Mayor’s Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity: E-Sports Play & Career Exploration RFP

Released: September 15, 2026 12:00 AM EDT Pre-proposal meeting: September 21, 2026 2:00 PM EDT at Microsoft Teams Questions due (Last Day to Submit Provider Questions): September 28, 2026 5:00 PM EDT Responses due (Proposal Submission Deadline): October 9, 2026 5:00 PM EDT

The City of Cleveland, through the Mayor’s Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity (MPIO), is soliciting proposals to provide 38 weeks of a citywide Out of School Time (OST) E-Sports career exploration and programming for youth in six Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Centers (NRRCs):

Winter Session: January 2027 – March 2027

Spring Session: March 2027 – May 2027

Summer Session: June 2027 – August 2027

Fall Session: September 2027 – December 2027

Services should target City of Cleveland school-age youth, and should align with the priorities of the Municipal Cabinet for Children and Youth. The City is seeking proposals from entities qualified to implement culturally relevant, evidence-based or research-based programs. Only established providers will be considered.

Programs must provide supporting documentation and evidence of past program success. Qualified providers must demonstrate their capacity to provide services to youth ages 8-18.

Only established evidence-based or research-based programs aligned with national best practices for OST programming will be considered . Qualified providers must clearly identify and share in their proposal the:

program design,

method of program delivery,

age range targeted,

any specific space requirements for the programming proposed

evidence of previous successful program outcomes

assessment tools used to monitor and evaluate the program – including a participant assessment and a program observation

a recruitment and retention plan, including at least two community organizations or events targeted for recruitment

a calendar of events, including any program orientation nights before the start of a program season, culminating events or community service projects

a membership or registration form to be completed by the caregivers of youth participants (must include: birthdates, addresses with zip codes, health concerns, and emergency contact numbers)

expected outcomes and alignment with City objectives, including the priorities of the Municipal Cabinet for Children and Youth

In addition, program providers will be expected to:

provide seasonal reports that clearly identify the high-quality programming outcomes, and how those outcomes are measured

keep attendance updated on a daily basis

conduct recruiting efforts, supply flyers and participate in registration activities

share data as requested, such as in-kind funding, costs per participant, annual reports, and assessment data

communicate any program closures to the MPIO point-person and the community space point-person both via phone and email, as soon as possible

provide testimony and be available for council and council committee hearings

share success stories each season that highlight the benefits of the program to the participant(s), the family, or the community

participate in any MPIO-led trainings and/or orientations

The proposal must also demonstrate the provider’s capacity to provide services in six NRRCs with trained staff on site during program hours. Programs should be high-quality and designed to support youth ages 8-18. Providers are not required to address all ages, but should identify specific age groups they anticipate serving if it’s more restrictive than ages 8-18.

Programs should support and champion participation by youth with disabilities, and share how they will do so in their proposals.

Proposed programs should be inclusive OST programs which provide the opportunity for all individuals to improve their social skills while gaining new experiences in a safe environment. The goal is that all people—regardless of race, ethnicity, age, income level, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or religion—can take advantage of high-quality programs, facilities, places and spaces that make their lives and communities great.

Awards will be based on the following factors:

Funding availability

Capacity of providers

Identification of hosting site

Community needs

Program quality

Expected Outcomes:

Youth and emerging adults will have access to year-round evidence-based programs, resources and services that will:

Increase participation in programming, especially in repeated participation

Improve resiliency skills

Support violence reduction and prevention

Connect Esports programming to future college and career opportunities and experiences

Align programs to the priorities identified by the Municipal Cabinet for Children and Youth

Other timeline events: Publish RFP Addendum: September 29, 2026 12:00 AM EDT

Addenda issued: 6