REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR Marketing Services

Description: Solicitor: Minnesota Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) on behalf of the Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MN-MRPC). The Minnesota Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC), a nonpartisan office of the Minnesota Legislature, is seeking, on behalf of the Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MN-MRPC), information for providing marketing and outreach services to the MN-MRPC. The LCC serves as the fiscal agent for the MN-MRPC and provides administrative services for the commission. As such, the LCC is the overall administrative entity for the MN-MRPC and is responsible for member coordination, commission meeting support, and other administrative services. Fiscal agent services include budget maintenance and payable services. The MN-MRPC is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and enhancement of the scenic, historic, and recreational resources of the Mississippi River and its communities. The MN-MRPC's mission seeks to foster economic growth through increased tourism in the river corridor and develop the national scenic and historic parkway known as the Great River Road (GRR), a 565-mile National Scenic Byway and All-American Road from Lake Itasca State Park to the Iowa border (Minn. Stat. § 161.1419). The MN-MRPC is a legislative commission under the administrative and fiscal oversight of the LCC and is comprised of 15 members representing the legislature, state agencies, regional citizen members, and an at-large member. The MN-MRPC is part of the larger National MRPC, which includes state commissions from nine other Mississippi River states. Scope and objectives (services sought may include, in coordination with the LCC): • Assistance with email and mail inquiries from the general public (1-5 requests per month). • Maintaining up-to-date contact information of community stakeholders, interpretive centers, and other byway partners. • Ongoing communications to commission members, agency and technical partners, community stakeholders, Minnesota's 13 interpretive centers, and scenic byway contacts (1-2 times per month). • Work with MRPC and LCC to determine ideal messaging strategies for GRR and its partners. • Design and implement digital marketing plans on social media and other online platforms to increase GRR awareness (3-4 original posts per month). • Ongoing proactive outreach to interpretive centers, convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), and other byway partners to develop and deepen partnerships (monthly). • Participation in MN-MRPC quarterly and executive committee meetings. • Coordinate the printing and distribution of GRR maps (approximately once every 18 months). • Design and production of GRR brochures and guides. • Design and execution of special projects, such as the annual Drive the Great River Road Month campaign (1-2 times per year). • Website maintenance and updates, seasonal promotional opportunities, and updates as needed (may be in coordination with vendor website maintenance services and the LCC) (1-2 times per year). • Work with MN-MRPC and LCC on National MRPC meeting planning when hosted by the MN-MRPC (once every 4-7 years). • Interaction with ten-state national MRPC members and national MRPC staff, including possible participation in national MRPC committees. • Strategic plan project work and other special project services as requested, including alignment with national scenic byway frameworks. • Draft press releases about MRPC- and GRR-related news (2-4 times per year). • Respond to new initiatives as they develop. Submission contents requested (each information response should contain): 1. Transmittal cover letter including contact information for the individual or entity. 2. Summary of marketing services that the individual or entity may be able to provide to the MN-MRPC. 3. Description of individual/entity, qualifications, past tourism and marketing services experience, examples of marketing work if possible. 4. Description of experience with any intergovernmental or legislative infrastructure. 5. Fee information including estimated hours of service on a per/month basis and inclusive hourly cost or monthly retainer. 6. Any other information that may be helpful. Eligibility and evaluation: This Request for Information (RFI) is open to all individuals and entities possessing the appropriate capabilities, qualifications, and experience. Upon receipt and evaluation of qualified submissions, the LCC will consider the information provided and reserves the right to potentially negotiate contract terms, request interviews or follow-up questions, and is not obligated to enter into a contractual agreement. Funding for work is subject to legislative appropriations to the LCC. Contact person: Andrew George, Minnesota Legislative Coordinating Commission, Centennial Office Building, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155; 651-297-7143 (voice); andrew.george@lcc.mn.gov.