The "bomb" was dropped on CIF-State officials without any immediate damage during the springtime. Then the bomb squads (coaches and problem solvers across the state) were called in to help address the situation, but so far to no avail.
         Now, the underlying hope is that the bomb is detonated before any true lasting damage is done.
         The City of Fresno, which has hosted the California State Cross-Country Championships every year since their inception in 1987, stunned the CIF when it informed the group which governs prep interscholastic competition within the state of California that the city would be seeking a beefy rights fee to the Woodward Park-based course site in any renegotiation package. The current multi-year contact between the city and the non-profit group expires after this year's state championship meet.
         According to various sources, the State CIF has received approximately $8,000 annually in monies from the city for hosting the meet in past years, yet the renogotiation terms being proposed by the city for any new contract reportedly include a role reversal, with the State CIF being asked to pay approximately $17,000 annually. Already cash strapped amid budget cuts which have hit the state's public school system in recent years (schools pay annual membership dues to helps offset the operating costs of the State CIF), the state office has been frank in admitting it cannot function under such requirements and has been actively seeking an alternative venue for the year-end meet starting in 2007.
         So far, not so good.
         There are certain site requirements which are printed in the CIF's Request For Proposals (RFP) document pertaining to the state championships, and most of the more familiar courses in the state fall short in at least one area, with others falling short in multiple areas. State officials even approached DyeStatCal to offer up suitable alternatives, but after some investigation the fact remains that most remaining options have at least one glaring shortcoming as they pertain to the requirements.
         Most coaches queried on the topic in recent weeks have expressed bewilderment at the city's role reversal over past years, citing the economic impact that such an event brings to the host city. Indeed, the estimated revenues to local businesses (hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, malls, theatres, arcades, etc.) figures to easily exceed the CIF's self-reported conservative estimate of $500,000 annually to the community's merchants.
         Nearly 2,000 athletes and over 6,000 additional attendees descend on the Central California region for the Thanksgiving weekend event, with most teams arriving the day before. Doing the simple math on figures above ($500,000 divided by 8,000) alone derive a figure about $63 spent per person during the weekend, which includes the hotel costs often paid by schools for their athletes. Businesses attracts paying customers and the city reaps local taxes, not to mention the boosting of the city's name visibility across the landscape.
         It would also be good to note that Fresno's image has been bolstered in recent years by considerable development in the areas positioned within a very short drive from Woodward Park, with expansive malls and a phalanx of businesses replacing otherwise desolate or underdeveloped landscape. More businesses equals more places to spend money. The  more that visitors/tourists realize these developments, the more willing they are to spend even more on return trips. Eventually, some will viewtheir trip as a mini-vacation, stay an extra day, spend even more and be more apt to make return trips, expanding the profictable cycle.
         If there are any financial ripples to address between the State CIF and the city, it would be great if the two parties could work together (along with the local Visitors and Conventions Bureau) to mitigate those differences. Perhaps the state office in its meet literature and publicity aiming to better inform the attending teams of the business developments in Fresno, helping to spur adding awareness and spending on meet weekend. There are other ideas, all worth investigating to make a solution feasible. Handled properly, this is a win-win situation for everyone.
         So where are we now, with the deadline date for submitting proposals being just two months (September 29th) away from elapsing? As previously stated, the outlook is not good.
         The usual suspects for hosting an event of such size (Balboa Park, Mt. SAC, Stanford, Woodbridge, etc.) do not fulfill the full criteria found on CIF's RFP document, not to mention some wouldn't want to host the event even if it could satisfy the requirements.
         Reports surfaced in early summer that an effort was being made in the Sac-Joaquin Section to formulate a course site, but DyeStatCal recently learned that a course being considered in the Rocklin area was coming up short as pertaining to the needs of the CIF.
         Down south, the construction of The Great Park in the Lake Forest town of Orange County is moving along, with the multi-faceted and gargantuan project projected to be completed in various phases over the next few years. It is our understanding that some portions of the Great Park building project will be completed as early as next year, but the likelihood of having the running trails portion of the complex completed in time for the 2007 state meet is slim. According to sources familiar with the project, some officials at the Great Park are seeking to organize in hosting athletic events of various levels in coming years and were very intrigued at the possibility of being able to host the state cross-country championships. One report even hinted that an official didn't rule out the possibility of trying to fast-track to trails portion of  The Great Park
in light of the current CIF situation. Realistically, however, the wheels of bureaucracy figure to hinder the likelihood of meeting the Fall of 2007 timetable.
         As it is, the State CIF plans to announce a new multi-year contract with its leading bidder by October 28th of this year, one month after the proposal deadline passes. Which group will come forth? Will its proposal fill the needs? Will the plan be compelling enough for CIF to enter into a multi-year agreement? Will a suitable one-year plan be accepted in hopes The Great Park will be adequate and in place by 2008?
        Or will Woodward Park and the city of Fresno come through, thus remaining as the only "home" that the state meet has ever known? In addition to the competitor "fairness" and spectator friendliness that Woodward Park offers, it also has the distinction of being among the very few revered course layouts in the state that has virtually gone unchanged over the years, a very beneficial fact when comparing the performances of great athletes and teams from the Golden State over these last 20 years.
       "It would be a shame if this isn't worked out," said one person requesting anonymity who is familiar with the situation. "(The running community) can only hope that Fresno will blink and allow this to continue at Woodward Park."
       Blink? Most are hoping that Fresno merely opens its eyes.   -- Rich Gonzalez, Editor of DyeStatCal

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CIF STATE HIGH SCHOOL
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
2007-2009

CALIFORNIA INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION
1320 Harbor bay parkway, suite 140
alameda, CA 94502
PHONE (510) 521-4447
FAX (510)521-4449

I. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The California Interscholastic Federation (hereafter CIF) hereby solicits proposals/bids for hosting the 2007-2009 CIF State High School Cross Country Championships to be held on Friday and Saturday, November 23 & 24, 2007, November 28 & 29, 2008 and November 27 & 28, 2009.
NOTE: Submitted bids must guarantee venue reservation for these dates for all three years of the bid term. Although it is presently the intent of the CIF to award a three-year venue contract, the CIF reserves the right to award the contract to the successful bidder for a term of fewer than three years.

The CIF will accept sealed proposals for the award of the contract no later than 4:30 pm, Friday, September 29, 2006.

All proposals shall be submitted in the format specified by the CIF within this request for proposal (see Section V). Proposals shall be received in the office of the California Interscholastic Federation, 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 140, Alameda, CA 94502.

II. INTRODUCTION
This Request for Proposal (RFP) contains specifications covering the planning and operation of our state high school Cross Country championships as specified herein. The RFP shall not be construed to be any of the following:

1. To create an obligation on the part of the CIF to enter into a contract with any venue or,
2. To serve as a basis for a claim for reimbursement for expenditures related to the development of a proposal.

Notwithstanding other provisions of the RFP, venue managers are hereby advised that this request is an informal solicitation of proposals only. It is not intended nor is it to be construed as engaging in formal competitive bidding pursuant to any statute, ordinance, policy or regulation.

III. The client

The CIF was organized on November 28, 1914. Authorized by the California state legislature to govern high school interscholastic athletics, the CIF is a non-profit organization (501(c)3). Its primary responsibilities are to administer high school athletic programs and to promulgate and enforce rules relating to a student's involvement in athletics - age, semesters in school, scholarship, residence, transfer status, and amateur standing. Such regulations, which are established by the 1,392 member secondary schools, prevent undesirable exploitation of high school students, provide for the welfare of participants, and ensure that interscholastic athletics in California offer major benefits to students in a safe, rewarding environment. CIF membership includes public, private, and parochial schools, which are divided into ten statewide sections.
The CIF conducts regional and/or state CIF Championships in cross-country, girls' volleyball, wrestling, basketball, track and field, tennis and golf.
iv. The cif state Cross Country championships

Four weeks of CIF league and CIF Section Championship Meet competition will culminate in the CIF State High School Cross Country Championships held on the Friday and Saturday of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in November of each year. Over 1,900 of California finest male and female cross country athletes compete for both individual and team honors at the CIF State Championships. Estimated total attendance over the two days is in excess of 12,000.

V. BID PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS
On or before Friday, September 29, 2006 interested venues/communities are requested to submit three (3) sealed copies of the proposal including the following information:
A. Venue Management
1. Provide the legal name and address of the person(s) and or the legal entity owning the property on which the course is located.
2. Name the key persons, with titles, responsible for the operation of the venue; provide an organizational chart if appropriate.
3. Provide a list of any local volunteer organizations that will assist in the operation of the CIF state championships (e.g. Lions Club, Rotary Club).
4. Provide detailed information regarding the venue management team's experience in hosting major athletic events especially in the sport of Cross Country.
NOTE: The CIF retains the authority to appoint meet management personnel.
B. Course/Venue Specifications
1. Name and street address of course/venue.
2. Map of course/venue.
3. Specification requirements:
- Course must be 5,000 meters
- Course must comply with requirements specified in NFHS Track & Field and Cross Country Rules Book.
- Majority of course should be over hard packed dirt trails, including some grass and mild to moderate ups and downs (maximum one steep hill).
- Meet Officials Area
- Media Accommodations Area
- Awards Presentation Canopy Area
- Vendors Row and Food Concession Area
- CIF Official Photography Area
4. Fan/Attendees Capacity: Minimum 10,000
5. Parking –
a) Parking lot capacity?
b) Is there a venue charge for parking? If so, how much? Will the CIF receive a percentage of gross parking revenue? If the venue does not charge a parking fee, can meet management charge for parking with the proceeds going to CIF?
c) Is there VIP parking? Separate and dedicated lot available for VIP parking? (Minimum capacity 20-25 cars)
6. Food/beverage concessions - Will the CIF receive a percentage of the food/beverage concession gross revenue?
7. Results Board(s) - Does facility have designated areas for posting of results for each of the ten races.
8. Area for Athletic Trainers: Required for taping and injury evaluation and treatment.
9. Area for Complimentary Lunch for Meet Officials: Does facility have separate area to accommodate feeding staff and officials?
10. Food Service for Tournament Officials/Volunteers: Does venue have opportunity to secure donated food & beverage for tournament officials and staff?
11. Medical Staff:
a) Athletic Trainers - Can venue provide ATC’s and student trainers? (A minimum of three ATC and six student trainers must be available and working at all times.)
b) Defibrillator – Will there be a defibrillator available at the site with a qualified/certified operator?
c c) Would there be a cost to the CIF for these services
12. Local sponsorship:

a) Are there local sponsors in the community interested in sponsoring this CIF State Championship should it be awarded to your community/venue? Please list interested local sponsors.

13. Other - Are there any other value-added benefits which can be offered to the CIF by facility management, Visitors & Convention Bureaus or other local sponsors, businesses or organizations?
Example: Will your Visitors & Convention Bureau dedicate resources, both financial and personnel, to support the CIF State Cross Country Championships?
Example: Complimentary hotel rooms for CIF tournament officials/staff?
Example: Pre-event media coverage (local newspapers, television, radio coverage and promotion).
C FACILITY FEES
1. Facility Rental Fee (if any)
2. Personnel Costs: (In the last successful RFP, these expenses were reimbursed to the CIF by the venue/community, approximately $7,100 per year.)
a. Ticket/Box Office Manager
b. Ticket Sellers
c. Ticket Takers
d. Security
e. Athletic Trainers (ATC's & student trainers)
f. Custodial
g. Parking Lot Personnel
h. Other
3. Police Services: Will the venue/community supply police services on Saturday, free of charge? Police services are needed to ensure traffic control and keeping the peace. The number of officers required is dependant upon the venue and surrounding streets that are arteries to the venue.
4. Vendor Fees - Are there any fees charged to CIF vendors (garments, souvenirs, photos, programs...etc).
5. Other Charges or Fees
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STIPEND
All communities/venues wishing to submit proposals must include a financial commitment to the CIF. This stipend is in recognition of the economic impact on the host community and its local businesses. Conservative estimates of the local economic impact of recent CIF State Cross Country Championship Meets exceed $500,000 annually.
Accordingly, the minimum stipend required for consideration of any and all bids is $12,100 per year ($5,000 stipend plus $7,100 expense reimbursement). Communities are encouraged to use full discretion in determining annual stipends that will be commensurate with the projected economic benefit to local businesses.
(Total community financial contributions, including reimbursed personnel expenses and stipend in the last successful RFP was appx. $12,100 per year.)
VI. THE PROCESS: REVIEW OF PROPOSALS, INTERVIEW AND SELECTION
The CIF will review proposals from communities/venues and will invite a selected facility to interview with CIF management. Following the interview process, CIF staff will negotiate the final contract and present it to the CIF governance for approval no later than October 28, 2006.

Submittals should be addressed to:
Roger L. Blake, Assistant Executive Director
California Interscholastic Federation
1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 140
Alameda, CA 94502
Phone (510) 521-4447 Fax (510) 521-4449

The CIF reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received in response to this request or to negotiate separately with any venue/community when it is determined to be in the best interest of the CIF to do so.
Costs for developing responses to this RFP are entirely the responsibility of the submitting venue management and shall not be chargeable to the CIF.