City of Redding Seeks Marketing Communications Agency

The City of Redding (City), dba Redding Electric Utility (REU), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to assist with the development and implementation of strategies and tactical plans for marketing, communications, and community relations. The selected consultant must have extensive experience in developing communications, marketing programs, and graphic design services.

Background:

Redding Electric Utility

REU is a publicly‐owned, municipal electric utility providing electric service to the City since 1921. Redding has a population of approximately 90,000. Currently, REU serves approximately 44,000 customers (36,000 residential customers, 7,000 small commercial customers, and 1,000 large commercial/industrial or other customers).

REU provides generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to its customers within the City limits, which encompasses approximately 61 square miles. REU is comprised of approximately 190 full‐ time and part‐time employees and has a total annual budget just over $150 million. System load is approximately 800 GWh annually with a 230 MW summer peak. REU has a diverse resource portfolio, with varying carbon obligations, which includes Redding’s own 183 MW natural gas power plant, hydroelectric generation, long‐term power purchase agreements for wind generation, and market purchases. REU is currently divesting from its ownership participation in a coal power plant located in New Mexico.

REU is active in wholesale markets and maintains a 24/7 operations center. In addition to participating in wholesale electricity markets, REU’s activities include buying, selling, hedging, prepaying, and storing natural gas. Lastly, REU provides electricity and other services to an adjacent municipal utility with a load of around 200 GWh a year.

For more information regarding REU visit our website at www.reupower.com .

Scope of Work:

1. Marketing/Communications/Community Relations Consulting
   1. Consultant will participate with REU staff to develop and execute integrated marketing, advertising and communication strategies and tactics on a variety of Utility programs, projects, and initiatives.
   2. Participate in conference calls as well as on and off‐site meetings with REU staff to strategize marketing, communications, and community relations initiatives.
   3. Develop marketing, communications, and community relations plans, in collaboration with REU staff, for specific programs, projects and initiatives.
   4. For example: Develop marketing and community relations campaign promoting REU’s value proposition versus neighboring utility rates and reliability.
   5. In cooperation with and under the direction of REU staff, execute marketing, communications, and community relations plans/initiatives.
   6. Provide REU with a cost and time estimate (time and materials) prior to moving forward with the development or execution of all marketing/community relations initiatives.

1. Website/HTML
   1. Consultant will participate with REU staff to develop website and HTML related tasks.
   2. In cooperation with and under the direction of REU staff, consultant will execute website edits and HTML tasks developed with REU staff.
   3. Provide REU with a cost and time estimate (time and materials) prior to moving forward with the development or execution of all website, HTML and email design related tasks.

1. Copy Writing
   1. In cooperation with and under the direction of REU staff, provide copy writing services based on draft copy, flyers, email copy, memos etc.
   2.  Copy writer to supply REU with drafts for review through approval of final copy. REU to provide final approval on all copy writing services.

1. Copy Editing
   1. In cooperation with and under the direction of REU staff, provide copy editing services of copy produced by REU staff or copy writer.
   2. Copy editor to supply REU with drafts for review through approval of final copy. REU to provide final approval on all copy editing services.

1. Graphic Design
   1. In collaboration with and under the direction of REU staff, provide professional graphic design services for various initiatives based on marketing strategies and tactics developed; project examples include, brochures, flyers, newsletters, advertisements for both print and digital and other graphic promotional projects.
   2. In collaboration with and under the direction of REU staff, develop and execute strategic communication pieces which require unification of copy, graphics/images that deliver important content in an easy‐to‐understand manner.

1. Photography
   1. In collaboration with REU staff, provide photography services for various initiatives based on marketing strategies and tactics developed; photography services will be “on call” based on needs; photography to be professionally edited, full‐resolution image files; photography may be in and outdoors and include human subjects as well as equipment, buildings etc.

1. Videography/Motion Graphics
   1. In collaboration with REU staff, provide videography services for various initiatives based on marketing strategies and tactics developed; videography services will be “on call” based on needs; videography to be professional, hi‐resolution quality (4K); videography may be in and outdoors and include human subjects as well as equipment, buildings etc.

1. In collaboration with REU staff, provide motion graphics services for various initiatives based on marketing strategies and tactics developed; motion graphic services will be “on call” based on needs; motion graphics to be professional, hi‐resolution quality.

Due Date:

October 24, 2017

Address:

City of Redding City Clerk
777 Cypress Avenue
Redding, CA 96001-2718

Strong technology PR firms include 5WPR and Shift Communications.