Request for Proposal (RFP): Strategic Consultant to develop an Ottawa Basketball Sport Hosting Improvement Business Case
Project Timeline – July 2025 to Fall 2025
About the Ottawa Sport Council
The Ottawa Sport Council (OSC) is committed to serve our role as a leader for amateur and community sport. Our position as a champion of community sport is recognized by the City of Ottawa, and it is one that we are proud to hold in the community. We are committed to acting in the best interests of the community sport sector to drive policy, programs, infrastructure and access improvements and advancing those interests. The OSC supports safe participation, equity and equality while removing barriers for both the sport leaders and athletes. The OSC strives to provide a range of relevant and timely education resources and information such as The Belonging Playbook, Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit and an annual sport summit. The OSC is a facilitator of collaboration and partnerships where we foster opportunities for organizations to work together, combine resources and collectively take action in the belief that there should only be positive experiences in sport.
The Ottawa Sport Council, through its Executive Director and designated project team, will be directly engaged throughout the project lifecycle. The OSC will provide strategic oversight, facilitate introductions to key stakeholders, provide access to existing data and reports, and offer ongoing guidance and feedback to ensure the consultant’s work aligns with the project’s objectives and the broader Master Plan for Basketball in Ottawa.
Project Overview
The Ottawa Sport Council is set to lead the coordinated development of an Ottawa Basketball Sport Hosting Improvement Business Case. Ottawa’s growing basketball scene, coupled with the City of Ottawa’s goal to host local, national and international sporting events, necessitates a strategic evaluation of current infrastructure and future development. This business case is a critical step in addressing facility gaps and capitalizing on the potential for basketball growth and sport tourism within the Ottawa region.
This business case and final report will serve as the next phase of a broader Master Plan for the basketball sector within the City of Ottawa, and will identify preliminary infrastructure requirements, economic viability, sport hosting potential and implementation strategies.
Project Goals and Objectives
Coordinated Development: Development of a thorough and actionable business case that serves as a roadmap for basketball infrastructure investment and sport hosting strategy. This involves synthesizing input from all levels of the basketball community – from grassroots clubs, provincial and national organizations, tourism and economic impact – to create a unified vision.
Infrastructure Needs: The business case must identify current and future infrastructure needs, including but not limited to: Court Dimensions (regulation-sized, multi-court facilities), Flooring, Storage, Equipment, Lighting, Surrounding Facilities, Adaptive Sport Accessibility, Broadcast Quality, Show Courts, Spectator Capacity, Ancillary services and Accessibility Features. The report should also explore the feasibility of developing new purpose-built facilities versus upgrading existing ones.
Sport Hosting Potential: A key objective is to thoroughly assess Ottawa’s potential to host a range of basketball events, from community leagues and youth tournaments to high-profile provincial, national, and international competitions. This will involve analyzing event requirements, competitive landscapes in other cities and across Canada, and the economic impact of attracting such events to Ottawa. A table of potential events with columns for Event Name, Facility Requirements, Estimated Economic Impact, and Upcoming Dates needs to be included in the final report.
Strategic Recommendations: The report’s strategic recommendations should be actionable and forward-looking, encompassing financial sustainability models, potential funding sources (public and private), operational best practices, and innovative partnership strategies with sport organizations, educational institutions, and private developers.
Indoor Sports Court Strategy within City of Ottawa: A critical component of this project is to ensure that all future recommendations for basketball infrastructure are fully aligned with, and contribute to, the City of Ottawa’s broader Indoor Court Sports Strategy. This alignment will maximize resource utilization, avoid duplication, and ensure a cohesive approach to sport facility planning across the sport sector in Ottawa.
For more details of the project deliverables, timelines and submission requirements please view included attachment or visit sportottawa.ca
Submission Contact Details
Proposals accepted until end of day Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Please submit all documentation in PDF format by email to: ed@sportottawa.ca
Frances Mercer, Executive Director
Ottawa Sport Council