SD Office of Family Nutrition Services Outreach & Media Services

The South Dakota Department of Health's Office of Communication & Marketing is seeking a qualified vendor to provide comprehensive outreach and media services for the WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) Program through a project-based Request for Proposal (RFP). The selected contractor will be responsible for developing and executing media campaigns across multiple channels including digital, print, radio, television, and out-of-home advertising to promote WIC enrollment and program awareness. Key deliverables include creative asset development, social media management, translation services in Spanish, Karen, Nepali, Swahili, and Somali, media buying and placement, research services, photography, and comprehensive campaign reporting. Mandatory submission deadlines include a Letter of Intent due by January 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST, offeror questions due by January 23, 2026, and final proposals due by February 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST. Oral presentations are tentatively scheduled for the week of March 18, 2026, with an anticipated award decision in June 2026. Evaluation criteria will include three references from similar previous contracts, detailed qualifications, past performance data, and demonstrated expertise in media strategy, planning, and execution.

The contract will be funded entirely through federal USDA sources, with no guaranteed funding levels year to year and the Department of Health reserving the right to adjust, amend, or terminate the contract based on federal appropriations. The initial contract term will run from June 1 to May 31 of the following year, with potential annual renewals for up to four additional years contingent on performance and available funding. A sample nine-month WIC Enrollment Awareness Campaign budget is estimated at $150,000, though the actual contract budget will be determined by available federal funds. Contractors must maintain specific insurance requirements, including $1,000,000 in commercial general liability, professional liability, and business automobile liability, as well as workers' compensation insurance. Bidders must certify non-debarment status, demonstrate non-discrimination in employment practices, and comply with prohibitions regarding foreign entities and boycotts of Israeli commerce. No website development is included in the scope, though recommendations on the state's ServiceNow platform may be requested. The contract allows termination by either party with 30 days' written notice, or immediate termination by the State for contractor breach.