25-26-3242AM Website Redesign and Support Services for Economic Development

Hanover County, Virginia is seeking a contractor for a comprehensive website redesign and support services project for its Economic Development department through Request for Proposal (RFP) #25-26-3242AM. The procurement aims to replace the existing website (hanovervirginia.com) with a new, visually compelling, and easily navigable digital platform that includes responsive design, ADA/508 compliance, and compatibility with major browsers. Key deliverables include website design, implementation, content migration of 71 existing pages, staff training, ongoing maintenance, and optional hosting services. The project requires integration of current functionalities such as GIS Planning/Zoom Prospector, VA Scan, and Google Translate, with WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and the ability to support social media integration, an events calendar, and video/photo capabilities. Proposals are due by January 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with the contract period running through March 31, 2030 and potential renewal options. The evaluation criteria will be weighted as follows: Project Methodology (30%), Cost of Services (30%), Project Schedule (20%), and Qualifications/Experience (20%).

The RFP is open to vendors registered to conduct business in the United States, with no specific disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) requirements mentioned. The incumbent provider is Whittington Consulting, who completed the last website redesign in 2015 and currently charges $175 per month for WordPress and plugin maintenance. The current hosting environment utilizes LiquidWeb with VPS-8GB specifications, including 8GB RAM, 8 vCPUs, 150GB SSD storage, and 10TB monthly bandwidth transfer. While the County has not disclosed a specific project budget, vendors are required to break down pricing into one-time fees and ongoing fees, with annual maintenance and hosting costs specified for the first five years. The site currently has three administrators and receives approximately 69,000 page views annually. Optional services such as SEO strategy and performance improvements can be proposed but are not mandatory. Proposals must be submitted electronically through eVA (Virginia's e-procurement system) or via traditional mail/hand delivery, with the County anticipating the selection of a single contractor for the project.