City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: September 8, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.M
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Oliver Chi, City Manager, City Manager's Office
Subject: Award Bids and Service Agreements for As-Needed Real Estate & Design Consulting Services
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Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of signification effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award RFP# 2026-RFP-00015 to AECOM Technical Services, Inc., BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, CBRE, Cherry Tree Capital Partners, Eastdil Secured, Economic and Planning Systems Inc, Gensler, Kellenberg Studio, Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc., Michael Baker International, Robert Charles Lesser & Co, LLC d/b/a RCLCO, Sasaki Associates, Inc., Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP, SWA Group, and The RAND Corporation for as-needed real estate & design consulting services for the City Manager’s Office, and;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with CBRE in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
6. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Cherry Tree Capital Partners in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
7. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Eastdil Secured in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
8. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Economic and Planning Systems Inc in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
9. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement Gensler in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
10.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Kellenberg Studio in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
11.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two 3 of 7
additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
12.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Michael Baker International in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
13.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Robert Charles Lesser & Co, LLC in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
14.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Sasaki Associates, Inc in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional oneyear renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
15.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
16.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with SWA Group in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
17.Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with The RAND Corporation in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for three years, with two additional one-year renewal options, on the same terms and conditions, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The City is undertaking a realignment effort to modernize operations, improve project delivery, and strengthen capacity in areas critical to economic vitality, land use strategy, and redevelopment feasibility. To support this effort, staff conducted a competitive procurement process via RFP #2026-RFP-00015 to establish as-needed consultant agreements in various disciplines for on-call support related to planning, real estate, and economic development initiatives.
Staff recommends awarding RFP #2026-RFP-00015 to AECOM Technical Services, Inc., BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, CBRE, Cherry Tree Capital Partners, Eastdil Secured, Economic and Planning Systems Inc, Gensler, Kellenberg Studio, Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc., Michael Baker International, Robert Charles Lesser & Co, LLC d/b/a RCLCO, Sasaki Associates, Inc., Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP, SWA Group, and The RAND Corporation and executing agreements for as-needed consultant services in 4 of 7
the following scopes: strategic planning, urban design & architectural services, real estate advisory & financial analysis services, and economic development services.
Work would be distributed based on availability, specialization, and pricing. Each agreement is proposed not to exceed $1,000,000 over three years, with two, one year options for renewal. The agreements would be utilized on an as-needed basis, and only if funding is available.
Discussion
Establishing an as-needed consultant pool is a widely used best practice among public agencies seeking to improve project delivery, reduce administrative burden, and ensure timely access to specialized expertise. Agencies routinely utilize as-needed consultant contracts to streamline procurement and accelerate implementation of priority initiatives.
This model is considered an industry standard for disciplines requiring intermittent, highly technical, or rapid-response support. This model enables the City to move swiftly as projects arise, eliminating delays associated with conducting individual procurements for each assignment. Traditional procurements often require several months for scoping, solicitation, evaluation, award, and contract execution. In contrast, as-needed agreements allows staff to activate services once a project is identified, significantly reducing lead time and enabling more responsive service delivery while maintaining compliance with the City Procurement Policies.
The agreements would be utilized on an as-needed basis, and only when funding is available. This ensures that the consultant bench provides flexibility without committing the City to ongoing expenditures.
Vendor/Consultant Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best
Qualified
Firms
AECOM Technical Services, Inc., BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, CBRE, Cherry Tree Capital Partners, Eastdil Secured, Economic and Planning Systems Inc, Gensler, Kellenberg Studio, Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc., Michael Baker International, Robert Charles Lesser & Co, LLC, Sasaki Associates, Inc., Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP, SWA Group, and The RAND Corporation 5 of 7
Evaluation
Criteria
Specific plans or methodology, cost, and qualifications & experience.
Municipal
Code
SMMC 2.24.100(b)
RFPs Received
AECOM Technical
Services, Inc.
Agency Artifact Agora Partners Arcadis Inc.
BAE Urban
Economics, Inc.
BAR Architects &
Interiors
BIG – Bjarke
Ingels Group
Brookhurst
Development
Corporation
Carrier Johnson +
Culture
CBRE CBRE, Inc Cherry Tree
Capital Partners
CTY Housing, Inc Cushman &
Wakefield of
California, Inc.
Eastdil Secured Economic and
Planning Systems
Inc
Frederick Fisher and
Partners
Gensler HR&A Advisors,
Inc.
Johnson Favaro,
LLP
Jones Lang LaSalle
Americas, Inc.
Kellenberg Studio Koning Eizenberg
Architecture, Inc.
Michael Baker
International
Perkins Eastman
Architects, DPC
propertyworx LLC Retail Round
Robin, LLC
RJM Design
Group, Inc
Robert Charles
Lesser & Co, LLC
d/b/a RCLCO
Rootstock
Investment Group
RSG, Inc. Sasaki Associates,
Inc.
Skidmore, Owings, &
Merrill LLP
Stoss Landscape
Urbanism
Studio One Eleven SWA Group
Taylor DM Brands,
Inc.
Textbook
Warehouse, LLC
The RAND
Corporation
Tierra West
Advisors, Inc
Toole Design Group,
LLC
RFP Data
Posted On Posted On
Advertised In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date
Publicly
Opened
03/24/2026 City’s Online
Bidding Site Santa Monica Daily Press 129 04/19/2026
Justification to Award
The evaluation committee was comprised of staff from the City Manager’s Office, and evaluated based on the evaluation criteria of specific plans or methodology; cost; and qualifications and experience, of each proposal in accordance with the City’s Procurement Policy. Proposals were scored independently by each evaluator, and the combined scoring results reflect a consistent determination that all fifteen firms met 6 of 7
the minimum qualifications and demonstrated strengths across all criteria.
All recommended firms presented well-defined methodologies responsive to the City’s needs, competitive cost proposals appropriate for as-needed work, and extensive qualifications supported by experienced multidisciplinary teams. Based on the aggregate scoring of 80 or more points, staff determined that all fifteen firms are best qualified to provide services under the solicited scopes and recommends awarding the RFP and executing agreements with each firm to ensure adequate capacity, coverage, and flexibility for future project demands.
Environmental Review
The agreement is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3), which states that CEQA does not apply where there is no possibility that this project may have a significant effect on the environment. The agreement would provide for plan review services, and therefore, would have no physical impacts on the environment and no further environmental review is required.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from various funds based on project needs, to award agreements with AECOM Technical Services, Inc., BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, CBRE, Cherry Tree Capital Partners, Eastdil Secured, Economic and Planning Systems Inc, Gensler, Kellenberg Studio, Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc., Michael Baker International, Robert Charles Lesser & Co, LLC d/b/a RCLCO, Sasaki Associates, Inc., Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP, SWA Group, and The RAND Corporation for on-call consultant services.
While staff recommends executing contracts with all fifteen firms in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for each agreement over the initial three year term, and two, oneyear renewal options, expenses incurred during the performance period will be charged against the specific project budget and will not exceed adopted budget authority each fiscal year.
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval. 7 of 7
Prepared By: Sergio Ramirez, Chief of Staff
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. AECOM_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
B. AECOM_OAKS_INITIATIVE_FORM
C. BIG-LEVINE_ACT
D. BIG-OAKS_INITIATIVE
E. CBRE_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
F. CBRE_OAKS_INITIATIVE_FORM_Signed_4.15.26
G. Cherry Tree_Levine_Act_Disclosure
H. Cherry Tree_Oaks_Initiative_Disclosure
I. Eastdil_5.2.7_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
J. Eastdil_OAKS_INITIATIVE_FORM
K. EPS_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
L. EPS_Oaks_Initiative_Form_Signed
M. Gensler_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
N. Gensler_Oaks_Initiative
O. Kellenberg_Oaks_Disclosure
P. Kellenbger_Levine_Act
Q. Koning Eizenberg_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
R. Koning Eizenberg_OAKS_INITIATIVE_FORM
S. Michael Baker_Levine_Act_Disclosure
T. Michael Baker_OAKS_INITIATIVE
U. RAND_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
V. RAND_Oaks_Initiative_Form
W. RC Lesser_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
X. RC Lesser_OAKS_INITIATIVE_FORM
Y. Sasaki_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
Z. Sasaki_OAKS_INITIATIVE_FORM
AA. Skidmore_Levine_Act_Disclosure
BB. Skidmore_Oaks_Initiative
CC. SWA_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form
DD. SWA_Oaks_Initiative_Form
EE. Written Comments