Marketing Services for a Statewide Public Education Campaign on Voter Identification

The State of Nebraska, through the Department of Administrative Services' Materiel Division and State Purchasing Bureau, has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 6820 Z1 to secure marketing services for a statewide public education campaign on voter identification, specifically targeting the Nebraska Secretary of State's Office. The primary objective is to develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that educates Nebraska residents about new voter identification requirements ahead of the 2024 primary and general elections. Required services include strategic planning, market research, public awareness campaign design, branding, media production across various channels (video, audio, print, outdoor, and digital), and comprehensive reporting. The RFP requires bidders to demonstrate experience in media planning, account management, and public education campaign development, with mandatory submission of prior work samples. Evaluation criteria include a 200-point scoring system encompassing Corporate Overview, Technical Approach, and Cost Proposal, with potential for an additional 100 points through oral interviews. Proposals were due on September 27, 2023, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with the state anticipating an award by October 20, 2023, and a contract term running through June 30, 2025, with options to renew for four additional one-year periods.

Multiple vendors submitted proposals, including Strategic America, Ideologix Insights, Clark Creative Group, Learfield Interactions, KidGlov, Bozell, and redthread. The state has indicated that the resulting contract will not be exclusive, reserving the right to contract with multiple vendors or seek similar services from alternative sources. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly identified in the documentation. The final evaluation document ranked Ideologix Insights, Strategic America, and Clark Creative Group as the top bidders. While a precise budget was not disclosed, the RFP documents suggest flexibility in funding and approach, with bidders providing detailed cost proposals including strategic planning, market research, campaign design, media production, and associated professional service rates. The state's Certificate of Good Standing for Strategic America, Inc. confirms the vendor's eligibility to transact business in Nebraska. The existing infrastructure includes a pre-existing website related to the voter ID law, which will not require development as part of the campaign.