Town of Farragut Tourism, Marketing and Public Relations Services

The Town of Farragut, located in Knox County, Tennessee, is seeking a professional services vendor to develop a comprehensive tourism marketing and public relations strategy through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP No. 2026-12). The primary objective is to create a media plan focused on attracting visitors from 50 miles or more, with specific deliverables including strategic content development, digital advertising campaign planning, video and photography asset production, and customizable marketing templates. Key project requirements include developing a digital media calendar, reviewing brand identity, planning advertising campaigns across platforms like Tripadvisor and Meta, and providing data-driven analysis recommendations. The evaluation will use a weighted scoring system, allocating 100 technical points across categories such as Strategic Planning (30 points), Research & Analysis (20 points), Creative Concepting (20 points), and other technical components. Critical procurement dates include a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting on August 28, 2025, a question deadline of September 4, 2025, proposal submissions due September 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM, and an anticipated award date of September 16, 2025, with final Board of Mayor and Aldermen approval scheduled for October 9, 2025.

The project is funded through the Tennessee Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Fund grant, with a total budget not to exceed $20,000, which covers strategy, content creation, and asset development but excludes media placement and advertising spend. Proposers must submit one bound original, four paper copies, and a sealed cost form envelope, with no electronic submissions accepted. A mandatory 5% bid bond is required, which will be returned after award if no protests occur. While the RFP does not specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, it requires comprehensive documentation and includes several mandatory certifications such as Drug-Free Workplace, Non-Collusion, Debarment/Suspension, Byrd Anti-Lobbying, Non-Boycott of Israel, and Title VI Assurance forms. The Town will provide selected vendors access to existing photo assets and brand materials, though these are noted as not being professional-grade. Proposal responses are limited to 150 pages and must include detailed sections covering company background, qualifications, references, proposed solutions, and methodological approaches to the project.