Public relations & marketing services

Valley Transit, a municipal transit service owned by the City of Appleton, Wisconsin, is seeking a comprehensive public relations and marketing services firm through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP VT25-004). The selected vendor will develop and execute strategies to promote Valley Transit services across multiple audiences, including existing riders, potential riders, and the general public. Qualified firms must possess a minimum of five years of experience in public relations, social media management, digital marketing, employee recruitment, crisis communications, media planning, and advertising performance measurement. The RFP requires the successful proposer to manage social media platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn), develop crisis communication plans, provide media relations, and support website content management. Proposals must be submitted via email or mail and received by 10:00 AM CST on October 8, 2025, with a potential interview/presentation scheduled for October 21, 2025. The contract award is anticipated in December 2025, with an annual agreement spanning five consecutive years starting January 1, 2026.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The annual budget for the scope of work is approximately $50,000, excluding advertising expenses, with funding sourced from City, County, State, and Federal taxpayer dollars. The contract will be subject to regulations from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. The primary objectives include increasing bus ridership and improving public perception of public transit, with a particular emphasis on addressing current driver shortages through targeted employee recruitment efforts. No incumbent vendors are mentioned in the documentation. The selected firm will need to integrate with Valley Transit's existing communication infrastructure and platforms, demonstrating adaptability and strategic communication capabilities. Potential respondents should carefully review the full RFP available on Valley Transit's website at https://myvalleytransit.com/business/ for complete submission requirements and detailed evaluation criteria.