Montana State University Issues Branding RFP

Montana State University—Bozeman is seeking a PR firm to submit a proposal for Marketing and Branding Services for MilTech.

The MilTech department at Montana State University is a DoD, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Technology Transition Partnership Intermediary and provides hands-on product design, prototyping, technology scouting, and manufacturing assistance to DoD Program Offices and non-traditional defense suppliers and small companies in order to transition innovative technology to the US warfighter rapidly, reliably, and cost-effectively. In the course of performing this mission, MilTech often requires subject matter experts in the field Brand Management, Marketing and Website Development. Interested vendors must have the breath of capability and knowledge to assist MilTech in the 4 categories below.

The University seeks services in the following four areas as they relate to Marketing and Branding. 

Scope: Services:

                • Category 1: Develop Brand Program and Visual Identity

                • Category 2: Marketing Asset Development and Graphic Design

                • Category 3: Website Development

                • Category 4: Video Production

Scope of Work:

Specific design details will be determined on a project-by-project basis. The following services are currently or prospectively sought by the University through MilTech by consultants with related experience in all of these areas:

                Category 1: Develop Brand Program and Visual Identity

• Collaborate with, and interview, staff and project stakeholders of organizations to determine or further develop project scope, requirements, and desired outcomes as needed.
• Provide complete market investigation, identity development, brand positioning, and guidelines.
• Conduct market research to identify industry and government trends for logo design, appropriate language, formatting, and other design and cultural details as necessary.
• Create appropriate samples, mood boards, and/or brand books as necessary to present prospective branding elements including, but not limited to: logos, color schemes, taglines, strategic messaging, typography, photography, landing page/website composites, and any other necessary and related output for review and consideration.
• Bring branded assets into new brand and visual identity standards; develop branded templates, i.e. PPT, letterhead, business cards [review what you use/need to be on-brand, especially if your intent is to develop a new visual identity (logo, color pallet, etc.)]
• Following a review and input by staff and stakeholders, iterate or otherwise refine branding and marketing elements to meet project requirements.
• Contribute other or additional branding and marketing services and expertise as required, including, but not limited to:

                                                • Marketing planning/strategy definition

                                                • Messaging implementation across key channels (website, targeted marketing, social media, etc.)

                                                • Public relations/thought leadership program

                                                • Content creation promotion for inbound marketing and “lead” generation programs

                                                • Targeted marketing program

                                                • Digital marketing program.

                Category 2: Marketing Asset Development and Graphic Design

• Collaborate with, and interview, staff and project stakeholders of organizations to determine or further develop project scope, requirements, and desired outcomes as needed.
• Create and apply visual graphics and illustrations.
• Ability to create/work with logo design, 3D modeling, motion graphics, cinematography, audio post, finish editing, formatting, and other design and cultural details as necessary.
• Contribute other or additional graphic design services and expertise as required, including, but not limited to:

                                                • Infographics

                                                • Facts sheets

                                                • Ads

                                                • Brochures

                                                • Trade show booth

                Category 3: Website Development

• Collaborate with, and interview, staff and project stakeholders of organizations to determine or further develop project scope, requirements, and desired outcomes as needed.
• Create custom solutions to meet client needs and, more importantly, the needs of the client’s target audience. (Specific solutions will be determined on a project-by-project basis.) Some capabilities will include, but are not limited to:

                                E-commerce capabilities, videos, customer portal, image-rich, and copy intensive sections

• Provides front-end and back-end website development as well as commerce solutions.
• Ability to integrate mobile site development.
• Contribute other or additional website development services and expertise as required.

                Category 4: Video Production

• Collaborate with, and interview, staff and project stakeholders of organizations to determine or further develop project scope, requirements, and desired outcomes as needed.
• Convey a brand’s entire story within a very short time by synthesizing an original script with compelling images.
• Use high-level production capabilities to create a wide variety of video content, including commercial production, product demonstrations, and other motion-specific, visual collateral.
• Contribute other or additional video production services and expertise as required.

Due Date:

March 12^th, 2019.

Address:

Montana State University

Procurement Services

920 Technology Boulevard

Bozeman, MT 59718

Agencies to consider for this assignment include Hotwire PRand Kite Hill PR.