Local Media Buying Services

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Parkland College Strategic Local Media Buying Services Parkland College seeks proposals from firms with demonstrated expertise in media planning, negotiating, securing, trafficking, and reporting effective, efficient local media within Illinois Community College District 505, with a focus on local traditional media. Digital media buying is covered in a separate RFP. A contract will be awarded for a 24-month period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026. Proposals are due Friday, April 5, 2024, by Noon and should be addressed to: Parkland College Attn: Ruthie M. Counter, Room X151 Director, Marketing and Public Relations 2400 W. Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821-1899 or by e-mail to rcounter@parkland.edu. Proposal Timeline RFP Issued.............................................................................................................................March 14, 2024 Last day to submit questions for a

response...................................................................March 28, 2024 Proposal submission deadline ................................................................................................April 5, 2024 Virtual Interviews.............................................................................................................April 15–19, 2024 Recommendation submitted to Parkland College Board of Trustees...............................May 1, 2024 Approval by Parkland Board of Trustees..............................................................................May 15, 2024 College Information Parkland College is a community college serving Community College District 505. Parkland College enrolls approximately 8,500 students annually. The campus is a melting pot of student life, with diverse cultures, students ranging in age from 16 to 86, and a growing international student presence. A majority of our students live and work within District 505. Parkland College’s location in Champaign, Illinois, provides the amenities and excitement of a larger city with small-town conveniences. Champaign is a growing city in Illinois, with a long list of opportunities for our residents and short commute times. Parkland College offers academic programs that prepare students to transfer to a four-year university, career and technical education, workforce and business training, continuing education for adults, youth programs, and more. Parkland is No. 1 in student transfers to the University of Illinois, a top research university in Champaign-Urbana. mailto:rcounter@parkland.edu Scope of Work Parkland College is seeking a marketing agency to collaborate in planning and placing advertising campaigns within Community College District 505, with an emphasis on local traditional media. Parkland College’s Marketing and Public Relations team provides in-house creative, strategy, and budget management. The team will work with the media buyer to develop strategy and planning for three major enrollment campaigns throughout the year (fall, spring, and summer), as well as program and event specific marketing campaigns throughout the year. Campaigns encompass a mix of digital and traditional media platforms. Traditional platforms include OOH, radio, TV, newspaper, and more. Parkland College will work with a separate buyer for digital media, which is not a part of this RFP. The ideal agency will have a strong understanding of the community college mission, its target audiences, and the community college enrollment process and timelines. Please provide the following information in any proposal: Vendor Information A. Agency’s name, address, telephone number, legal status of entity (ownership), and the year the entity was established. B. Name of Agency’s contact person, telephone, and email address. Qualifications Information 1. State the number of years of experience the media buyer/planner has in buying/planning media in District 505. 2. List three (3) clients for which the Agency has provided media planning and buying services within the last three (3) years and a brief description of the services performed. 3. Describe current or previous experience working with institutions of higher education. Include institution name(s), services provided, and years of the relationship. 4. Discuss the media buying process and provide examples on how the media buyer/planner presents proposed schedules for media buys. 5. Parkland College requires the Agency to collect and compile vendor invoices and contracts and submit them on a monthly basis to Parkland Marketing for payment. Individual vendor invoices and contracts are not to be sent directly to Parkland College. 6. Provide fee and rate structure for media planning and buying services. 7. Agencies are invited to include additional information not requested above, if believed to be useful and applicable to this Request for Proposal. Termination Clause When a vendor is selected, the College may terminate the agreement for any reason giving the vendor 60 days’ written notice. The vendor may terminate the agreement for any reason giving the College at least 60 days’ written notice. Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Consistent with the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act, 30 ILCS 575/0.01, et seq. (the “Act”), it is the policy of Parkland College to foster and encourage the continued economic development of minority owned businesses, female owned businesses, and businesses owned by a person with a disability. When Parkland College is required to competitively bid a contract, the bid documents shall additionally require all potential bidders to submit their name, the bid amount, a statement confirming whether the bidder is including in its bid work to be performed by certified as a minority owned businesses, female owned businesses, and businesses owned by a person with a disability. Are you certified as a minority owned business or female owned or person with a disability owned business? Yes ____ No____