COMMUNICATIONS RFP ISSUED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

The purpose of this RFP is to seek proposals from qualified and experienced vendors who can meet or exceed the requirements listed in Section 6, and to deliver brand marketing and campaign communications strategy for our faculty’s key capital priority. As an embodiment of the Faculty’s commitment to collaboration in the face of 21st century global challenges, Applied One delivers on the need for a facility that supports diffusive interdisciplinary research, experiential learning and creative partnership. The Faculty will take advantage of our interdisciplinary nature—with schools in planning, architecture, landscape architecture and various engineering departments housed in Applied One and will the organize Applied One into themes and grand challenges, rather than by discipline. The disciplines of Applied Science will come together, as appropriate, to address themes of inquiry. Examples of themes could include:

• Future Cities 

• Urban Infrastructure Renewal and Resilience

• Renewable Energy and Materials 

• Innovations in Resource Development

• Climate Change 

The capital campaign communications will allow us to focus and provide us with the narrative to drive our fundraising efforts.

By developing a clear and compelling story, we will be better able to research and approach necessary funding sources. The proposed site is located at UBC Vancouver Campus on Main Mall between the Earth Ocean Sciences Building and Land the MacMillan Building (including the current location of the Frank Forward Building and the Barn Child Care Centre.

It will be very important that this capital project is communicated to project related stakeholders as a component of UBC’s broader University Campaign of $3B and that it is not seen as competing with the overall campaign. While the broader University Campaign has not yet been defined, we do know that Applied One fits within the proposed themes of:

• Advancing Healthy Lives 

• Building a Just and Thriving Society

• Creating Sustainable Solutions for the Planet

• Inventing Tomorrow

Background:

The University of British Columbia (“UBC”) is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities of the world. With an annual budget of more than $2 billion, the University’s enterprise processes, workflow and the technology supporting them are highly complex and require strategic leadership and highly effective operational oversight to ensure the University’s administrative processes and technologies support and enable with maximum effectiveness, UBC’s mission. Located on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Coast Salish, and Okanagan peoples, UBC is the second largest university in Canada. Since 1915, UBC’s West Coast spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. Between UBC’s two main campuses, its entrepreneurial perspective encourages students (65,000), staff (10,600) and faculty (5,500) to challenge convention, lead discovery, and explore new ways of learning. The University of British Columbia Faculty of Applied Science requires the services of a Consultant to provide brand marketing and campaign communications strategy and tools for Applied One, the faculty’s key capital priority. Applied One is a $300M capital project within the Faculty of Applied Science aimed at helping to refine and define a differentiating and compelling brand that will drive engagement with donors and assist the team in developing tangible tools, including a case for support, video, campaign slide deck with script, and micro-website

Scope of Work:

The consultant will work with the Faculty to meet the following:

1. Discovery Review all materials related to Applied One and meet with our leadership team and working group.

2. Research Analyze the donor data, craft messaging, gather feedback and determine how to engage each donor or donor group. Hold a workshop with APSC leaders and working group to develop and explore the central theme/narrative for Applied One. 

3. Developing a Case for Support Discussions with internal and external stakeholders to capture key messages that will resonate with individual, company and community supporters and the multi-disciplinary approach of Applied One.

4. Develop Campaign Communication Materials Development of Campaign Theme/Tagline and Tools that would be used in both written and visual elements for Applied One. Communication Materials would include print work, video, microwebsite and slide deck

Vendor Qualification: Vendors should have substantial experience performing Capital Campaign and communication strategies and supporting similar projects as described in Section 6.3 for a Faculty at a top ranked institutions in North America. In order to meet our requirements, we are seeking to contract with a vendor that can demonstrate the following:

i. Experience interviewing and working with high level volunteers (board, advisory councils, and campaign cabinets)

ii. Experience developing a case for support sand video for a multi-million dollar capital campaign ($50M+) project for a top ranked North American University

iii. Ability to provide assessment on our donor personas by researching and reviewing our donor profiles

iv. Ability to provide Fundraising Campaign Strategy and Communication Materials including traditional written brochures, video and micro-websites.

6.5 UBC Provided 

UBC will provide the following to the successful proponent within 2-3 week of notice to proceed:

i. Applied One Feasibility Report

ii. Applied One Fundraising Campaign Planning Study

iii. Applied One Slide Deck 

iv. Access to our Applied One working group

v. Assistance to connect with individual stakeholders & donors

Due Date:

May 5, 2021 – 2:00 PM Pacific Time Zone

Address:

The University of British Columbia Supply Management | Financial Operations 5 th Floor – Technology Enterprise Facility (TEF) 3 6190 Agronomy Road, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z3

Relevant agencies to consider include Zeno Group and Finn Partners.