Largest Canadian Territory Government Issues PR & Media RFP

The Government of Nunavut – the newest, largest, northernmost, and least populous territory of Canada – has issued an RFP for a communications agency, focused on Media and Design Services for Tourism and Cultural Industries.

The Department of Economic Development’s (EDT) division of Tourism and Cultural Industries (TCI) works with Nunavummiut to develop strong and sustainable tourism and cultural sectors in Nunavut.

The Government of Nunavut (GN) Department of Community and Government Services, on behalf of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation has issued an RFP to focus on:

1. Strategic Planning and Design

2. Communications/Public Relations/Facilitation

3. Design Services

4. Branding and Marketing Services

5. Data and Surveys

6. Video and Photography Services

7. Event Management Services

8. Professional Training Services

1. Strategic Planning and Design

Significant experience in tourism and cultural industries related strategic planning and design, including knowledge of the realities and limitations of the cultural art and tourism sectors in the territory:

· Business case development and analysis, strategic business planning, vision, mission, core values, short term and long term planning and SWOT analysis. Organized methodologies and approaches to assist TCI in insuring goal consistency and alignment

· Completing a market assessment and strategic development framework

· Assessing feasibility of ‘one-window’ licensing approach for all tourism operators

· Assisting with Tourism Strategic Development Plan for communities

· Assisting with raising awareness about the potential benefits of Marine Tourism for communities

2. Communications / Public Relations / Facilitation

High degree of experience in tourism and cultural industry initiatives with respect to communications, public relations, and facilitation services, including:

· Developing communications plans and strategies, including any required writing, editing, research, and translation and proofreading services

· Public Relations and/or media information campaigns. Gather, research and prepare communications material for internal and external audiences. Assist with the preparation of brochures, reports, newsletters and other communication tools and campaigns.

· This may also include facilitating community and stakeholder consultations, develop and organize workshops, meetings ceremonies and other events for publicity, and information distribution purposes. Coordinate special publicity events and promote for internal and external audiences.

· Developing communication protocols for specific industry sectors, including marine tourism, updated tourism legislation, and cultural development initiatives such as ‘Authentic Nunavut’

3. Design Services

Experience with design and layout of a variety of production-quality tourism and cultural graphic design products, including:

· Publications including magazines, periodicals, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, reports, policy documents, books and inserts, and training materials

· Visual images including illustration, logos, maps, graphs, tables, certificates and awards

· Collateral materials including information kits, conference support materials, exhibits and displays, posters, signs, banners and promotional items

· Electronic media including e-bulletins, e-newsletters, interactive PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, and e-learning products

4. Branding and Marketing Services

Establishing strategies that are well-planned, well-executed and measurable, and to provide tools for TCI to implement the strategies in order to increase awareness and reach their target audience, including:

· Review and analysis of existing research and knowledge related to tourist activities, including business tourists, cruise tourists, and leisure travelers

· Market research in different Inuit art sectors, including research on prospective niche markets

· Market research in different tourism sectors, including indigenous tourism, marine tourism, high- end niche tourism, and more

· Development of creative service implementation plans

· Creating visual identity guidelines and standards

· Developing evaluation tools

· Materials to provide support and increase corporate knowledge of the brand

· On-line social networking strategies and e-mail marketing

5. Data and Surveys

Experience with tourism and cultural industry specific data collection and survey development and delivery, including working with visitor information centres, airlines/airports, cruise ships, hunting and fishing businesses, retailers, household surveys, tourism websites and social media to gather information.

The following services may be requested:

· Development of a year-round GN delivered Visitor Exit Survey

· Improving data collection and analysis, including developing conceptual design, a turn-key system, and management structure to over-see collection

· Monitor the economic impact of tourism and cultural industries

· Developing a Market Assessment Report as required

· Conducting market impact assessment studies

6. Video and Photography Services

Tourism and Cultural industry specific video and photography experience an asset, including:

· Conducting research

· Writing scripts and developing storyboards

· Shooting footage (video and stills)

· Location sound recording

· Writing narration and voice-over recording

· Picture and sound editing

· Producing and directing

7. Event Management Services

Organizing conferences, workshops, seminars, trade shows, focus groups, community consultations, industry and stakeholder consultations and other types of events on behalf of EDT TCI, including:

· Executing advertising and promotional campaigns

· Securing sponsors and partners

· Working with suppliers, exhibitors and committees

· Developing and overseeing budgets

· Organizing venues, speakers, and technical support

· Managing registration

8. Professional Training Services

Experience with developing and delivering pan-national indigenous tourism and cultural industries career- readiness training and workshops. Successful vendors may be required to provide the following services:

· Developing training modules for tourism service providers, visual artists, musicians, sculptors, performers, and others

· Delivering training workshops

· Developing public workshops and consultations on community based tourism and cultural development issues

· Skills and professional development opportunities for GN Tourism Officers

· Skills and professional development opportunities for artists of various disciplines

Proposal due by October 10 to:

Department of Community & Government Services Government of Nunavut
Attention: Jocelyn St-Amand SCMP / p.g.c.a.
Senior Procurement Officer
3rd. Floor W. G. Brown Building,
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0

Leading PR companies are Edelman PR, North Strategic and Shift Communications recently got bought by a Canadian holding company.