THE CITY OF NASHUA “The Cate City’
Economic Development Division
To: Dan Kooken, Purchasing Manager
From: Tim Cummings, Economic Development Division Director
Ce: Janet Graziano, Financial Manager, Sarah Marchant, Community Development Director
Date: August 7, 2016
Re: Performing Arts Center Feasibility Stady Phase I
Request
The Economic Development Division requests approval to extend the contract with Webb Management
Services, Inc. of New York, New York for the second Phase II of the Performing Arts Center Feasibility
Study in the amount not to exceed $27,000.
Background
In September of 2015, the City of Nashua Mayor’s Office of Economic Development issued a Request for
Proposals (RFP0265-101415) seeking proposals from professional consultants to study the feasibility of
developing a new Cultural and Performing Arts Center within Downtown Nashua. The services sought
include the evaluation of programming needs, the development of project feasibility, review of specific
sites and assistance with project next steps.
Webb. Management Services, Inc., was selected due to a number of factors, including:
® vast experience with relevant performing arts center feasibility studies;
* intimate knowledge of the New Hampshire/Massachusetts regional performing arts
center market;
*® clear viewpoint as an objective analyst - the firm only works on these types of
feasibility studies and will not look for additional work from Nashua (designing the
future facility, etc.)
e a low overall price proposal the provides the most value to Nashua;
After consulting with Webb, the City chose to break out the work into two phases with Phase I, evaluating
demand for a new performing arts facility in Nashua, verifying audience potential, identifying potential
users and uses, confirming its positioning within a competitive market, and considering how new
performance facilities might support the broader goals of the City and region. This phase of the project has
been completed and the project has been deemed to be viable.
At the PEDC meeting on July 14 the decision was made to continue moving forward and that the city
should engage Webb Management to execute on the scope of work associated with Phase II of the
feasibility study.
Attached is the contract including the Phase II scope of work along with a memo outlining key discussion
points based on the conclusions of Webb Management.
