Request for Proposal for Marketing and Public Relations Agency
February 6, 2024
To All Interested Firms:
The Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation (the “Corporation” or “RIHEBC”) is seeking the engagement of an experienced Rhode Island full-service Marketing and Public Relations Agency, who specializes in public relations, marketing strategy, social media, graphic design, and advertising support services. RIHEBC is seeking to develop a comprehensive integrated marketing plan to build greater name recognition, create community awareness of low-cost financing, bond programs and product offerings to healthcare organizations, hospitals, and private and public educational institutions.
RIHEBC is a public corporation and agency of the state created by the General Assembly of Rhode Island to assist not-for-profit educational and healthcare institutions and municipal school districts in obtaining financing for their capital projects. In fiscal year 2023, the Corporation
issued $319 million in conduit debt and has $3.2 billion in debt outstanding. The Corporation is a self-supporting public corporation, has no taxing power and receives no appropriation or financial support from the State of Rhode Island. Additional information about the Corporation can be found at www.rihebc.com.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The selected firm will be responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive, cost-effective marketing plan. Tasks include but may not be limited to the following:
• Public relations and communications to drive media coverage.
• Digital marketing strategy; increase followers on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and other social media platforms.
• Monthly report of website, social media analytics and marketing campaign implementation of strategic marketing plan.
• Evaluation of RIHEBC’s website (https://rihebc.com) content and design.
• Increase traffic to social media followers and eblasts to impact an increase in new RIHEBC prospects.
• Create a strategic marketing strategy and plan to target municipalities, schools, health care organizations and hospitals.
• Advise of implementation of marketing plan and strategies.
• Develop marketing collateral.
• Media planning, buying and monitoring to optimize marketing campaign.
• Placement of digital, television, radio, print advertising.
• Evaluate and advise on the effectiveness of a marketing campaign.
• General account management including a monthly activity update.
Please note -- RIHEBC will retain ownership of all creative, logos, videos and received final files for all stated printed and digital collateral in standard file formats.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
All proposals shall provide information relating to the elements listed below in sufficient detail to allow the Corporation to conduct an informed and fair selection process. All proposals must include the following:
• Description of the firm describing your company and its ability to work with RIHEBC in the capacity as a Marketing and Public Relations Consultant.
• A general overview and brief history, location of office(s), organizational structure, names and credentials of principals, number of full-time employees.
• Names and credentials of project team.
• Provide clients who you performed, public relations and marketing services, in the following areas: quasi-public agencies, municipalities, health care organizations, hospitals and schools in Rhode Island.
• List of clients that you provided social media services. Strategy to increase followers.
• Strategy to build and expand RIHEBC’s name recognition in the State of Rhode Island.
• A representative selection of five print ads, direct response material, social media, and website development created for current and past clients.
• List of current clients the proposed team currently has under contract.
• List at least five professional references of other clients that you have performed similar services, include the name, email and telephone number of a person to contact.
FEE SCHEDULE
Compensation – the fee schedule should be all-inclusive. Please advise us of the estimated number of hours per month and total fee. RIHEBC will work with the chosen firm to develop an appropriate marketing budget as required. Please specify what services are provided in-house opposed to any services that may be performed by a third party and estimate the cost of those third-party services. A final compensation agreement and billing procedures are subject to negotiations between RIHEBC and the chosen firm.
EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF FIRM
RIHEBC’s selection committee will evaluate and compare each submitted proposal using the following evaluation criteria. The criteria are not listed in any order of importance:
• The experience and qualifications of the firm and the individuals who will be available to provide these services; their track record for creating and executing successful marketing campaigns.
• The competitive cost of services.
• The firm’s ability to commit the necessary time and staff.
• The expertise of the firm in working with similar clients.
• The absence of conflicts of interest would prevent or restrict the firm from representing RIHEBC in the performance of any of the services outlined.
• The quality and variety of references provided; and
• The clarity and initiative in the preparation and presentation of the submission in response to this Request for Proposals and, if applicable, in an interview.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO SELECT THE LOWEST COST PROPOSAL.
The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, interview one or more finalists or invite said finalists to make presentations about their proposals. By issuing this Request for Proposals, RIHEBC has not committed to undertake the engagement of a Marketing and Public Relations Consultant or any other work described in this Request for Proposals. RIHEBC reserves the right to waive any defects or informalities contained in the responses, reject any and all proposals, and issue a new Request for Proposals. Additionally, in its sole discretion, the Board of Directors may request one or more firms that have submitted proposals to submit additional information deemed necessary by the Board.
Kindly provide your firm’s responses to the questions on the Request for Proposals on business letterhead by email to landoscia@rosewoodcommunications.com with a copy to rfp@rihebc.com by March 8, 2024. Any proposals submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.
Please do not contact any member of the RIHEBC Board. Any questions regarding this Request for Proposal must only be directed rfp@rihebc.com no later than February 23, 2024.
RIHEBC may, in its discretion, share any relevant questions and responses on its website under “Public Notices” at https://rihebc.com/public-notices/.
PLEASE NOTE that all materials submitted to the Corporation may be “Public Records” and therefore may be subject to public disclosure under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et seq. (APRA). In accordance with Section 38-2- 2(4)(B) of APRA, “trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person, firm, or corporation which is of a privileged or confidential nature” are not deemed to be “public records.” Accordingly, the interested party responding to this Request for SOQ should clearly mark as “CONFIDENTIAL” any and all materials, including without limitation financial information, that the interested party considers to be subject to the “privileged or confidential” exception in the R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-2(4)(B).
Sincerely,
Dylan Zelazo
Executive Director