Oregon Cultural Trust Strategic Communications & Marketing Contractor

The State of Oregon, acting through the Oregon Business Development Department on behalf of the Oregon Cultural Trust, is issuing an Intermediate Request for Proposal (RFP S-12300-00016768) for a Strategic Communications & Marketing Contractor. The procurement seeks comprehensive communication and outreach services to support the Trust's 25th anniversary celebration, year-end fundraising campaign, and ongoing communications initiatives extending into 2027. Key deliverables include development of a multi-month digital and marketing campaign culminating in a late October 2026 anniversary event, collaboration on the 2026 year-end fundraising campaign, strategy development, creative concepts, paid and earned media planning, influencer collaborations, web presence development, graphic design, social media management, copywriting for press releases and fundraising collateral, and coordination with existing Agency contractors. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of three comparable projects completed within the last five years and must be registered in OregonBuys. The RFP will be evaluated on three criteria: Project Implementation Plan (45 points), Qualifications (45 points), and Pricing Narrative (10 points), with all work product becoming the exclusive property of the Agency. Questions and clarifications must be submitted by May 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and proposals are due May 21, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with a Notice of Intent to Award anticipated for approximately June 15, 2026.

The procurement does not contain set-aside designations restricting participation; however, the Agency has established preferences for Oregon-sourced goods and services, offering a 10% price adjustment for services performed entirely in Oregon by Oregon-based staff working from an Oregon location, and encourages participation by Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) certified small businesses, including disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses. The Oregon Cultural Trust has existing contractual relationships that the selected contractor must coordinate with, including a website contractor handling WordPress development, a videographer for an anthem video, a digital strategy and social media contractor, and a partnership with Willamette Week for its Give!Guide publication. The contract is structured on a time and materials basis with an hourly billing rate model based on actual pay rates plus negotiated indirect costs and profit, along with reimbursement for reasonable and necessary direct non-labor costs. The proposed total budget is $248,000, which includes media placement costs, billboards, influencer fees, photography and videography production, and travel expenses, with an anticipated contract term of one year (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027) and the Agency reserving the right to amend for additional time and reasonably related services. The contract requires commercial general liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, workers' compensation coverage as required by Oregon law, and professional liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, with the Agency retaining the right to apply 10% retainage on invoices pending final payment upon task completion and Agency approval.