Media Relation Services

The City of Detroit Office of Contracting and Procurement on behalf of the City Council Department is requesting proposals for marketing and communication consulting services under RFP 550575, with proposals due October 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST through the EUNA Bonfire portal; questions are due September 14, 2026. Up to 10 additional Detroit Equalization Credits points are available for certified Detroit-based businesses, small businesses, and micro businesses.

The scope encompasses digital marketing, content creation, social media management, media relations, and strategic communications support for Councilwoman Johnson's District 4 office on an as-needed basis, including district-wide newsletters, promotional materials, social media and e-blast content, public relations messaging, and event materials. Respondents must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience providing similar services and knowledge of Councilwoman Johnson's brand, priorities, and District 4 constituents; preferred experience includes work with elected officials and local media. The contract term is three years with potential renewal options subject to Detroit City Council approval.

Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Respondent Qualifications and Experience (50 points), Proposed Marketing Strategy (25 points), and Price/Cost Proposal (25 points), with the 10 available equalization-credit points supplementing the base score.

Pricing may be firm and fixed (annually or for the full contract term) or hourly, with rates to be broken out by staff classification. Insurance requirements include workers' compensation at Michigan statutory minimums, commercial general liability of $1 million per occurrence with $2 million aggregate, and errors and omission/cyber liability of $1 million per claim with $5 million aggregate. Contractors must provide either ISO 27001 certification or a SOC 2 Type 2 Report annually. Proposals are valid for 120 days from the due date. Respondents must submit through Bonfire only; faxed or mailed proposals will not be accepted. The City reserves the right to request oral presentations, conduct site visits, negotiate with top-ranked respondents, and cancel the RFP at its discretion. No contract becomes effective until approved by required City Departments, Detroit City Council, and signed by the Chief Procurement Officer. Payment follows NET 30 terms under the City of Detroit Prompt Payment Ordinance.