Summer Media Campaign

The Texas Department of Agriculture is requesting proposals for a Summer Media Campaign covering digital advertising, social media management, print advertising, broadcast media placement, and creative development, with proposals due August 6, 2026. Respondents must certify compliance with Executive Order 14151 and Texas Executive Order GA-55 prohibiting the use of state funds to contract with vendors that have established DEI policies and practices — a mandatory evaluation criterion that filters eligibility.

The scope encompasses campaign strategy development, advertising content creation, media buys across digital and traditional channels, performance tracking, and monthly reporting on reach and engagement. The vendor must demonstrate experience managing large-scale media campaigns and established relationships with major media outlets. The contract term is one year with three optional renewal years. Work is performed for the State of Texas with administrative oversight at the Texas Department of Agriculture.

A subcontracting plan is mandatory because the expected contract value exceeds $100,000 and subcontracting opportunities are probable. All vendors — whether prime contractors or self-performing entities — must document good faith efforts to recruit VetHUB-certified subcontractors, notifying at least two VetHUB vendors per subcontracting opportunity with a minimum seven-day response window. The completed subcontracting plan becomes part of the contract, and modifications require prior written approval from TDA.

The contractor must maintain Workers' Compensation insurance with employer's liability limits of $1,000,000 each accident; Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate; Comprehensive Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit; Umbrella Liability of $1,000,000 with drop-down coverage; Professional Liability of $1,000,000; and Cyber/Privacy Liability of $1,000,000 claim / $1,000,000 aggregate. All policies must be written on an occurrence basis by carriers rated A or better by A.M. Best, include TDA as additional insured, and contain 30-day cancellation notice and waiver of subrogation provisions.

Data security requirements mandate TX-RAMP compliance or NIST SP 800-53 standards, quarterly vulnerability reports, 24-hour breach notification with 72-hour resolution, encrypted data storage and transmission using AES 128-bit minimum, and annual SOC 2 Type 2 or Bridge Letter certification. Contractors must comply with the Standard Terms and Conditions in Exhibit A, which vest all work products and intellectual property in TDA, impose immediate termination rights for cause, and require E-Verify employment verification system compliance.

Evaluation criteria include vendor preference status claims under Texas Administrative Code Title 34, Part 1, Chapter 20, Subchapter C (products produced or grown in Texas, service-disabled veteran ownership, USA-produced supplies, recycled or environmentally sensitive materials, energy efficiency, and other specified preferences). CPI adjustments are permitted for renewal options based on the Consumer Price Index percent change between the response deadline month and the baseline index. No incumbent is identified. Questions are due per the deadline specified in the solicitation; the source does not identify a specific question deadline date.