RFP No. 6442 - Spokesperson Training.doc

RFP No. 6442

July 2, 2025

Spokesperson Training

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP NO. 6442

SPOKESPERSON TRAINING

PROPOSALS DUE NO LATER THAN

Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 2 P.M.

Submit Proposal To:

Macomb Community College

Purchasing Department

14500 Twelve Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088 costellod@macomb.edu and bids@macomb.edu Dennis Costello

Purchasing Director

(586) 445-7308

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Macomb Community College is seeking proposals for three, half-day sessions of spokesperson training for college subject matter experts, primarily focused on media interviews, but recognizing that the skills are transferable and will help maximize communications effectiveness in other professional situations. Training is to primarily focus on positive development of effective skills to help encourage staff to embrace the role of spokesperson versus an emphasis on negative or confrontational situations.

ABOUT MACOMB COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Macomb Community College is a complex, comprehensive community college with a mission of education, enrichment and economic development. The college’s educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor-degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities. Macomb provides learning experiences to more than 16,000 students pursuing degree-credit programs along with nearly 8,500 individuals in professional and workforce development programs.

The college has two main campuses that provide a wide range of traditional transfer programs in the humanities, sciences, business and information technology. In addition, at South Campus in Warren, the college also features media and graphic arts, and advanced manufacturing programs, and at Center Campus in Clinton Township, health career and culinary arts programs. East Campus, in northeast Clinton Township, is focused on training and continuing education for public service professionals (police, fire and emergency medical) and has a live-fire tower and the largest indoor gun range in the state. The college’s Michigan Technical Education Center in Warren is focused on workplace and customized training and houses equipment for hands-on learning and experience in advanced manufacturing.

At the Macomb University Center, students pursue bachelor-degree completion and advanced degrees through 10 senior colleges and universities, including a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The college’s cultural complex on Center Campus is comprised of the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and the Lorenzo Cultural Center, providing a breadth of cultural enrichment opportunities to more than 100,000 individuals annually with programing that supplements education objectives, spans generations and enriches community life.

RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS

To be considered for acceptance, all proposals must be mailed, or e-mailed by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025, to:

Dennis Costello, Purchasing Director Macomb Community College 14500 E. Twelve Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088 – Mailing Address

16000 Hall Road, Suite 1A, Clinton Township, MI 48038 – Office Location

E-mail: costellod@macomb.edu and bids@macomb.edu Proposals submitted via email should not include any zipped or executable files as these will be blocked by the College’s security system and may not be considered as received on time.

Proposals must be signed by an individual with authority to enter into a binding contract and the authority of the individual signing must be stated thereon.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this RFP are to be directed to Dennis Costello, Purchasing Director, at costellod@macomb.edu and bids@macomb.edu.

Responses to clarifications will be shared with all firms that were invited to submit a proposal. MCC will not be bound by any oral responses.

PROPOSAL RESPONSE FORMAT

Please use the Proposal Response form found at the end of this document to submit your proposal.

CONTACT PERSON

Please identify by name, telephone number and e-mail address, the person or persons whom the College can address questions to during the evaluation of proposals.

AWARD OF PROPOSAL

The College may award a contract based upon the initial proposal without further discussion of such proposals. Accordingly, each initial proposal should be submitted with each respondent’s most favorable fee and service capabilities.

SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED

Workshops: Conduct three, half-day (four-hour) sessions, with up to three Macomb staff members in each, prior to mid-December 2025. Sessions will be held at a college location either on South Campus in Warren or Center Campus in Clinton Township.

Workshops will need to be customized in relation to each participant’s level of experience (background information on each participant will be provided), as well as their areas of expertise.

Participants will have already worked through key message development during an internally produced workshop. These messages will be provided prior to their participation in the spokesperson workshop and should be used in their practice interviews. Some participants may still need to refine their key messages during this stage.

The spokesperson workshops will also need to reinforce the college’s centralized media relations processes. All media inquiries to the college are handled by Public Relations staff, so the workshop should not encompass how to screen and validate media inquiries. However, information about how the news media typically functions should be incorporated into the sessions.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Information to be addressed in the proposal:

Share your philosophy of spokesperson preparation and training Outline the structure of the workshops you would deliver, including how the following elements will be incorporated into that structure:

· Interactivity

· High-level overview of working with the news media (Macomb’s Public Relations Department handles all media inquiries, so specific discussion of how to handle initial inquiries from the media is not relevant)

· Key message use and potential refinement in some cases. (All participants will have engaged in an in-house pre-session that includes a focus on key message development.)

· Techniques to support effective interviewing skills (should include some attention on “tricks of the trade” and difficult situations, but this should not be the overriding emphasis)

· At least two “taped” practice interviews for each participant (copy of interviews to be provided to participants) Summarize Qualifications:

· Overview of company and capabilities, including specific experience with spokesperson training

· Qualifications/ biographies of trainer(s), including specific experience in delivery spokesperson training

· Three client references specifically related to spokesperson training

SERVICES REQUIRED

Using the proposal form at the end of this document, please provide a detailed cost structure that will remain in effect for 3 months from the start date of the contract.

PAYMENT OF SERVICES

The College will issue payment for services within 30 days of invoice for services provided. Invoices must contain the name of the authorized college staff responsible for scheduling the services, training date provided, hours billed, and any reimbursable expenses or additional charges as allowed by the contract.

PROPOSAL RESPONSE FORM

TO: Macomb Community College July 24, 2025 14500 Twelve Mile Road

Warren, MI 48088

ATTENTION: Purchasing Director

The consultant, in compliance with this Request for Proposal for Spokesperson Training Services having examined the RFP documents hereby proposes to furnish all professional training services, materials, and necessary equipment for the work described herein in accordance with the RFP documents for the amounts stated below.

Consultant, if awarded a contract, agrees to commence work upon receipt of a written “Agreement”, “Notice to Proceed/Letter of Intent” / Purchase Order and to fully complete the work in a mutually agreeable time. Contractor understands that the College reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive any informalities therein.

Proposed pricing is guaranteed for a minimum of 90 days from the proposal due date to allow for review, purchase authorization and contract development.

Include all sections of this proposal response form in your submission. Mark non-participatory sections with “NO RESPONSE”. Respondents will not be contractually bound to good faith estimates.

1. Attach or provide below a brief narrative or resume’ illustrating firm and individual qualifications: _________________________________________

2. Provide three references the College may contact to validate experience and qualifications. Include name and phone number for each (e-mail address alone is not sufficient):

a. Reference #1: ____________________________________________

b. Reference #2: ____________________________________________

c. Reference #3: ____________________________________________

3. State fee for described services, providing a cost breakdown for each component of the proposed services where applicable. Clearly identify any reimbursable expenses. Assume all training to take place at Macomb CC

4. Delivery of three (3) half-day (four hour) spokesperson training workshops:

Other reimbursable expenses (list, if any):

Please Note: If possible, please enclose with your proposal a sample of your firm’s services contract for review by Macomb Community College.

The undersigned agrees to the provisions of this RFP document and hereby affix authorized signature(s):

Signature(s): _____________________________________________________

Title: ____________________________________________________________

Company Name: __________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________

City: __________________________State _________Zip Code____________

Telephone Number: _______________________________________________ E-mail address: __________________________________________________

Print Name of Signature: __________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________________________

IT IS MANDATORY OF ALL CONSULTANTS TO RETURN THIS SHEET FULLY COMPLETED WITH THEIR PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.