South Korean Marketing and Trade Representative

The Florida Department of Citrus is seeking proposals from companies to manage trade representation and promotional programs for Florida Grapefruit, Grapefruit Juice, and Florida Orange Juice in South Korea through RFP #25-02. The selected vendor will be responsible for executing marketing, public relations, advertising, and market research activities targeting consumers, media, trade partners, importers, wholesalers, retailers, food manufacturers, and foodservice operators. Proposing companies must submit a preliminary strategic approach based on a $600,000 budget for grapefruit products and a $700,000 budget for orange juice, presenting tactics within a strategic framework. The contract will run for a two-year initial period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with a potential optional three-year renewal. Proposals are due February 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST at the Florida Department of Citrus headquarters in Bartow, Florida, requiring three hard copies and one USB flash drive. Evaluation criteria include marketing and PR experience (15 points), trade relationship experience (15 points), strategic approach quality (15 points), agriculture and food/beverage experience (10 points), South Korea coverage capability (10 points), program measurement and reporting (10 points), USDA-FAS funding program experience (10 points), cost and value (10 points), and financial control assessment (5 points), totaling 100 possible points.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must complete several mandatory compliance forms, including a Use of Coercion for Labor or Services certification, a Public Entity Crimes Statement, and a Vendor Certification Form that requires compliance with various statutory requirements. The procurement requires vendors to demonstrate financial stability, including publishing regular financial statements, engaging external accounting firms for audits, and proving capacity to pay third-party vendors. An Intent to Award will be posted on March 23, 2026, with the contract submitted to the Florida Citrus Commission by May 20, 2026, and the official award date set for July 1, 2026. Prior to selection, the Department may require bidders to make virtual or in-person presentations to FDOC staff and the Florida Citrus Commission. Vendors will be paid upon invoice submission with supporting documentation, and a one percent transaction fee will be assessed through the MyFloridaMarketPlace system. The total available budget for this contract represents approximately $1.3 million across grapefruit and orange juice promotional activities.