GRIT Public Education and Ongoing Engagement Campaign

The South Dakota Department of the Military, on behalf of the State of South Dakota and the Governor's Resilient Infrastructure Task Force (GRIT), is requesting proposals for marketing and communications services to develop and manage a statewide public-education campaign on infrastructure resilience, with proposals due October 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

The contractor will translate GRIT topics into clear, practical, and actionable information for South Dakota citizens, communities, and businesses, modeled on successful public-service campaigns such as "Call Before You Dig." The campaign will address resilience actions citizens can take before disruptions to power and energy, communications, water and wastewater, transportation, fuel, healthcare, and other interdependent essential services. The purpose is education and local relevance, not organizational promotion of GRIT itself.

Scope includes audience research and campaign strategy, message development, content creation, media planning and placement, public engagement, measurement, continuous refinement, and project management. The contractor must provide ongoing engagement because the campaign will address related resilience topics over time. All advertising materials, content, reports, and work products become property of the State.

The total budget for the initial twelve-month contract term is $250,000. The cost proposal must allocate this budget across specified categories, with paid-media expenditures separately identified from planning, placement, and management fees. Optional services and enhancements must be clearly identified and separately priced. The contract includes potential for two additional one-year renewal options subject to satisfactory performance, continued need, available funding, and mutual written agreement.

The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence, professional liability insurance of at least $1 million, business automobile liability insurance of at least $1 million per accident, and workers' compensation insurance as required by South Dakota law. Offeror questions are due October 8, 2026, with State responses by October 14. Oral presentations, if required, are scheduled October 27–30, with anticipated award on November 3, 2026. Proposals must be submitted electronically to Marshall Michels at marshall.t.michels.nfg@army.mil.