relationship-focused approach that helps entrepreneurs navigate resources available and barriers experienced in trying to scale a business. Our team takes an action-oriented approach built on collaboration and resource allocation to guide businesses that need assistance as quickly and impactful as possible. By sharing the best information available and leveraging our position as a trusted resource to aid small businesses in strategies to thrive, Local First Arizona intends to launch a Rural Business Accelerator to support small businesses in rural Arizona. The purpose of the FOCUS Rural Business Accelerator is to provide training for pre-established (3+ years) businesses that elevates them to the next level of efficiency and profitability through classroom-style, intensive training on rural-specific topics. SERIAL 220009-RFP LFA will leverage the support of rural business leaders to facilitate course content from the perspective of an expert, providing hands-on learning, mentorship, and peer collaboration throughout the course. Participants select one of four potential “Intensive Training Courses” with topics including: Access to Capital| A series of experts will guide participants through strategies to expand their business including access to capital, preparing and analyzing financial statements, and tax planning and preparation. At the conclusion of this cohort, businesses will walk away with a series of completed financial statements and an understanding of their business cash flow. Social Media Marketing Strategy | Participants receive hands-on training on social media and marketing strategies that are key for rural businesses, including Facebook, Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Instagram, and influencer marketing. Businesses will walk away from this cohort armed with a social media planning calendar that will guide content strategies across all platforms determined to align with the goals of each business. Talent Recruitment & Retention| Businesses will learn effective strategies for identifying and recruiting high-quality and adequately skilled employees - and proven methods to retain them. Through this coursework, business owners will optimize job descriptions, identify talent pipelines relevant to their business, create strategies for effective candidate screening, and finalize an onboarding plan. From this cohort, participants will walk away with a Recruitment & Retention plan customized for their business. Customer Attraction & Retention | This module will be customized for each participant, with areas of focus determined by a secret-shopper assessment initiated at the start of the cohort. Each participant will identify key performance indicators for their business and the course mentor will suggest additional items that would optimize the customer experience. At the conclusion of this module, participants will receive a comprehensive customer experience plan with measurable objectives that can help guide/evaluate staff. Each course is provided in cohorts of up to 12 participants, each led by an expert in the field with opportunities to collaborate with peers and one-one-one with mentors. The goal for each cohort is to provide hands-on learning, real-world exercises, and take-home tools that strengthen each business where it’s needed most. With Maricopa County representing rural communities including Wickenburg and Gila Bend, Local First recommends offering these robust trainings to small businesses in these communities as part of the comprehensive technical assistance strategy put forth by the county. SERIAL 220009-RFP Local First Arizona takes a robust approach to ensuring technical assistance and education will be communicated to diverse groups. With staff proficient in English, Spanish and French, we will be proactive in growing awareness of the support services being provided and the opportunity for businesses in the region to access them. Through our current and past programming, Local First will reach diverse businesses in Maricopa County through the following areas: • Our membership program represents 2000+ small businesses in Maricopa County that we actively communicate with. • Our Fuerza Local program facilitated multiple cohorts to 400+ businesses in Maricopa County which provides education and training to businesses in Spanish. • In 2020, we assisted over 800 businesses in Maricopa County with technical assistance and trainings. • Local First has built robust relationships with partners throughout the county including community organizations, media, and county leadership to raise awareness of the programs the county is providing. Through these outlets of communication, our team will activate on multiple levels to businesses to raise awareness of the assistance provided including: • Door to door in-person business engagement to distribute information personally to businesses. • Personalized phone calls and email outreach to all past businesses who have received support services and members of Local First Arizona. • Press release creation and distribution to community partners and media in both English and Spanish to announce the availability of the services. • Social media promotion to targeted areas in Maricopa County to small business owners. • Convening of partners in the region that have connections to businesses in different districts and regions to ensure they are aware of the services provided and how businesses can access them. • In-person business networking events planned in the Maricopa County to allow small businesses to network and to elevate the awareness of the services and education available. Local First will develop and execute an initial outreach plan to spark the beginning of the work in the county and will continue activating all areas of outreach identified above on a monthly basis. In addition to raising awareness of the services, we will also develop success stories that will be promoted to media to elevate the work being done and the community impact. SERIAL 220009-RFP Local First Arizona takes a comprehensive approach to ensure the resources that are provided through our technical assistance program are well received by the businesses and the partners we are collaborating with. We plan our 1 on 1 assistance and trainings for times that are most available and convenient for the small businesses that we are working with and communicate proactively with our partners on any changes to training times or locations. Our team has developed a robust system for accurately reporting the following data that will be delivered to the county on a monthly basis on an agreed upon date: • Number of businesses being provided resources and have been contacted. • Detailed progress notes that describe the support and resources the business is receiving through technical support services • Number of occurrences in contacting businesses who have expressed interest in receiving services. • List of businesses who have attended scheduled workshops and trainings. • A synopsis on work performed and recommendations for any changes to be made in technical support services based on feedback provided from businesses. Local First takes into account the ongoing feedback that the businesses we are working with provide us to ensure that the resources and education being provided are having a direct impact. This qualitative accountability allows us to meet businesses where they are at, and report back to the county any developing trends among businesses that would be helpful to be informed about. This feedback is included in our monthly report that we will provide to the county based on the ongoing feedback we receive from the businesses. Upon completion of the support services based on the contract duration, Local First works collaboratively with the county and other partners involved in technical support services on receiving detailed feedback from businesses through administered surveys. Local First ensures that if the county is administering a survey to businesses that we provide feedback on appropriate questions to ask and data to collect in order to evaluate the services from all groups. Additionally, our team prioritizes delivering the survey to all businesses involved in receiving services to ensure the county receives quality feedback on the work performed. Local First also has the capabilities of developing and distributing a survey to businesses on our own specific services upon completion of the work. SERIAL 220009-RFP The scope of work created includes a customized variation of one on one assistance hours spent with each business, group trainings, workshops, and training businesses in unique cohort-modeled programs. Assistance will be offered in English and Spanish. SERIAL 220009-RFP Total county investment will be $454,000 to facilitate one-on-one technical assistance for 200 businesses, 24 group trainings, 4 Restaurant Bootcamp cohorts with up to 30 businesses, 36 businesses enrolled in Fuerza Local Accelerator, 24 businesses enrolled in We Rise Accelerator, 24 businesses enrolled in Rural Business Accelerator and 4 cohorts of 15 businesses in SCALE UP business training. Costs include staff and fringe benefits, facilitation and planning of all assistance, printing, instructional materials, refurbished laptops for low-income clients, and audit services. Total salary for 25 employees will be $395,614.00 Total fringe benefits for 25 employees will be $47,473.00 Total salary and fringe benefits for 25 employees will be $443,087.00 Total equipment for 20 refurbished laptops for low income clients will be $5,000.00 Total instructional materials for programs will be $1,613.00 Total copying/printing costs for programs will be $4,000.00 Total audit services for programs will be $2,300.00 Total direct costs will be $12,913.0 Total of all cost categories will be $456,00.00 Local First will not be charging indirect costs to Maricopa County as we have received other foundation money to cover these costs. SERIAL # 220009-RFP Local First Arizona has established strong relations and administered consulting and group training with communities of businesses impacted by disruptions in business over the past 15 years. Our approach to our small business assistance is grounded in long standing relationships with small businesses, partnerships forged with community organizations, and a commitment to ensuring each business we work with is cared for and receives the highest level of service possible Local First will continue our consulting by engaging with the businesses, community groups, and established leaders in the county in order to act as a source of information, ensuring resources are properly communicated and accessed while focusing on growing trust in the community. Our team will continue to engage closely in our work with business organizations - especially those that are thriving during these times and which are highly engaged in the community. These steps are critical to providing the right resources to the businesses that are heavily impacted. Our team is committed to ensuring Maricopa County's diverse business community has a strong plan for reviving from the pandemic. Local First Arizona looks forward to partnering to assist in strengthening the small businesses that critically need support.