OPEN SOLICITATION for Public Relations, Branding and Social ...

Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families, Inc.OPEN SOLICITATION # 2013-44Public Relations, Branding and Social Media Marketing ServicesMontgomery County Collaboration CouncilIssue Date: August 7, 2013Closing Date: August 28, 2013; 4:00 pmThe Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families, Inc. is a quasi-public non-profitorganization designated by the Montgomery County Council as the Local Management Board for MontgomeryCounty, Maryland. The Collaboration Council’s mission is to improve the well-being of children, youth andfamilies through collaborative partnerships. For information regarding the Montgomery County CollaborationCouncil, its initiatives and programs, visit our website at www.collaborationcouncil.org.Services NeededThrough this Open Solicitation, the following services/products will be purchased with input from partners andstaff:1. Equal Justice for All Youth: develop vision and mission statement, brand logo, key messages in theareas of social justice for youth as it relates to disproportionate minority contact, andoutreach/marketing strategies including social media to help launch the brand. Prior work in socialjustice causes helpful, but not required.2. Excel Beyond the Bell: develop key messages, collateral material and outreach/marketing strategiesincluding social media for key constituents related to the new youth development worker system ofprofessional development and credentialing in Montgomery County. Experience in humanresources/professional development helpful, but not required.3. Collaboration Council: general public relations/marketing needs and branding as part of theorganizational strategic plan being developed by the Board of Directors.Interested Consultants SoughtThe Collaboration Council seeks Letters of Interest from experienced public relations/marketing and websitedevelopment businesses to serve as a pre-approved pool of potential vendors to perform various tasks related tothe PR/marketing of the Collaboration Council and its various initiatives and programs.Qualified applicants will be selected for the Collaboration Council’s Open Solicitation Vendor List and remain onthe list for a period of two years. Selection for the Open Solicitation Vendor List is not a commitment by theCollaboration Council to contract with each vendor for these services. The Open Solicitation process allows theCollaboration Council the flexibility to secure specific services on a short-term or continuing basis from vendorswho meet pre-established requirements. Further description of the Open Solicitation procurement process canbe found on the Collaboration Council’s website.Minority Owned BusinessesMinority, Female, Disabled (MFD) and other minority owned business consultants are encouraged to apply.Regardless of qualification as MFD or minority owned business, the consultant will be expected to deliverproducts/services with a recognition and understanding of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the audiences.Application ProcessInterested applicants must submit a hard-copy Letter of Interest that describes experience and qualificationsincluding:ooooContact Information including Contact Name, Title, Organization Name, Phone Number and E-mailPrior experience in creating brands and PR/marketing strategies including social media and publicationdesign/outreachExperience in designing websites for social services or educational organizations or cross-agencycollaborative initiatives that include the ability to do online registrations, donations, etc.Experience in working with board and committee members1

ooooDescription of skills and experience of personnel who would be involved in the project includingsubcontractorsOverview of the key tasks to be accomplished and estimated timeline for completing the workExamples of pricing structureNames and contact information of three clients served in the past two years as referencesThe Letter of Interest should be succinct (a maximum of 5 pages is suggested) and directly relevant to the aboverequirements. You must attach collateral materials showing work within the past three years, especially asrelated to human services PR/marketing and website development. The attachments are in addition to the fivepage letter of interest.Indicate in the Letter of Interest which of the three current needs described above (Equal Justice for All Youth,Excel Beyond the Bell, Collaboration Council) you are interested in. You can indicate more than one).All correspondence should be addressed to:Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families, Inc.RE: Open Solicitation # 2013-4412320 Parklawn DriveRockville, MD 20852Questions clarifying the Open Solicitation must be in writing and received no later than Friday, August 23, 2013;e-mail questions to denise.ridgely@collaborationcouncil.org. Note: Budget questions regarding this project willnot be discussed at this time.DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Wednesday, August 28; 4:00 pmThe Collaboration Council must have the Letter of Interest in its possession by this date and time. Do notsubmit by e-mail.Next StepsCollaboration Council staff and Committee representatives will review the Letters of Interest and then invitethose who would fulfill the requirements to a meeting to discuss further capabilities and costs and otherrequirements and considerations.It is anticipated that contract(s) will be signed and work begun by the middle of September for Excel Beyond theBell and Equal Justice for All Youth. Some key deliverables for Excel Beyond the Bell must occur by earlyOctober. Work regarding the Collaboration Council’s branding will occur later.2