Sponsor: St. Louis Development Corporation
Procurement Type: Request for Proposals  and or Qualifications

Starting Date: 09-14-2026
Closing Date: 10-16-2026
Closing Time: 04:00 PM

Summary
RFQ for Minority-And - Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification Services

On October 17, 2024, St. Louis Development Corporation (“SLDC”) adopted a pre-approved list of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification services to provide supplemental support to SLDC related to its M/WBE certification program. SLDC wishes to update its shortlist through the solicitation of additional qualified MBE and WBE certification consulting firms as further described in this Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”). Hereinafter, organizations interested in submitting a response to this RFQ shall be referred to as “Respondents.”

Background and Project Description
SLDC is tasked by Ordinance to administer the City of St. Louis’ Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program (“M/WBE Program”). Effective August 30, 2024, the certification elements of the M/WBE Program transitioned to SLDC from the Business Diversity Development Office at Lambert St. Louis International Airport, and it assumed application processing and review responsibilities as of that date.

Concurrent with the transition of certification services back to SLDC, SLDC generated a roster of qualified firms capable of providing supplemental M/WBE certification services to support  SLDC’s existing certification staff and to manage and work within the B2Gnow platform to furnish SLDC with a complete certification application portal and avenue of engagement with applicant firms.

Since the adoption of the shortlist, the structure of SLDC’s certification program has evolved, necessitating this update. As contemplated in the prior request for qualifications, the short list of qualified certification providers shall remain valid until October 17, 2027; however, to remain eligible for the shortlist after that date, qualified firms will need to submit a new proposal in accordance with this RFQ.

Questions concerning this RFQ must be submitted via email to Dontrinia Baxton, Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, baxtond@stlouis-mo.gov, not later than October 2, 2026. No contact with other SLDC employees about this RFQ is permitted during the RFQ process, unless otherwise authorized. Unauthorized contact regarding this RFQ may result in disqualification or rejection of a proposal. SLDC will maintain a list of all firms or individuals requesting copies of the RFQ and will ensure that copies of all questions and responses shall be made available in writing to each firm on such list, when requested. Answers will also be publicly posted on SLDC’s website:
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sldc/procurement/index.cfm