Awarded-RFQ for Marketing Services

11/30/2022

Q: For the podcast portion of the quote, can you elaborate on that deliverable? That is, would that deliverable mean you would need the marketing company to host and produce podcast episodes? 

A: Our general answer is that all deliverables are conceptual, and the committee is open to suggestions for the exact number and nature of each. If your firm does something well or has a particular spin you would put on the requested deliverables, we would love to hear about it!

The specific answer for that deliverable is that yes, we would be looking for the selected firm at minimum to produce and assist/advise with distribution of podcast episodes. As above, details of whether the firm would host the podcast or would prepare and facilitate committee members doing so are up for discussion.

12/02/2022

Q: I’m curious to know when the original call for submissions went out. Your email came in …[over]… the holiday, …[with]… two weeks to apply. I’m a little concerned about the quick turnaround and being able to pull together a comprehensive Statement of Work for you. Is it safe to guess that this went out earlier and you don’t have either enough submissions or submissions you’re not happy with and that’s why I received it so late?

 A: There was not an earlier call for submissions. Given the limited 9-month project period associated with the grant funds we had to balance the procurement and project timelines. SRPC chose to prioritize selecting a consultant by the end of the year to leave 6 months to complete the scope of work.  SRPC procurement policies require this project solicit quotes from 3 or more firms. An open call for quotes was seen as more inclusive, even with a limited turnaround time. Please note that submittal materials are capped at 5 pages in an attempt to lessen the response burden– for many items a curated list of links to publicly available statements of your firm’s qualifications and/or work samples on your firm’s or past clients’ websites or social media will suffice for consideration.

Q. What are the goals of this project? What does success look like? How will you know if the project is successful?

A. The project seeks to help Seacoast businesses by compiling and promoting available resources or identified best practices for workforce attraction, development, and retention. In some cases, it may also be necessary to educate businesses on the consequences of failing to apply such practices (e.g. high turnover, loss of market share due to reduced hours of operation, etc.). Ideal success would include widespread distribution to and use of resources by small and mid-sized businesses throughout the Seacoast and resulting adoption of hiring and retention best-practices to improve competitiveness of the region’s businesses. Actual measurements of success are more likely to focus on reach of the compiled resources (views, shares, etc.) and/or testimonials as the best available feedback on the program.

Q. Most of the things you ask for are promotional in nature, versus educational. Is it your intention that the content items you ask for are to BE the toolkit or to PROMOTE the toolkit?

A. As currently conceived, the requested deliverables are intended to fill the role of a toolkit, with promotion thereof being a secondary objective. The committee understands that different deliverables will have different strengths and is open to suggestions for either a mix of the requested deliverables or suggestions for an alternative approach that would meet the intended objectives.

Q. If this is a “toolkit” that you want businesses to use, is there a central asset, like an e-book or microsite planned? When I think of a toolkit, I interpret it as somewhere companies could see/read/access/download a step-by-step or stage-by-stage plan for recruiting and retaining workers. Or does that already exist? If so, can I see or access that somewhere?

A. Currently no single micro-site or other asset exists. However, many existing programs are already working to prepare and place workers into certain fields and/or providing direct assistance to businesses in ways that can help them adapt. The toolkit conceives these existing programs as some of the tools available to businesses, and cross-promotion of these resources was seen as one way to overcome staffing barriers. Other tools may include documentation of best practices from research literature or local successes or case studies from private businesses.

Q. How do you intend the audience to use this digital toolkit?

A. The target audience for the toolkit is small to mid-size businesses, but at this time there is no specific target sector. The toolkit is therefore intended as a “menu of options” rather than a “roadmap” – not all resources will apply to every business, and a collection of shorter and more accessible materials was seen as more accessible for most business owners than a single comprehensive deliverable.

Q. Are you committed to the content types included in the request, or are you open to other options once someone has a full picture of the project and goals.

A. All deliverables are conceptual, and the committee is open to suggestions for the exact number and nature of each. If your firm does something well or has a particular spin you would put on the requested deliverables, we would love to hear about it!

Q. How are the digital assets you’re asking for going to be disseminated? On whose social media/YouTube accounts and on whose podcast? I’m sure you’re aware of how difficult it is to gain traction on social media, especially with the limitations in reach presented by the algorithms. We’re testing a podcast for a client with a huge social media following and a huge email list. With significant and repeated promotion, the first four episodes of their podcast have reached about 40 people in the last 90 days. Where/how are you anticipating the items created in this project are going to be promoted so they reach the intended audience?

A. The committee requests that proposals include an hourly rate for consultation on strategies for disseminating and promoting toolkit resources. SEDS is a collaboration of federal, statewide, regional, and local organizations that can use existing website, social media, and email platforms (including listservs of member businesses, current clients, and/or city- or region-wide business email lists). At a minimum, SRPC’s existing platforms can host content, from which it could be shared by other partners. The committee intends to further discuss the logistics of distribution with the selected consultant and/or short-listed firms.

Q. Will there be a website that all the assets live on that companies can access in one place?

A. The details of this have not been determined. As stated above, At a minimum we would anticipate that all materials would be available through SRPC’s website at http://strafford.org/ following project completion.