Fargo committee outlines two‑phase RFP and financing options for proposed convention center

A Fargo committee focused on a proposed convention center began shaping a two‑phase request for proposals and discussed financing and selection criteria at a meeting (date not specified) in Fargo.

The committee said the initial RFP will emphasize proposers' teams, site control and conceptual plans, while a later, narrowed round will require detailed designs and business plans. The work will use an HVS market assessment and outside financial and legal advisers to frame possible funding choices, scoring and timelines.

Charlie Johnson, President and CEO of Visit Fargo Moorhead, opened the discussion and said the committee would "spend a little time going over the RFP outline" and move the process forward. City staff described an online submittal and scoring system Jim Gilmore, City staff, said, "The system does allow for if we want to have a numerical scoring system, people can go in individually and score their things prior to our discussion." Gilmore said the first proposal round should focus on teams, sites and concepts rather than detailed building schematics, and a later round would ask finalists to produce conceptual drawings and more comprehensive financials.

Susan Thompson, Finance Director for the City of Fargo, said the city has Baker Tilly preparing a "range" of funding scenarios so bidders see what might be available depending on operating assumptions: "I have them working on it right now. What I told them is to come up with a range." Committee members said the city would likely bond for the publicly funded portion while private partners would be expected to show financing for hotels, restaurants and other privately owned amenities.

Committee members and a named advisor discussed bond options. An adviser identified as Eric (role not specified in the meeting transcript) confirmed the city would consider appropriation bonds and explained taxability issues, saying it "just seems to be more straightforward and probably as a practical matter ... to just issue the taxable bonds." The group discussed the private‑activity test that can complicate tax‑exempt financing when private revenues or profit sharing are involved.

Timing and process questions were discussed but not fixed. Participants suggested a minimum of about 60 days for the initial RFP response, with 60–90 days common for the first round and possibly longer for finalists preparing detailed designs. Charlie Johnson said he hoped the initial RFP could be issued "sometime in May," but noted the RFP must clear legal and commissioner review before release.

Other items the committee agreed to include or refine: site control and utilities, adjacent land uses and expansion potential, parking and pedestrian access, hotel-room assumptions, kitchen and storage minimums (left open pending the HVS assessment), financial strength of proposers, revenue‑sharing expectations, and a schedule and pro forma for maintenance and capital improvements. The committee intends to publish scoring criteria in the RFP so proposers understand weighting and transparency expectations.

The meeting produced no formal vote or contract award. Committee members asked staff to circulate a sample RFP and to solicit further input on scoring weights and timing; Jim Gilmore said staff would return a refined draft for committee review.

The discussion tied into prior work: an upcoming HVS market assessment will be distributed to proposers and a separate Baker Tilly scope is planned if more complex public‑private financing issues emerge. The Dorsey firm was identified in the meeting as the City of Fargo's bond counsel and likely participant in any detailed financing negotiations.

Looking ahead, the committee plans to collect initial proposals, shortlist teams, seek more detailed plans from finalists, then negotiate development agreements that will pin down scope, schedule, financing guarantees and responsibilities.