University of Kentucky Seeks Marketing & Advertising Agency
The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to establish formalized relationships with full-service, multi-disciplinary branding and advertising agencies for University of Kentucky and its major entities, including its 16 degree-granting colleges, as well as the Lewis Honors College and Graduate School, UK Athletics, and UK HealthCare. Offeror(s) must be knowledgeable of contemporary branding and advertising strategies, and capable of executing with excellence on a newly developed, robust brand strategy with excellence. Special consideration will be given to those agencies with demonstrated expertise in higher education, health care, and major athletics/event executions.
The target audiences for the University’s sustained branding and advertising strategy are broad and diverse. The audiences include potential/current students, potential/current parents, alumni, opinion leaders/stakeholders and elected officials as well as potential/current donors. The intent of the advertising and marketing efforts is to create awareness of the successes of the University of Kentucky and position it as a University making enormous strides in its multifaceted mission to transform Kentucky and the larger world.
Our goals:
• Attract top-quality students and faculty that enable the institution to grow in support of
• Increase support from alumni, friends, policy-makers, and businesses.
• Help drive a successful Kentucky Can philanthropy campaign – a $2.1 billion effort focused on the institution’s strategic priorities.
The Office of University Relations will be the central point of contact for the umbrella agreement with agency/agencies, as well as coordinate activities on behalf of the University, its colleges, alumni relations and philanthropy outreach.
UK Athletics and UK HealthCare will take lead roles in coordinating agency activities related to their strategies, respectively. To that end, account management and billing services should be scoped accordingly.
Total budget for the University and its major entities will fluctuate annually; however, for the purposes of developing a proposal, agency or agencies should anticipate that combined marketing budgets spent with outside firms is estimated to be $5 million annually, including media placement.
Scope of Work:
The agency or agencies selected must have demonstrated success executing on a newly created brand strategy across multiple creative platforms to achieve its client’s business and marketing goals. Specifically, we are seeking someone who has experience activating a new brand strategy
We are seeking exceptional expertise in areas that include, but are not limited to:
• Concept creative and art direction informed by the brand strategy that also adheres to brand guidelines
• Responsive and comprehensive account services
• Digital asset development
• Video/animation development and editing
• Copywriting
• Media evaluation/media placement
• Marketing research
• Recommendations and placement services
• Campaign measurements and reporting
Due Date:
March 11
Address:
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
PURCHASING DIVISION
411 S LIMESTONE
ROOM 322 PETERSON SERVICE BLDG.
LEXINGTON, KY 40506-0005
Porter Novelli and Burson Marsteller have relevant experience.
