Consideration of partnership agreement with Professional Business Providers to provide workshops, trainings, evaluations, and/or consultations for multiple Oakland County Business Forward small business clients.

Oakland Thrive is committed to strengthening the vitality of Oakland County’s economy and has established this program to help support and strengthen the small business community.

Oakland Thrive will establish a pool of qualified providers to provide professional services for multiple small business clients. Oakland Thrive Consultants will connect our small business clients with partner organizations and professional business providers to provide tailored strategies and services including one-on-one consultations, trainings, seminars, and workshops.

Oakland Thrive is seeking professional business providers to provide FREE info sessions, general trainings, and/or be part of an expert panel to share information and answer questions. Specified series training and/or one-on-one consultations (up to 2 hours) will be available and paid through Oakland Thrive. Small Businesses will pick the designated providers via training sessions or through an approved provider master list.

• The business must currently be registered as a legal entity in the State of Michigan -Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)

• The Business must be located in Oakland County and serve Oakland County small businesses.

• The Business must have the experience, education, certifications and/or qualifications affiliated with their business.

• All questions in the form must be completed

• A cover letter must be submitted.

Each submission must be accompanied by a cover letter. An individual who is authorized to bind the firm contractually shall sign the letter, which will be considered an integral part of the submission. The letter must certify that all the information contained in the submission is accurate and complete. The letter shall also state that the submission was prepared solely by the firm.

The qualified firm(s) will be expected to have the ability to conduct a consultation and offer sound advice or service relating to the small business’ questions in a minimum of one of the following areas: legal, financial/accounting, marketing, advertising, information technology, sales, real estate, leadership/management, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, business planning, and translation services. The qualified firm must also inform the small business if they cannot help and/or offer an alternate solution.

If selected, the firm(s) selected for this engagement shall provide additional qualifications as needed of the general responsibilities and duties identified below at the request of Oakland Thrive:

• Be available to provide advice on business related matters, as requested, on an as-needed basis to Oakland County small businesses when referred by Business Forward

• Monitor the market conditions and advise the small business of possible solutions in the consultation.

• Provide articles or other materials, as appropriate to the small business.

• Provide an itemized invoice of no more than 2 billable hours for payment per client per client. Any additional hours will be the sole responsibility of small business and must be agreed upon in writing before incurring those hours.

Responsibilities and duties related to Oakland Thrive:

• Provide a direct Oakland Thrive contact to the qualified firm.

• Establish a reliable method for the small business client to contact the qualified firm (e.g.: Web form, Email, Phone number).

In order to be considered for qualification your firm must complete the form located on this page or send the following documents to B2B@oaklandthrive.org.

The responses to the application will be reviewed by an evaluation committee on a consensus basis for inclusion in the small business consultant pool. The criteria used to evaluate responsive proposals shall include, but are not limited to:

• Cover letter and commitment

• Overall experience small business consulting

• Experience and availability of professionals providing consultation services

• Certifications and Licenses

• Fair Fee Schedule (based on market analysis)

• Development of additional innovative ideas or additional services

Oakland Thrive reserves the right to review, revise, add/remove firms and/or terminate the agreement at any time, dependent on program funding and small business participation. Partnership is free for professional providers at this time. In order to ensure long term sustainability of this program, a partnership subscription may be required in the future. Any and all changes will be communicated in writing.

All documents and information submitted will be reviewed to determine responsiveness (thorough and complete). Non-responsive proposals will be rejected without evaluation. Responsive proposals will be reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee pursuant to the grading scale provided. Oakland Thrive reserves the right to request clarifying information, and request an interview with firm as it deems necessary.

After providing services for a small business client, professional business provider shall submit an invoice (no more than 2 billable hours per client) along with the provided Oakland Thrive Assessment and recommended next steps for the small business in order receive payment. You should expect a payment from Oakland Thrive within two weeks, up to 30 days.