Media Strategist for Planning and Buying

The City of Detroit Office of Contracting and Procurement on behalf of the Media Services Department is requesting proposals for media strategist services to provide planning, buying, and campaign execution support across multiple City departments, with proposals due August 10, 2026.

The scope encompasses media strategy development, media planning, and media buy execution for various municipal marketing campaigns. Respondents must demonstrate expertise in campaign strategy, media planning across multiple channels, and media buying execution. A Respondent Questionnaire is a prerequisite screening tool; respondents must establish relevant experience with municipal or government clients and capacity to serve multiple city departments simultaneously before advancing to formal proposal evaluation.

Respondents must submit completed notarized City of Detroit Consolidated Affidavits covering hiring policy compliance, slavery era records and insurance disclosures, prison industry and immigration detention system records disclosures, and a covenant of equal opportunity. Required documentation also includes a sample employment application; a Certificate of Insurance compliant with model agreement requirements; three years of audited financial statements (Balance Sheets, Income Statements, and Statements of Cash Flows); proof of active System of Awards Management (SAM) registration; and evidence of City of Detroit Treasury Clearance application submission or approval. All contractors and subcontractors must comply with Chapter 17, Article V, Division 6 of the Detroit City Code regarding hiring practices and non-discrimination in employment. Contractors must disclose all political contributions and expenditures made to elective City of Detroit officials within the previous four years by the contractor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, principals, officers, owners, directors, agents, and assigns. Federal affidavits and certifications addressing debarment status, civil rights compliance, and drug-free workplace certification are also required. Insurance providers must be registered with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. The Treasury Clearance process requires a minimum of ten days following application submission; SAM registration requires ten to fifteen days and is available at no cost.

Pricing proposals must follow the cost structure outlined in Attachment C; the RFP specifies the format for submission but does not disclose the estimated contract value, contract term, or incumbent contractor in the available summaries.