Village of Lisle Branding Initiative
DUE BY: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024, AT 12:00 PM CST
AT: DEMANDSTAR.COM
Issued: November 13, 2024
Deadline to Submit RFP Questions: November 27, 2024
1. Project Overview
Background
The Village of Lisle, incorporated in 1956, is located 26 miles west of Chicago in DuPage County and offers a blend of natural beauty, diverse recreation opportunities, outstanding transportation access, and unique shopping and dining experiences. Exclusive retailers, restaurants, a charming downtown with small-town friendliness, and a Metra rail station all make Lisle a premier destination.
Lisle’s residents enjoy a welcoming and connected community abounding with recreational amenities, desirable neighborhoods, multiple institutions of higher learning, and direct access to all of Chicagoland. The Village of Lisle features a supportive and collaborative business environment through expedited, professional staff assistance, high-capacity utilities, and making strategic infrastructure investments.
A community that’s home to growing, advanced companies and established, international headquarters, Lisle’s highly educated and skilled workforce, robust market access, and low-cost environment combine to create strategic opportunities for business, making Lisle ready for future opportunity, innovation, and economic vibrancy.
Lisle’s location offers convenient access to multiple state highways including Interstates 88 and 355, as well as major routes such as IL Route 53 and Ogden Avenue, providing accessibility and connection throughout DuPage County and other areas of the state. Based on its prime location, Lisle is well-suited to service Chicagoland and the Midwest.
Community demographics, along with the Village’s vision, mission, values, strategic priorities, long-term reports and plans, and the results of a recent community survey, are available in the following appendices:
• Appendix A – Look at Lisle: Community & Economic Development Highlights
• Appendix B – Community Profile: Additional Demographics
• Appendix C – Village Reports and Long-Term Plans
Purpose
The Village of Lisle (“Village”) seeks to enter into an agreement (“Agreement”) with a qualified individual(s) or firm(s) (“Vendor”) to research and develop a branding initiative and associated marketing campaign that represents the Village government and community, and also includes the delivery of an associated implementation plan (collectively referred to herein as (“Services”) as described in detail in this Request for Proposal (“RFP”).
Goals & Objectives
The Village of Lisle seeks to develop a brand which represents the Village government and community. While this initiative primarily focuses on the brand of the municipal organization, the community should also be reflected in the project and its outcomes by identifying and incorporating the unique qualities and characteristics of Lisle. In addition, the Village seeks a Consultant who will serve as a strategic partner, leading the organization and facilitating activities which directly support the accomplishment of the project goals and objectives, as outlined below.
The primary goals to be achieved through this project shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
1) Foster civic and community pride
2) Enhance the professional image and reputation of the municipal organization
3) Promote a feeling of belonging and connection to the community
4) Produce an attractive, unique, and easily recognizable visual brand identity
5) Drive increased business development and retention, resident relocation, and tourism
6) Identify and incorporate the Village’s competitive edge and its advantages
7) Provide consistent messaging and visual brand identity to audiences within and outside of the Village
8) Offer flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of a variety of departments and municipal functions of the Village, as well as a capacity to grow and evolve with time
9) Encourage endorsement of the brand through authenticity and ability to resonate with the community and the greater area
Furthermore, the Consultant should identify specific action items and plans to initiate measurable steps throughout the project in support of the following objectives:
1) Increase community engagement and participation
2) Solicit, receive, and incorporate input from residents and other stakeholders
3) Involve and inform Village staff and elected officials throughout the process
Audience
• Lisle Community
• Village Staff
• Businesses
• Community Organizations
• Elected Officials
• Visitors
• Developers and Investors
• Intergovernmental Agencies
2. Scope of Services
Expected Project Stages, Deliverables, and Activities
Over a projected nine (9) month period, (beginning once a selection of a finalist has been recommended to the Village Board in conjunction with the presentation of the finalist at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on the date specified below), the Consultant will develop a brand for the Village of Lisle by leading the Village through the three (3) phases as listed.
Each phase of the project is outlined with a description of activities, deliverables, and expected timeframes.
In addition, please refer to the Project Deliverables list included at the end of this Scope of Services section, which details the specific items to be drafted during Phase II and then refined and delivered during Phase III of the project.
Phase I: Pre-Award/Award and Discovery/Research/Kick-Off
A) Pre-Award/Award
Before the project is awarded, a recommendation of the selected finalist will be presented to the Village Board at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on February 3, 2025. After Village staff presents an overview of the project, the recommended Consultant is expected to deliver an in-person presentation before the Village Board at the Committee of the Whole Meeting, prior to the issuance of a contract award.
Deliverable: The Consultant shall provide a presentation outlining the project scope, process, and deliverables, as well as answer any questions, before the Village Board at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on February 3, 2025.
After the Consultant presents at the Committee of the Whole Meeting, if the Village intends to proceed with the selection of the recommended Consultant, the item will be presented for formal consideration of adoption by the Village Board at the Village Board Meeting on February 17, 2025. The approval of a contract award authorizing the Village to enter into an agreement with the recommended Consultant requires formal action to be taken by the Village Board.
Date of Contract Award: February 17, 2025 (anticipated).
B) Kick-Off/Discovery/Research
Kick-Off Meeting
Following the issuance of the contract award, and after the Village has provided notice to proceed, the Consultant will organize, facilitate, and lead a Kick-Off Meeting with Village staff to discuss project details, coordination, and collaboration.
Deliverables: Project overview documentation and accompanying presentation that details the project’s scope, process, timeline, and deliverables to be provided during a Kick-Off Meeting. Included in the project overview documentation shall also be the additional activities recommended by the Consultant, as well as an associated timeline for implementation.
Date for Kick-Off Meeting: To be held during either the week of February 24, 2025, or the week of March 3, 2025, and prior to Friday, March 7, 2025.
Discovery/Research
Qualitative and quantitative research is expected to be conducted during this phase. Discovery and research are essential in supporting the project Goals & Objectives, as defined within the Project Overview section. The Goals & Objectives shall serve as Village expectations for the Consultant in developing a successful project plan that will achieve these items. Accordingly, the Village expects that the Consultant will recommend, plan, and implement additional activities during this subphase.
In addition to adopting a strategy which begins to incorporate the project goals, the project objectives shall include specific action items and plans to initiate measurable steps throughout the project which are expected to begin in this subphase.
To incorporate the following objectives: 1) Increase community engagement and participation and 2) Solicit, receive, and incorporate input from residents and other stakeholders; such activities to be recommended by the Consultant may include: A) Conducting an online survey, B) Organizing and facilitating an open house (public meeting), and/or C) Providing additional community engagement opportunities, such as participation in new or existing community event(s).
To incorporate the objective: 3) Involve and inform Village staff and elected officials throughout the process; such activities to be recommended by the Consultant may include: A) Conducting an internal staff committee/focus group meetings, to be held on a periodic basis as defined by the Consultant, B) Facilitating workshop(s) to encourage discussion and input among elected officials and/or Village staff, and/or C) Provide updates in the form of executive summary reports to the Village Board and/or Village staff.
The above list is not exhaustive. The Village does not expect that all activities will be incorporated into the plan. The Consultant is expected to provide recommendations to Village staff regarding strategies it intends to incorporate into the project plan, which the Consultant believes will be the most effective in accomplishing the project Goals & Objectives, based on their experience and expertise, including best practices.
Deliverable: Conduct quantitative and qualitative research. Provide an overview of results to the Village and summarize the strategies that will be used in incorporating input from stakeholders throughout the implementation of the project, as well as how stakeholder feedback will be reflected in the final product.
Target Date for Implementation of Additional Activities Recommended by the Consultant: June 30, 2025. More time may be permitted if requested by the Consultant, as approved by the Village. If the target date is requested to be amended, the updated or revised target date shall be discussed by both parties and determined prior to May 16, 2025.
Target Date for Completion of Discovery/Research: June 30, 2025. The Village expects that this subphase will take approximately four months (4) months to complete. The
Qualitative/Quantitative Research activities are expected to run concurrently with the Discovery portion of this subphase B, beginning immediately after the completion of subphase A. While the need for additional time is not expected, an extension toward completing this subphase may be granted, if requested by the Consultant, and approved by the Village. If applicable, such a determination regarding the extension of time will need to be mutually agreed upon by both parties, prior to May 16, 2025.
Phase II: Branding Process
The Consultant will determine the process in which they will develop the new brand for the Village, collaborating and communicating with staff throughout.
Deliverable: Draft project deliverables which provide brand visual identity and guidelines. Specific items to be delivered are outlined below in the Project Deliverables section. Determine any additional deliverables needed to accomplish the project goals and objectives at this stage and communicate these items to Village staff.
Target Date for Consultant to Provide Phase Deliverable to Staff: August 29, 2025.
Target Date for Staff to Provide Consultant with Feedback: September 12, 2025.
Phase III: Branding Deliverables
During this stage of the project, Consultant should synthesize feedback from Phase II and develop a refined vision of the brand, including updated Branding Initiative Deliverables that provide for the visual brand identity, messaging, and other critical elements, which should be finalized to bring forward and be presented to the Village Board for final consideration and adoption.
Deliverable: Project Deliverables outlined in the section below, and any additional deliverables which were determined by the Consultant and communicated to Village staff during Phase II. The Village reserves the right to request that any final updates be performed by the Consultant, including the incorporation of additional items, prior to the final presentation before the Village Board.
Target Date for Consultant to Provide Overview of Deliverables: October 17, 2025.
Target Date for Presentation to the Village Board: November 3, 2025.
Project Deliverables
Through this project, the Village of Lisle is expecting the following deliverables to be provided by the Consultant. These items should be drafted during Phase II and refined in Phase III of the project, as outlined above. This is not to serve as an exhaustive list; and the Village encourages and prefers the Consultant recommends and delivers any additional items, based on industry standards and best practices.
A) New Village of Lisle logo design, including multiple formats for application
B) New or modified Village slogan (which reflects the community, enhances the professional image of the organization, and clearly communicates the desired future)
C) Detailed Brand Standards and Usage Guidelines document, providing consistent elements for the launch of the new brand and its continued application a. Deliver all final brand logo files, fonts, and color palette for print and digital
b. Recommend additional visual elements (e.g. illustration and photography)
D) Template files for business cards, #10 envelopes, letterhead, email signature, presentation deck, and any other recommended documents
E) Digital files to be used on social media including profile and banner images
F) Recommendations for brand integration into the existing website and long-term implementation plan with the Village’s web development partner
G) Recommendations and strategies to incorporate, promote, and enhance the implementation of the brand, visual identity, and messaging across existing Village marketing and communications platforms, including but not limited to social media, email and print newsletters, sign pole banners, community events, etc.
H) Recommendations for internal brand roll-out and adoption plan
I) Any proposed additional creative strategies, promotional products, renderings, etc. to further promote the brand which may be considered for future implementation
