AHEC-27900-D - Program-Specific Digital Advertising for MSU

Metropolitan State University of Denver, through the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC), is requesting quotes for program-specific digital advertising services to support six academic colleges and schools, with quotes due August 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time. AHEC intends to award to up to two vendors and reserves the right to cancel the agreement at any time with thirty days' written notice.

The scope spans strategic planning, creative development, multi-channel digital campaign execution, optimization, and performance reporting across social media, Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Campaigns will promote three programs in Fall 2026 and three in Spring 2027, each running 3 to 4 months. Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of five years' higher education marketing and student recruitment experience; preferred qualifications include proficiency with Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, and YouTube advertising. International vendors are eligible.

The total budget is $120,000 for the full contract term, divided evenly across six campaigns at approximately $20,000 per campaign inclusive of all professional service fees, media expenditures, and production costs. MSU Denver prefers retainer or fixed-fee pricing over hourly rates or percentage-of-spend models. Costs must remain firm for 90 days from the quote due date and for the first 12 months of contract performance. The contract term runs from purchase order issuance through June 30, 2027, with options to extend for up to two additional one-year increments. All work is performed remotely with collaboration via Microsoft Teams or similar platforms.

Evaluation criteria—weighted equally—are relevant experience, strategic approach and methodology, personnel and project management qualifications, reporting and performance optimization capabilities, and cost and overall value. MSU Denver reserves the right to conduct virtual interviews with selected vendors and to reject all quotes or make multiple awards if in the University's best interest. Questions are due August 3, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Vendors must submit a completed W-9 form with their proposal.