Purpose:
The VEC is in the research and planning phase to gather information on marketing and design services to promote a Short Time Compensation Program for the benefit of Virginia employers in the Commonwealth. This action is pursuant to the Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) 22-20 and the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), establishing a grant mechanism for workforce agencies to apply, as well as Virginia state statute directing our agency to implement such a program for the purpose of layoff aversion.
The intent of the RFI is to gather input from marketing firms as to their suggested approach, types of marketing efforts (media, brochures, animated video, web, etc.) that should be utilized, along with non-binding estimates of cost for each, all of which will be useful by VEC to apply for available grant funds and, upon approval of same, may draft and issue a Request for Proposal to seek competitive offers from marketing firms. For purposes of this RFI, respondents are requested to assume that the VEC will need to report to the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) its progress on a quarterly basis; therefore, the suggested approach(es) and non-binding cost information provided in the RFI response needs to be addressed for an 18 month period by quarter for the deliverables to align with the required reporting structure.
Background:
The Short-Time Compensation Program serves as a layoff aversion program—to assist Virginia employers in avoiding layoffs and in retaining their skilled workforce. This is an opportunity to market and educate Virginia’s employers for a period of eighteen (18) months on the availability of the program by offering educational materials about the program and to strategically develop our ability to promote knowledge, understanding and implementation of the program and benefit to Virginia employers.
The multi-pronged marketing strategy will incorporate improved awareness through, multiple communication channels, print materials engineered to educate Virginia’s business community, improved ease of navigation of web-based resources, and additional staff resourcing and expanded partnerships. This marketing strategy will promote awareness to Virginia businesses of the Short Time Compensation Program administered by the VEC, and its ease of use for any Virginia business facing a layoff and wants to retain their skilled workforce.
Scope of Work:
The VEC seeks information from marketing firms with the capacity to market to the Virginia business community on the VEC’s Short Time Compensation Program that is available to them. Responders to this RFI should not limit their suggestions on the how and why of the various approaches and combinations herein. Respondents are also requested to be creative, but without disclosing any proprietary information. Listed below are some approaches commonly used; however, the VEC desires input on a variety of approaches and combinations thereof, including an approximate timeframe needed to develop each approach, quarterly non-binding estimates of cost and deliverables for each, to ensure the campaign is far reaching and highly successful:
Radio, Television and web presence
Animated video development
Print and Social Media development
Development of a strategic shared work action (SWAT) team with our Rapid Reemployment Team to aid in the promotion and education of the employer/business community
Other approaches
RFI Coordinator
Direct contact with VEC employees in regard to this RFI is strictly prohibited. All questions must be submitted via email to procurement3@vec.virginia.gov
With the subject line RFI #182-BR-2021002
Vendor questions will be consolidated into one list, combined where similar, and answered, without the VEC identifying the vendor, in accordance with the below schedule:
Questions from potential responders due by 2:00 P.M., local time, March_18, 2021.
Answers to Questions will be posted on eVA (www.eVA.virginia.gov) by March 23, 2021.
(To find this RFI and any attachments, go to the eVA website above, select – Virginia Business Opportunities, Buying Entity – Virginia Employment Commission, Opportunity Type – Request For Information (RFI), Select RFI #182-BR-2021002, View Opportunity, select appropriate attachment, Q&A.)
Responses to this RFI must be submitted in eVA and are due: 2:00 P.M., local time, March 26, 2021.
Cost and Pricing Estimation
In response to this RFI, the nonbinding estimate of costs to be provided by the marketing firms are not open to public inspection and will be redacted by VEC in the event a freedom of information request is received (Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4342B).
Due Date:
Due: 2:00 P.M., Local Time, March 26, 2021
Address:
Virginia Employment Commission
6606 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Agencies to consider include Hunter PR and Magrino PR.