OPEN CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI) – COHOBBLOPOT

PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COHOBBLOPOT – CROP OVER 2026

1. PURPOSE, CONTEXT AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

The National Cultural Foundation (“NCF”) hereby invites Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified Promoters or Promoter Consortia to enter into a structured Public–Private Partnership (“PPP”) for the financing, production, and delivery of Cohobblopot 2026, a flagship production within the Crop Over Festival.

Cohobblopot provides a national stage through which Barbadian identity, artistry, and performance excellence are expressed at scale. For the 2026 festival, under the theme “Still Sweet Fuh Days,” the NCF is undertaking a deliberate repositioning of Cohobblopot as a premium, modern Barbadian production one that is both culturally authoritative and commercially viable to close out the season.

The Event is expected to generate substantial gross revenue, while contributing meaningfully to national cultural expression, audience development, and the broader creative economy. It is therefore being procured not as a traditional event engagement, but as a disciplined co-investment opportunity, requiring capital, capability, and measurable performance.

The purpose of this EOI is to identify a partner with the demonstrated ability to operate at this level, one capable of delivering a production that meets the standards of national significance, commercial performance, and operational excellence.

2. EVENT DEFINITION AND DELIVERY EXPECTATION

Cohobblopot 2026 is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the National Botanical Gardens, Barbados, and shall be delivered as a large-scale, multi-act cultural stage production.

The Event is expected to reflect the scale and ambition of a flagship national production to close the Crop Over festival. This includes, at a minimum, a fully integrated technical environment incorporating stage, lighting, audio, and visual systems; a curated programme featuring leading Barbadian and regional talent; and a patron experience that is seamless, safe, and reflective of modern event standards.

In addition to its live execution, the Event must be structured for digital capture, livestream, and potential broadcast, ensuring that its reach extends beyond the physical venue and contributes to Barbados’ cultural visibility regionally and internationally.

Cohobblopot is to be delivered as a defining production that closes out the Crop Over calendar, with expectations aligned accordingly.

3. STRUCTURE OF THE PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

The Event shall be delivered under a formal PPP structure, the principles of which are set out in the governing agreement and will be further detailed at the Request for Proposals (“RFP”) stage.

This model is grounded in shared investment, shared risk, and shared accountability, and introduces a level of financial and operational discipline consistent with best practice in public-private cultural production.

The Promoter will be responsible for financing and delivering all production and commercial elements of the Event.

Applicants should anticipate a total production budget in the range of one million dollars with the Promoter contributing a substantial portion through capital, sponsorship, and revenue generation strategies.

All revenues will be managed through a dedicated Event Account, ensuring transparency and auditability. A structured revenue waterfall will apply, governing cost recovery and surplus distribution.

4. ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND GOVERNANCE

The Promoter will assume primary responsibility for the design, financing, and delivery of the Event. This includes responsibility for creative direction, programming, production management, sponsorship acquisition, and operational execution.

This responsibility is exercised within a clearly defined framework of NCF oversight and approval.

The Event will be governed through a Joint Oversight Committee, as contemplated in the PPP Agreement. This body shall have binding authority to approve key deliverables, certify milestones, verify performance outcomes, and initiate corrective action where required.

Where delivery, financial integrity, environmental protection, or national reputation is deemed to be at risk, the NCF reserves the right to issue formal notice, require remediation, or exercise step-in rights.

5. PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK AND QUANTITATIVE KPIs

The Promoter will be contractually obligated to deliver the Event in accordance with a defined Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework, which shall form the basis for evaluation, financial outcomes, and future eligibility.

Financial compliance shall require 100% accuracy and timeliness in reporting, with all transactions subject to audit through the Event Account.

Environmental compliance shall require full restoration of the Event site, with zero material ecological damage.

All KPI measurements shall be verified by the Joint Oversight Committee, and performance outcomes shall directly influence financial entitlements, including surplus distribution.

6. CAPABILITY AND FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must demonstrate, through verifiable documentation, the capacity to deliver an Event of this scale.

Applicants must demonstrate experience delivering large-scale, high-energy events, particularly those requiring strict timing and multi-artist coordination.

Financial capacity must be evidenced through appropriate documentation, including financial statements, bank references, or indicative sponsor/investor commitments.

Applications that do not demonstrate sufficient capability or financial capacity will not be considered.

Acceptable forms of proof include audited financial statements, bank references, letters of financial standing, and indicative financing commitments such as sponsor or investor letters of intent.

Applicants who fail to demonstrate financial capacity will not be advanced.

7. RIGHTS, BRANDING AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The Promoter will be responsible for financing and delivering all production and commercial elements of the Event.

Applicants should anticipate a total production budget in the range of one million dollars with the Promoter contributing a substantial portion through capital, sponsorship, and revenue generation strategies.

All revenues will be managed through a dedicated Event Account, ensuring transparency and auditability. A structured revenue waterfall will apply, governing cost recovery and surplus distribution.

This is a shared-risk, performance-based model, and revenue is not guaranteed.

The Promoter will be responsible for financing and delivering all production and commercial elements of the Event.

Cohobblopot is a national cultural brand owned by the NCF. All rights associated with the Event, including branding, naming, and identity, remain vested in the NCF.

The Promoter shall operate within a controlled framework governing:

• Use of brand and visual identity
• Sponsorship integration
• Broadcast and digital rights
• Commercial exploitation of Event content

All broadcast, media, and commercial usage arrangements shall require prior written approval of the NCF and shall be structured in accordance with the PPP Agreement.

8. COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS

The Promoter shall comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including those relating to public safety, environmental protection, labour standards, and statutory approvals.

The Promoter shall be required to procure and maintain appropriate insurance coverage, including public liability insurance and event-related coverage where applicable. Proof of insurance must be provided prior to site access.

The National Botanical Gardens is a protected national space. The Promoter shall ensure full environmental protection and restoration, failing which costs shall be recovered and penalties applied.

9. PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND EVALUATION

This EOI constitutes the first stage of a competitive procurement process. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit detailed proposals at the RFP stage.

Submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the NCF Evaluation Framework, with emphasis on financial capacity, PPP understanding, delivery capability, and commercial viability.

Applicants failing to meet minimum thresholds in financial capacity or experience will be disqualified.

10. SUBMISSION DETAILS

Expressions of Interest must be submitted no later than Friday, May 22, 2026 at 4:00 PM to the Chief Executive Officer as follows: carol-roberts@ncfbarbados.org.

Late submissions will not be considered.

11. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Applicants are advised to consider the following clarifications when preparing submissions:

Is this a funded opportunity?
No. This is a co-investment partnership requiring financial participation by the Promoter.

Is revenue guaranteed?
No. Financial outcomes are performance-based and subject to market response.

What level of investment is expected?
Promoters should be prepared to contribute between 40% and 60% of the total Event budget.

Will NCF approve sponsors?
Yes. All sponsorship categories and brand associations require prior approval.

What is the expected ticket pricing structure?
Applicants are expected to propose a pricing model aligned with the scale and positioning of the Event, subject to approval.

Will exclusivity be granted within sponsorship categories?
This may be considered, subject to NCF approval and overall commercial strategy.

What level of marketing support will NCF provide?
NCF will provide national-level marketing support; however, the Promoter is expected to lead and finance the primary marketing campaign.

When will the PPP Agreement be finalised?
Following the RFP stage and selection of the preferred proponent.

What happens if performance targets are not met?
Financial adjustments, corrective measures, or intervention rights may be triggered.

Can international promoters apply?
Yes, provided they demonstrate capacity and understanding of the Barbadian context, including local partnerships where appropriate.

12. CLOSING STATEMENT

Cohobblopot is expected to reflect the scale and ambition of a highly imaginative flagship national production to close the Crop Over festival.

This process seeks a partner capable of executing at the highest level one who understands that delivering Cohobblopot requires not only creativity, but capital, discipline, and accountability.

The opportunity is to shape a production that reflects Barbados at its best: culturally authentic, commercially viable, and globally relevant.