Saint Paul Public Schools Issues Marketing and Communications RFP
Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is the second largest school district in the State of Minnesota with approximately 37,000 students, 6,000 employees, and a budget of $.75B. SPPS students represent countries throughout the world, speak more than 100 languages and dialects and come to the School District with an array of educational experiences and skills. The School District is comprised of 68 educational sites and five (5) administrative sites and shares the same boundaries with the City of Saint Paul. Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is seeking to launch a marketing campaign that gets the community (students, teachers, families, and industry) embracing a different focus to education; the student’s career path. For far too long we have been preparing students for college, but then what? SPPS is focusing on career and post-secondary exploration starting in Pre-K so that high school students make informed decisions on what courses to take in high school that will help students prepare for their post-secondary plans. Students will be creating a personal learning plan that lists their interests, strengths and values and connects those to specific courses they will take in high school and potential options for after high school. Families will also have access to the student’s Personal Learning Plan making everyone a part of the student’s educational journey.
SPPS is unveiling that students will have opportunities to explore a number of Career Pathways. The 7 largest high schools will have AT LEAST 1 Career Pathway in each of the SPPS Career Fields* where all students will explore a career pathway, have relevant career experiences and opportunities for internships with our growing list of partners. Every high school will have relevant, real-world examples from high-wage, in-demand industries integrated into all their courses making school more relevant and engaging. This campaign must be culturally aware and represent SPPS’ diverse and rich cultures in our schools. The SPPS budget for this project is driven by grant funding sources. Should the overall cost of the services exceed grant limits, SPPS reserves the right to adjust project scope or limit work to be done by the awardee. Funding will be available in an initial foundational campaign with an additional wave of funding to follow.
After initial responses are received there may be a virtual presentation scheduled for finalists. The awarded vendor will work with SPPS staff to gather data and create a conceptual design using input from various stakeholders within the SPPS organization before full implementation.
Scope of Work:
- Branding/identity guide that correlates with SPPS Style Guide
a. Written in plain language to include translations into Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish
b. Include templates for hand-outs, course registration guides
c. District-wide course guide/catalog alignment for all high schools; layout, icons, graphics, student spotlight pages
d. Webpage of SPPS.org to illustrate career fields, career pathways, and the personal learning plan
e. Printable graphic to illustrate career fields, career pathways, and the personal learning plan with translations in English, Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish).
f. College and career readiness indicators/graduate profile; roadmap of Pre-K-12
- Animated video with voice over in multiple languages (English, Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish) . Marketed toward all internal SPPS stakeholders and external community stakeholders a. Includes Personal Learning Plans and universal career curriculum work for pre-K through 12th grades, integration of real-world learning into all courses, industry partners, internships, and community building
- Design and printing of: . Banners or other ways to make the SPPS Career Fields present and identifiable at the High Schools (include translation if verbiage is used)
a. Career Pathway transportable and permanent banners, trade show display
b. Career Pathway donor wall design and installation for all schools (room for growth and expansion)
- Photography of SPPS high school students in pathways and industry
- Design of promotional materials with translations in English, Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish.
- for elementary, middle, and high school students and families
All interested vendors are invited to submit in accordance with the terms and conditions in this RFP. Vendors must possess strong experience and provide for the ability to provide services required. The District is seeking proposals demonstrating “Best Value” meeting or exceeding RFP specifications. To be eligible for consideration, electronic submissions shall be presented in accordance with the instructions of this solicitation within the timeframe specified herein. It shall be the sole responsibility of the Vendor to ensure proposals are submitted prior to the date, time and location specified in the RFP document. SPPS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the criteria and process whereby proposals are evaluated and awarded. No damage shall be recoverable by any challenger as a result of these determination or decision by the SPPS Board of Education.
SPPS will award the project to a prime contractor, referred hereinto as the Vendor, which acts as the singular source of responsibility to meet all the expectations outlined in this RFP. The prime contractor shall not use any subcontractors without the prior written permission of SPPS. SPPS intends to award the project to the Vendor whose proposal best meets the requirements of SPPS and is within a cost range that is deemed appropriate for this project. SPPS prefers to select a Vendor that provides similar services to other similar organizations and has proven to operate effectively.
Due Date:
August 19
Address:
Jamie Atkins, Purchasing Manager Saint Paul Public Schools Purchasing & Contract Services 360 Colborne Street St Paul, MN 55102 Email:Jamie.atkins@spps.org
Finn Partners and Ruder Finn are agencies worth considering.
