Communications - Public Relations, Public Opinion Research and Marketing Consulting

Washington County, Oregon is conducting a Request for Proposal (RFP #2024.028-RFP) to pre-qualify up to five firms in three service categories: Communications/Public Relations, Public Opinion Research, and Marketing and Advertising. The county seeks external organizations to support communications and public relations for various county operations, with an immediate focus on the Department of Housing Services and the Supportive Housing Services measure. Required services include material and content development such as presentations, talking points, press releases, media relations, graphic design, and storytelling support. Proposers are encouraged to focus on their areas of strength and are not required to team with multiple sub-consultants. The evaluation criteria will assess team qualifications, project management approach, workforce diversity, and past performance, with a total possible score of 95 points. Proposals are due by 5:00 pm on March 8, 2024, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for February 23, 2024. The contract term will be up to five years, with selected firms placed on an availability list for on-call services across various county departments and initiatives.

The county has placed a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, prioritizing firms certified by the State of Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID), including women-owned, disadvantaged, emerging small, minority, or veteran-owned businesses. There is no guaranteed volume of work, as services will be requested on an as-needed basis, and the county reserves the right to solicit services outside the established list if necessary. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, including Commercial General Liability (with $1,000,000/$2,000,000 limits), Automobile Liability Insurance ($1,000,000 combined single limit), and Professional Liability Insurance. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract allows for flexible, as-needed engagement with multiple qualified firms. The county will use a standardized Personal/Professional Services Contract template that includes provisions for payment terms, typically within thirty days of invoice approval, and allows for amendment of the maximum payable amount as needed.