CAAM RFP 25762 Marketing & Communications Services

The California African American Museum (CAAM) is requesting proposals for ongoing monthly marketing and communications consulting services under RFP 25762, with proposals due July 22, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. PST. Small Business preference of 5 percent and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise incentive points of 3 to 5 percent apply if the highest-scoring proposer is not certified; both certifications are optional but eligible for preference.

The scope includes strategic planning and oversight, content creation and publications (quarterly publications and monthly e-newsletters), digital strategy and social media management, media and public relations, advertising and campaigns, and community engagement. Services must support the museum's exhibitions, programs, public events, and institutional initiatives, including the museum's 50th anniversary and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The contractor must attend monthly in-person staff meetings, provide weekly check-ins via email or phone, and submit monthly status reports and quarterly performance reports.

Minimum qualifications require legal entity registration in California, resumes for assigned staff detailing relevant experience, and at least 10 to 15 years of marketing and communications consulting services for art nonprofit organizations or museums. The contractor must be located within 50 miles of CAAM unless demonstrable capability justifies an exception. Commercial general liability insurance ($1 million per occurrence, $2 million aggregate), automobile liability coverage ($1 million), and workers compensation insurance are required, with the State of California named as additional insured.

CAAM estimates approximately 480 hours annually, though actual hours may vary based on operational needs. Compensation is based on actual hours worked at hourly billing rates submitted for each of the three contract years. The contract term runs September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029, with two optional one-year extensions at CAAM's sole discretion. Written questions are due July 8, 2026, with responses posted by July 10. Proposals are evaluated in two phases: Phase 1 (Proposal Questionnaire, 100 points maximum) and Phase 2 (Fee Proposal, 100 points maximum), with a minimum Phase 1 score of 75 points required to advance.