J.26 Branding Strategy and Marking Plan Template.pdf

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS - ACQUISITION

AWARDS BRANDING STRATEGY

USAID policy is to require exclusive branding and marking in USAID direct acquisitions using any source of funds; this must include a Branding Strategy, a Branding Implementation Plan and a

Marking Plan unless otherwise granted an exception by the appropriate USAID officer or official.

The USAID identity, as provided, must follow guidance laid out in the USAID Graphic Standards

Manual, no contractor logos or other competing identities are to be included (unless granted an exception by the appropriate USAID officer or official.)

For acquisition modifications and awards only, in accordance with ADS Sections 320.3.2 and

320.3.2.1, the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) shall prepare a Branding Strategy containing information substantially similar to the sample provided below:

THIS PORTION IS CREATED BY THE COR

Branding Strategy for the [name of project] Project [Project number]

From Requesting Office [________]

Program or Project Name: _______________

How the materials and communications will be positioned: [Contractor] will use full branding and the USAID tagline “From the American People” on materials and communications, which may be translated into local languages as appropriate. Co-branding / no branding will only be considered on a case-by-case basis as considered appropriate by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO).

Desired level of visibility: [name of project] has a desired high level of visibility within USAID since the purpose of the project is to [purpose of the program].

Any other organizations to be acknowledged: Project documents will not use the contractor’s logo, but will acknowledge that the document was prepared for USAID’s _____________________ by the

[name of project] Project, [Contractor].

There are no controls on the contractor’s release or use of data that the contractor, or any subcontractor, produces in performing the contract. The contract for this project will state that copyrights and rights to data shall be in accordance with the clause entitled, “Rights in Data –

General” (FAR 52.227-14 (b)(2)).

1.0 BRANDING – GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

The Contractor shall prepare a Branding Implementation Plan describing how it will implement the

Branding Strategy. The Branding Implementation Plan shall describe how the program will be promoted to beneficiaries and host country citizens.

With reference to ADS Section 320.3.2.2 the Contractor shall prepare a Branding Implementation

Plan containing information substantially similar to the sample provided below:

THIS PORTION IS CREATED BY THE CONTRACTOR

Branding Implementation Plan for the [name of project] Project [Project number]

From Requesting Office [________]

1.1 HOW TO INCORPORATE THE MESSAGE

__________ will use full branding and the USAID tagline “From the American People” on materials and communications. Co-branding and no branding will only be considered on a case-by-case basis as considered appropriate by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer

(CO).

1.2 MESSAGES

In all materials and events the project will be branded as from USAID and prepared by

_________________________ as part of the __________ project. As such, all materials will acknowledge that they were produced with support “from the American people.” In cases where a local language predominates above English, the appropriate translation into the local language will be used in branding the program.

Additional ideas to increase awareness that the American people support this program are: all of the trainers will be trained to include in each presentation or training session a statement at the beginning of their meeting or training session that the technical assistance that they provide and the other program services are made possible as a result of “the assistance from the American people.” The _________ project will follow specific procedures for including the Branding

Implementation Plan requirements as stated in the mandatory internal reference Branding and

Marking in USAID Direct Contracting in the Automated Directives System, Chapter 320.

1.3 HOW TO PUBLICIZE THE PROGRAM, PROJECT OR ACTIVITY

This section discusses how to publicize the program and also includes a description of the communications tools to be used. Such tools may include the following:

1.4 TOOLS

The following communication tools will be used: CHANGE AS NEEDED

Press releases N/A

Press conferences N/A Media interviews N/A Site visits N/A Success stories YES Beneficiary testimonials N/A Professional photography YES PSAs N/A Videos N/A Webcasts, e-invitations, blast e-mails, or other internet activities YES

1.5 KEY MILESTONES OR OPPORTUNITIES

The following key milestones or opportunities are anticipated to generate awareness that the program is from the American people. These milestones may be linked to specific points in time, such as at the beginning or end of a program, or to an opportunity to showcase reports or other materials. These include, but are not limited to:

1.5.1 holding training events,

1.5.2 publishing reports,

1.5.3 highlighting success stories,

1.5.4 promoting final or interim reports, and

1.5.5 communicating program impact/overall results.

1.6 AUDIENCES

Subject to approval by USAID, the _________ project has the following target audiences with whom it will promote and publicize USAID sponsorship:

1.6.1 Primary audience:

The primary audience for all materials and documents produced under this contract is USAID staff in Washington and in the field.

1.6.2 Secondary audience:

The secondary audience for materials and documents produced by the ________ project includes

USAID stakeholders and non-governmental organizations, contractors, and researchers working on issues of gender equality in education.

1.7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1.7.1 ACKNOWLEDGING USAID AND THE USAID EQUATE FUNDING MECHANISM

The following acknowledgment will be included on external USAID _________ project publications and internal publications, such as quarterly reports, as appropriate:

This document was produced for review by the United States Agency for International

Development. It was prepared by _____________ for the ___________ Project.

1.7.2 ACKNOWLEDGING HOST-COUNTRY GOVERNMENTS

All ______________ documents will follow USAID Branding Guidelines. If during the course of this program other major sponsors are involved, we will advise the COR of their involvement and request permission to include them as necessary.

1.7.3 ACKNOWLEDGING OTHER HOST-COUNTRY PARTNERS

Co-branding with civil society groups will occur when these organizations have contributed funds to the activity. Co-branding with in-country partners may also be desirable when trying to promote local ownership and capacity building. However, when products are fully funded by USAID, CO approval is required for any exceptions to full branding requirements.

1.8 CO-BRANDING WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

In such cases, the guidelines for co-branding will be followed, assuming the funding contributed is more than a token amount.

2.0 MARKING - GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

The Contractor shall also prepare a Marking Plan that will enumerate all of the public communications, commodities and program materials that visibly bear or will be marked with the

USAID identity. Contract deliverables to be marked with the USAID Identity must follow design guidance for color, type, and layout in the USAID Graphics Standard Manual.

With reference to ADS Sections 320.3.2.3 and 320.3.2.4 the Contractor shall prepare a Marking Plan containing information substantially similar to the sample provided below:

THIS PORTION IS CREATED BY THE CONTRACTOR

Marking Plan for the [name of project] Project [Project number]

From Requesting Office [________]

With reference to Section 320.3.2.3 of ADS 320, below is the required Marking Plan:

2.1 MARKING

2.1.1 MARKING PLAN FOR MATERIALS TO BE PRODUCED

Table 1 outlines the types of materials that may be produced under the USAID _________ project.

Any materials that are not anticipated below, but are produced under the initiative, will also be subject to branding guidelines and CO approval, as appropriate. Please note that marking is not required on items used as part of the administration of the contract, such as stationery products, equipment, and offices. The goal is to mark programs and projects, and not implementing partners.

Thus, letterhead, name tags, business cards, office space, equipment, and supplies are not subject to branding.

Every contract deliverable that is marked with the USAID identity for the ________________ project will follow design guidance for color, type, and layout in the Graphic Standards Manual as related to equipment, reports, studies, events, and public communication (including printed products, audio, visual, and electronic materials). The USAID logo will be used for programmatic correspondence. _______ Letterhead will be used for administrative matters and will not have the

USAID logo. Business cards will not show the USAID logo.

All studies, reports, publications, Web sites, and all informational and promotional products not authored, reviewed, or edited by USAID will contain a provision substantially as follows:

“This study/report/_______ Website is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) The contents of this study/report/_______ Website are the sole responsibility of ________________ (name of organization) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.”

THIS PORTION IS CREATED BY THE CONTRACTOR

Marking Requirements for the [name of project] Project [Project number]

From Requesting Office [________]

With reference to ADS Section 320.3.2.2, below is the required Marking Plan:

TABLE 1. MARKING PLAN FOR MATERIALS TO BE PRODUCED - CHANGE AS NEEDED

Category Type of Marking Remarks

Administrative Stationery products (administrative Business)

USAID standard graphic identity will not be used.

Pertains to letterhead, envelops, and mailing labels

Stationery products (program related)

USAID standard graphic identity will be used. Pertains to letters that accompany program materials

Business cards USAID standard graphic identity will not be used on business cards. The contractor should use its own business cards but include the line "_______ project" on the business card.

Office signs USAID standard graphic identity will not be used to mark project offices.

Project deliverables Follows USAID Graphics Standard Manual guidelines for full branding

Website Follows USAID Graphics Standard Manual guidelines for full branding (If applicable)

Technical

Technical reports and studies

The USAID identity will be printed on the cover of documents; design follows USAID Graphics Standard Manual guidelines for full branding unless co-branding is acceptable or an exception is granted for no branding.

Briefing papers, memoranda, and policy recommendations

The USAID identity will be printed on the cover of documents; design follows USAID Graphics Standard Manual guidelines for full branding guidelines unless co-branding is acceptable or an exception is provided for no branding.

Government policies, strategies, plans, and guidelines (regional, national, and sub-national levels) or other materials positioned as being from the host-country government

Follows USAID Graphics Standard Manual guidelines for full branding (if applicable)

Organizations' policies, strategies, plans, and guidelines (e.g., an NGO’s procedures manual for malaria logistics, a workplace antidiscrimination policy) or other materials positioned as being from the host-country partner

Follows USAID Graphics Standard Manual guidelines for full branding (if applicable)

Training materials and manuals

The USAID identity will be printed on the cover of documents; design follows guidelines for full branding unless co-branding is acceptable or an exception is granted for no branding.

CDs-ROM The USAID identity will be printed on the CD label, splash screen/menu, and packaging;

design follows guidelines for full branding unless co-branding is acceptable or an exception is granted for no branding.

PowerPoint presentations

The USAID identity is required on title breaker slides; design follows guidelines for the full branding unless co-branding is acceptable or an exception is granted for no branding.

Conference posters and presentations

The USAID identity will be printed on the poster or presentation; design follows guidelines for professional meetings or full branding unless co-branding acceptable or an exception is granted for no branding.

Videos Not applicable Program materials Not applicable

Technical web portal Follows guidelines for co-branding; the USAID identity will be included on the homepage and sub-pages as appropriate

Individual documents included on the portal will be branded as appropriate.

Promotional

Event signs, banners, and exhibition booths materials

The USAID identity will be printed on the materials; design follows guidelines for full branding unless co-branding is acceptable or an exception is granted for no branding.

Project promotional materials (e.g., success stories, beneficiary announcement of research, testimonials, findings, or project results)

The USAID identity printed on the materials;

design follows guidelines for full branding.

Materials for policy launch

Not applicable

Materials for site visits

Not applicable

Commodities Not applicable

3.0 GRANTS UNDER CONTRACTS

Grants under contracts, when authorized in accordance with ADS 302, “USAID Direct Contracting” must be branded and marked like grants. The policy directives and required procedures for branding and marking of assistance awards in ADS Section 320.3.3 and 22 CFR 226.91 apply. The

Contractor is responsible for including branding and marking requirements for these grants in it

Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan, as part of its overall responsibility for managing grants under its contract.

4.0 PREPRODUCTION REVIEW

USAID reserves the right to request preproduction review of USAID-funded public communications and program material for compliance with USAID graphic standards and the approved Marking

Plan.