Strategic Advertising and Creative Agency of Record

The Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA), a Joint Powers Authority formed between the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County, is seeking a Strategic Advertising and Creative Agency of Record (AOR) through this Request for Proposal issued January 26, 2026. The selected agency will serve as a long-term strategic, creative, and executional marketing partner providing fully integrated marketing services across the complete campaign lifecycle, including research, strategic planning, creative development, media planning and buying, campaign execution, and performance measurement. Key deliverables encompass media buying and placement across digital, broadcast, out-of-home, paid social, print, and linear/connected TV channels; design projects; video production and photography; graphic design assets; printed collateral; dust wall creative and terminal installations; and exhibit and trade show creative in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Spanglish, and Chinese as directed. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of seven years of Agency of Record experience providing strategic planning, creative development, media planning and buying, and cross-channel campaign execution, with strong proposals demonstrating at least ten years of experience. The selected AOR must maintain a dedicated, in-house core team including an Account Director, Creative Director, Copywriter, Graphic Designer, and Media Buyer/Media Strategist, with the OIAA conducting on-site visits five to seven times per year and holding bi-weekly minimum meetings. The contract term is anticipated to be three years with two one-year extension options, commencing in the first quarter of the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with compensation structured as a fixed, fully loaded hourly rate sheet for each staff member, paying only for actual work completed. Critical deadlines include a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting on February 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM via Microsoft Teams, a question submission deadline of February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and proposal submissions due March 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM through the OpenGov platform in PDF format not exceeding 30 pages, excluding cover letter, administrative requirements, references, and cost proposal.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations that may respond. Proposers must provide three references with direct knowledge of relevant project work and must integrate seamlessly with OIAA's established processes and existing partner ecosystem, including public relations consultants, website maintenance providers, social media strategists, and specialized vendors. All data generated under the contract, including analytics and performance metrics, shall be the property of OIAA and provided upon request without additional fees. Administrative requirements prior to award include obtaining insurance certification and a City of Ontario Business License within ten calendar days of notification of intent to award. The RFP does not disclose a specific award value or budget range; however, compensation will be determined by the fixed hourly rates submitted by the selected agency multiplied by actual hours worked on contract deliverables.