Marketing and Advertising Services

The State of Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for comprehensive marketing and advertising services aimed at increasing both in-state and out-of-state tourism. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to provide brand development, creative concepting, advertising campaign production and execution, public relations, and performance analytics across a five-year contract period. Respondents must demonstrate current annual billing of at least $20 million and secure a $1 million line of credit commitment. The RFP requires extensive capabilities including domestic and international media placement, strategic planning, digital advertising, email marketing, social media services, and website content management. Evaluation criteria will allocate 20 points for general qualifications, 60 points for technical qualifications and approach, and 20 points for cost proposals, totaling 100 possible points. Key procurement dates include a pre-response conference on January 14, 2026, written questions due by January 21, 2026, proposal submissions due by February 25, 2026, mandatory two-hour oral presentations scheduled for March 24-25 and March 27, 2026, and cost proposal opening on April 2, 2026. The State plans to issue a Notice of Intent to Award on April 13, 2026, with contract execution required by April 24, 2026.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The estimated annual spend ranges from $25 to $30 million, with public relations services estimated at $500,000 annually, and a maximum contract liability cap of $150,000,000. The contract requires the selected vendor to maintain a Tennessee business address with available personnel and obtain State approval for all proposed projects. Contractors must comply with comprehensive legal requirements including ADA compliance, HIPAA regulations, cybersecurity standards, and specific Artificial Intelligence policy restrictions. Insurance requirements are substantial, mandating commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, professional liability of $1,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 aggregate, and automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit. The State reserves the right to reject any or all responses and conduct clarifications and negotiations with one or more respondents prior to final award. While no incumbent vendor is explicitly mentioned, the contract emphasizes ongoing strategic collaboration with Tennessee's tourism ecosystem, including coordination with Destination Marketing Organizations and utilizing advanced research platforms.