Advertising & promotion (media planning & buying)

The Pinellas County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), doing business as Visit St. Pete-Clearwater (VistSPC), is seeking a qualified media planning and buying agency for comprehensive strategic advertising services. The procurement aims to promote tourism to Pinellas County through a multi-channel advertising approach encompassing video (TV and streaming), print, audio (radio, streaming and downloaded), digital display, out-of-home advertising, promotions, and marketing partnerships. The contract term is sixty (60) months with potential for a twenty-four (24) month extension. The evaluation process will utilize a 1,000-point scoring system, with points distributed across qualifications (300 points), strategic thinking and creative approach (400 points), statement of work (125 points), compensation (125 points), and exceptions to RFP (50 points). Key procurement dates include a question submission deadline of April 18, 2025, and a proposal submission deadline of May 1, 2025 at 3:00 pm. The selected agency must demonstrate extensive tourism marketing experience, financial stability, and maintain a dedicated team with roles including Creative Director, Art Director, Producer, Copywriter, and Account Services. The ultimate goal is to enhance the economic impact of tourism, with Pinellas County having received over 15.4 million visitors in 2024 and generating an economic impact of $11.2 billion.

The procurement includes several restrictive affidavits that potential contractors must complete, including a Human Trafficking Affidavit, Common Carrier Attestation, and a Foreign Countries of Concern Affidavit. These documents require contractors to certify compliance with various legal and ethical standards, including not using coerced labor, not transporting unauthorized aliens, and not being owned or controlled by specific foreign countries including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, or Syria. The compensation structure involves a monthly flat fee retainer for media planning and buying services, with media placement costs to be pre-approved and reimbursed at cost without markup. The evaluation committee comprises five members, including representatives from the CVB, the Tourism Development Council, The Salvador Dali Museum, and the Tampa Bay Times, suggesting a comprehensive review process. While specific budget details are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the contract and the county's significant tourism economic impact suggest a substantial potential contract value. The procurement appears to be open to qualified advertising and media planning agencies that can demonstrate expertise in tourism marketing and meet the specified compliance requirements.