Virginia Tech Issues Branding RFP
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals to establish a contract through competitive negotiations for Marketing Branding Services for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The mission of the Virginia Tech supplier opportunity program is to foster inclusion in the university supply chain and accelerate economic growth in our local communities through the engagement and empowerment of high quality and cost competitive small, minority-owned, women-owned, and local suppliers. Virginia Tech encourages prime suppliers, contractors, and service providers to facilitate the participation of small businesses, and businesses owned by women and minorities through partnerships, joint ventures, subcontracts, and other inclusive and innovative relationships.
Background:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, approximately 40 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia, the major commercial hub of the area. In addition to the university’s main campus in Blacksburg, major off campus locations include twelve agriculture experiment research stations, the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and graduate centers in Roanoke and Fairfax, Virginia. Regularly scheduled air service is provided at the Roanoke Regional Airport.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the Commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of nearly $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia, will be a global center of technology excellence and talent production, supporting graduate education, attracting top-tier faculty, sparking research and partnerships, and igniting the region’s innovation economy. The Innovation Campus will deliver leading programs in computer science and software engineering, with specializations in domains such as technology and policy, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Scope of Work:
The university seeks an experienced branding firm to help us launch and implement a brand for the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. Experience in branding similar university innovation campuses in major metropolitan areas is preferred. Initial scope of work includes discovery, brand strategy, and identity (but is expected to extend to include future work):
- Discovery should include planning with our internal team, stakeholder interviews, audit of existing/planned communications and materials, and could involve external audiences input.
- Brand strategy should include summary of discovery findings and strategy for messaging, voice, positioning, and architecture. Brand strategy should also include in-person socialization with key stakeholders.
- Brand identity should include delivery of a logo that locks up to the master brand of Virginia Tech, and visual style elements. Brand identity should also include in-person socialization with key stakeholders and a brand guidelines document.
An accelerated timeline for the initial phase of 2-3 months from discovery kick off to brand guidelines delivery is preferred.
The winning proposer must have proven extensive experience in designing and launching large branding projects.
Due Date:
February 15th
Address:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Procurement Department (MC 0333)
North End Center, Suite 2100
300 Turner Street NW
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
MWWPR and Coyne PR have relevant experience.
