Advertising & Media Buying Services

The 32nd District Agricultural Association, doing business as the OC Fair & Event Center, is requesting proposals for comprehensive advertising and media buying services with proposals due October 27, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. A five percent small business preference applies to certified Small Business Bidders, and DVBE participation receives additional incentive points up to five percent.

The scope encompasses strategic advertising, creative development, media planning and buying, digital performance marketing, research, analytics, and related services supporting the OC Fair, Pacific Amphitheatre, Imaginology, year-round events, and venue rentals. The awardee must provide account management, media planning, creative concept development, strategic planning, research, special projects, and production services for television and radio.

Compensation is structured as a fixed monthly fee for account management and media planning, a fixed monthly fee for creative concept development, a media buying commission calculated as a percentage of actual media placement costs (estimated at $1.2 million annually for evaluation purposes), hourly rates for strategic planning and research (estimated at 1,000 hours annually), and project-based estimates for production services (television production estimated at approximately $100,000 annually; radio production at approximately $30,000 annually). The District will not guarantee any minimum volume of work or media expenditure.

The contract term runs January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028, with three optional one-year renewals exercisable at the District's sole discretion. The RFP is evaluated on a 100-point scale: relevant experience and qualifications (20 points), creative work examples (10 points), method of approach (20 points), OC Fair theme/campaign creative concept (10 points), presentation (10 points), and financial proposal (30 points). Questions are due October 12, 2026, with answers provided by October 14, 2026. The top three proposers will present on November 3, 2026, followed by a Notice of Proposed Award on November 4, 2026 and Board approval on November 19, 2026. Mandatory submissions include the Financial Proposal Bid Form, Bidder/Contractor Status Form, Bidder Declaration, Darfur Contracting Act Attachment, and Iran Contracting Act Attachment.