Public Relations RFP Issued By State of Alabama
The Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) is established by and funded under Federal Law and state Executive Order. The mission of the Council is to promote and support independence, advocacy, productivity and inclusion for Alabamians with developmental disabilities. The Council is dedicated to the vision that all Alabamians, regardless of disability, will live, learn, work, and play in inclusive communities. The Council is responsible for developing a State Plan and approving grant projects and other activities to carry out objectives in the State Plan.
The Council’s grant and contractual investments are designed to advance its mission and support the philosophy of full inclusion by working with organizations and communities to achieve our goals. This announces the intention of the ACDD to award funds to develop and implement a comprehensive, statewide public awareness campaign that increases awareness of the value of fully including people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of the community; provides information on topics and issues impacting individuals with developmental disabilities ; and that supports the mission and vision of the Council.
Background:
The present-day state of Alabama was originally inhabited by various indigenous peoples. Visible traces of their occupancy, which spanned nearly 10,000 years, may be seen at Dust Cave, a Paleo-Indian site; at Russell Cave, a site dating to the Archaic period; and at Moundsville, a Mississippian site nestled in a series of large mounds that snake across the land. Many place-names in the state are of Native American origin, including the name Alabama itself, which derives from a word that perhaps means “thicket clearers.” The principal indigenous groups at the time of the initial European exploration of the region were the Chickasaw, in the northwest; the Cherokee, in the northeastern uplands; the Upper Creek, or Muskogee, in the centre and southeast; and the Choctaw, in the southwest.
Scope of Work:
The Council is seeking proposals from entities experienced in communications, marketing, advertising, media consulting, and/or public relations to provide professional services to develop and implement an engaging, statewide awareness campaign, that may be inclusive of, but is not limited to, the following activities:
# Creating and implementing a public relations/awareness plan for the Council
# Sharing projects, initiatives, etc., of the Council via multiple media outlets or types
# Website review and design or update, as well as website hosting and maintenance
# Management of social media accounts, including the creation of promotional products (e.g., graphics) for use on social media
# Providing related technical assistance as necessary
# Developing, producing, publishing, and/or distributing accessible materials (e.g., press releases, brochures, fact sheets, Council reports and forms, flyers, television and/or radio spots, podcasts, videos)
# Providing information on existing disability-related resources
# Publicizing disability-related events
# Media placement
# Community engagement or outreach, including engagement of or outreach to diverse communities
# Conducting campaign evaluations, including the use of analytics, to determine effectiveness
# Executing other suggested activities, tactics, or strategies offered by the responder to this proposal that may assist the Council with effectively and efficiently executing its campaign
In order to complete activities, it may be necessary to do the following:
# Conduct outreach to individuals with developmental disabilities, family members, and other disability stakeholders # Research or collect data, information, stories , and other resources about developmental disability
# Attend Council events and/or other disability-related events
# Remain informed of news and topics related to developmental disabilities
Responding entities should be able to demonstrate five to 10 years of experience in communications, marketing, advertising, media consulting, and/or public relations and the provisio n of related professional services for creating professional awareness campaigns for organizations or businesses. Entities should have experience in working with people with disabilities, disability organizations, state or federal agencies, and diverse populations. Please provide work samples and other evidence that demonstrate s experience in these areas. Entities should propose a reasonable, justifiable budget for implementing requested activities. The initial grant is generally for a one-year period. Funding is available for up to a 12-month grant period tentatively scheduled to start October 1, 2020. Grants can be renewed for up to an additional two year s based upon performance, the availability of federal funds, and recommendations of the ACDD.
Expectations:
# Include specific activities to conduct outreach to people from varied cultural backgrounds and unserved or underserved populations
# Demonstrate cultural and linguistic competence
# Use of technology to reach as many citizens of Alabama as possible
# Collect data to show evidence of the campaign’s success Issuance of this RFP does not obligate ACDD to award grants.
All proposals become the property of ACDD and will not be returned. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted. Questions relative to this RFP must be received, by email, no later than Friday, June 12, 2020. Questions should be emailed to melissa.sylvester@mh.alabama.gov. Proposal Due Date: Friday, July 1 7, 2020 , at 1 2:00 PM CST
Content Requirements
Please include the following information in your proposal and be as concise as possible. Please include a Table of Contents. The proposal should be single-spaced and us e a standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman.
Due Date:
Friday, July 17
Address:
DMH DIV OF AL COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES Darryle Powell / 334-242-3972 100 N. UNION ST SUITE 498 MONTGOMERY, AL 361301410 USA
Ruder Finn and Finn Partners are agencies to consider for this assignment.
