Appendix C - Request for Clarification.docx

This is a Request for Clarification form template for Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) 25-02 issued by the Florida Prepaid College Board, a Leon County, Florida entity located at 1801 Hermitage Boulevard, Suite 210, Tallahassee, Florida. The ITN solicits comprehensive advertising, digital marketing, partnerships, and public relations services for the Florida Prepaid College Board, ABLE United, and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation across two primary components: (1) Advertising and Creative Services, Digital Marketing, and Social Media Services; and (2) Public Relations, Partnerships, and Events. Respondents must submit written requests for clarification by December 4, 2025, at 12:00 PM (ET), with full proposals due January 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM (ET). The Board intends to award contracts to up to two firms for an initial three-year term from 2026 through 2029, with the potential for three additional one-year extensions. Services will be structured as retainer-based fees for core activities with additional passthrough or hourly rates for project-based work, and services must be mutually agreed upon and formally documented in the resulting contract.

The solicitation requires respondents to demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in the financial services industry, maintain an active Florida business presence, and meet specific financial thresholds of $15 million in annual billings for advertising services or $5 million for public relations services. Evaluation will utilize a 1,000-point system assessing organizational and strategic experience (400 points), work examples from January 1, 2022 onward (400 points), and pricing schedule (200 points). The combined marketing budgets for the three programs range from $22.5 million to $28.5 million annually. The solicitation does not specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Contractors must provide a designated Contract Manager attending quarterly Board meetings and monthly conference calls, with monthly invoicing subject to Board approval and potential withholding of up to 50 percent of invoices for nonperformance. Subcontractors require prior written Board approval, and broadcast media and print production charges must be supported by competitive bids from at least two companies unless otherwise approved.