Advancing skills-first practices-awareness and adoption

The State of Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, on behalf of the Colorado Workforce Development Council, is requesting proposals for a marketing agency to develop and execute an awareness and adoption campaign for skills-first hiring practices, with proposals due September 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. via Bidnet.

The scope encompasses five components: inventorying existing skills-first resources from national, state, and local sources; developing an outreach strategy targeting employers, job seekers, learners, workforce professionals, and economic development professionals; creating creative collateral including graphic design, video and audio production, copywriting, and Spanish translation; executing a paid media buy across traditional and nontraditional platforms; and providing bi-weekly return-on-investment reports with performance metrics and optimization recommendations. Proposals must address how strategy, messaging, and media buys will reach underserved communities and must include examples of similar campaigns, client references, and key personnel qualifications. Respondents must comply with Section 508 accessibility standards and non-discrimination requirements.

The contract term is one year with four optional renewal years. Vendors must provide detailed itemized pricing for all five work components. Proposals require a W-9, M/WBE self-certification, vendor accessibility compliance checklist, conflict of interest disclosure, and contract certification form. The State is exempt from federal excise taxes and state and local sales taxes.

The pre-proposal conference is scheduled for September 9, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. via Google Meet. Questions close September 17, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., with answers posted by September 18. Oral presentations, site visits, and demonstrations may occur in October. A Notice of Award is expected in November, with contract signing in November or December.