City issues RFP for marketing downtown

[PonderInc]

In case anyone is interested, the Downtown Coordinating Council and the City of Tulsa have issued an RFP for downtown marketing services (thanks to Stadium Improvement District funds).

http://www.cityoftulsapurchasing.org/Spec/RFP%2010-701%20Marketing%20Downtown%20Tulsa%20and%20Maintaining%20Website.pdf

It's a two-part RFP, so interested parties can respond to one or both parts (blogging, managing web content, writing articles, etc...and the actual creation of a website dedicated to downtown).  Here's the gist from the RFP.  I just copied and pasted this info.  Sorry about the lack of formatting.

III. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this RFP is to select the consultant(s) best suited to:
 Build brand identity, awareness and interest in downtown Tulsa
 Enhance the image of downtown Tulsa as a unique, fun and safe
destination for locals and visitors alike.
 Promote downtown as a vibrant center for culture, commerce, arts,
entertainment and education.

IV. SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of work is divided into two parts:

Part A – Ongoing marketing / promotion of downtown Tulsa

1. Utilize electronic, social, and traditional media to "spotlight" downtown
Tulsa: what's unique and what's going on. Topics might include:
a. Events
b. People and places
c. Businesses
d. Arts and culture
e. Downtown living

2. Maintain and update content on the downtown website (to be created
in conjunction with Part B of this RFP).
a. Consistently provide lively, entertaining and informative
content via website blog and other media.
b. Maintain online events calendar with up-to-date information on
downtown happenings.
c. Ensure that all website content is current and correct
i. Blog updated at least twice weekly with new
articles/content
ii. Events calendar updated weekly
iii. Links and other information verified as needed to
ensure content is valid.
d. Update website photos and/or videos on a regular basis to
maintain interest and fresh perspectives.

3. Utilize Twitter and/or other social media to promote downtown entities
and events and drive traffic to the downtown website.

4. Implement additional innovative marketing ideas and strategies that
support the Objective above.
The City of Tulsa and the DCC Marketing Committee will maintain ultimate
editorial control of the content for the website and marketing materials.

Part B – Development of a downtown website to support marketing efforts
above

1. Create a unique brand or logo for downtown Tulsa.
a. Branding and/or logo materials will be compatible with other forms of
printed marketing and media such as banners, newspaper and magazine
advertising, postcards, signage, etc.

2. Create a website to act as the "go-to place" for information about downtown.

3. The website will be designed to feature:
a. Downtown events and news
b. A regularly updated blog that supports the Objective
c. Photos and/or videos of downtown people and places
d. Links to related websites and resources for downtown businesses,
residents and visitors
e. Festival/Event resource page (Content will be provided by the City/DCC:
what you need to know to bring an event downtown: permits and
deadlines, available public/private spaces, resources for equipment, etc)
f. Additional creative ideas suggested by the proposer that support the
Objective above.

4. Technical requirements:
a. The website must include an easy-to-use content management system
b. The website will be hosted by the City of Tulsa on its servers. (Servers
are Windows platform)
c. Any database associated with the website must be compatible with SQL
Server or MySQL
d. Any domain name registered by the proposer for this project will become
the property of the City of Tulsa when the contract is awarded
e. The website and its content will be the property of the City of Tulsa
f. Discovery, requirements, planning, site definition, development, testing
and deployment is expected
g. The website should be compatible for viewing on "smart phones."

V. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PROPOSAL
Respondents to this RFP may submit proposals for Part A, Part B, or both Part A
and B.

Submit the following to the City and DCC marketing committee for discussion,
review and approval:
1. Examples of your previous work/portfolio that demonstrate your ability
to meet the Objectives of this RFP.
2. Name and background of the managing professional and other key
individuals to be associated with this assignment.
3. Professional references.
4. A plan for how you would meet the requirements of the Scope of Work
(Part A and/or Part B).
5. (If responding to Part A) A sample article or blog entry related to
downtown that demonstrates the type of written content you would
provide.
6. (If responding to Part A) A plan for how you would utilize electronic,
social and traditional media to achieve the Objectives of this RFP.
7. (If responding to Part B) Include website concepts for branding and
design, content, additional resources / links, etc.
8. Answer the following question: "What uniquely qualifies you to
promote downtown Tulsa?"
9. Proposed fee for all work conducted under Part A and/or Part B.

VI. ESTIMATED TIMETABLE FOR PROPOSALS
Note: The City reserves the right to alter this timetable as necessary.
RFP Issued July 22, 2010.
Proposals due Thursday, August 11, 2010.
Interviews to further evaluate top proposals: week of August 16-20, 2010
Evaluation and recommendation to the Mayor and SSA Committee on
August 26, 2010.

VII. SELECTION CRITERIA
The selection committee will evaluate proposals based upon the descriptions
referenced above in this RFP as well as other criteria including:
1. Professional qualifications, experience and technical competence; 30 points
2. Capacity, capability and creativity of the firm, cost control, quality of work and
ability to meet schedules; 30 points
3. Record of past performance; 5 points
4. Proximity to and familiarity with the area of service; 10 points
5. Estimated schedule for completion of the project; 5 points
6. Proposed Fee for Part A and/or Part B - 20 points

[Conan71]

Essentially, these were all things that DTU was supposed to do and proved to be incredibly impotent at doing.  Why is there a need to (re-)create yet one more ivory tower for an out of town exec to curl up in for the next 20 years when our own existing CoC has a $9 to $10 mm per year operating budget to, uh, promote Tulsa?

Sorry to be such a sour-puss but we waste a ton of money creating little fiefdoms for people to run which contribute little to the advancement of the area.  I do not have a good feeling about this and cannot even begin to see why this is not a function of our existing CoC.

[Gaspar]

Wow!  I smelled this coming.  Everything they mention in this RFP could be handled internally with the appropriate staff. 

This will actually roll into a "branding" exercise.  You watch!

[Conan71]

Anyone want to bet Schnake Turnbow Frank has the inside track on this?

[we vs us]

I'm almost afraid to say it after all that, but I'm glad they're doing this.  It's exclusively for digital content, which the city sorely needs more of.   

I don't know what DTU did or what it was supposed to do, but this is a need that stands regardless of prior history.

[Gaspar]

Anyone want to bet Schnake Turnbow Frank has the inside track on this?

Of course they do.  This is simply a gesture.

I hope they come up with a cool new "Swoosh."

I hope it's something "technology forward."

Huge pile of smile coming our way.

[Townsend]

Of course they do.  This is simply a gesture.

I hope they come up with a cool new "Swoosh."

I hope it's something "technology forward."

Huge pile of smile coming our way.

"I Am Tulsa" meetings will begin at the Tul Com Col.

[Conan71]

I'm almost afraid to say it after all that, but I'm glad they're doing this.  It's exclusively for digital content, which the city sorely needs more of.   

I don't know what DTU did or what it was supposed to do, but this is a need that stands regardless of prior history.

I have to apologize to people like you who have not been here quite long enough to appreciate our culture and tradition of expecting mediocrity out of those charged with promoting Tulsa.  My cynicism is justifiable.

DTU was supposed to promote business and development within the IDL.  In reality, it was nothing more than a place for a non-Tulsan to take his shoes off and trim his toe nails at his desk for $140K per year for the last 20 years.  The ball park and private investment have done more for downtown development than 50 years of DTU did.

I knew some good people who worked at DTU over the years, but I don't know a single downtown business person who had good things to say about DTU nor it's director.  It wasn't much different than the old tradition of mob bosses shaking down local business for protection, only in this case, business owners got nothing but some half-assed seasonal advertising and promotion.

[Conan71]

"I Am Tulsa" meetings will begin at the Tul Com Col.

"M R Tulsans"

"L I B"

[we vs us]

I have to apologize to people like you who have not been here quite long enough to appreciate our culture and tradition of expecting mediocrity out of those charged with promoting Tulsa.  My cynicism is justifiable.

DTU was supposed to promote business and development within the IDL.  In reality, it was nothing more than a place for a non-Tulsan to take his shoes off and trim his toe nails at his desk for $140K per year for the last 20 years.  The ball park and private investment have done more for downtown development than 50 years of DTU did.

I knew some good people who worked at DTU over the years, but I don't know a single downtown business person who had good things to say about DTU nor it's director.  It wasn't much different than the old tradition of mob bosses shaking down local business for protection, only in this case, business owners got nothing but some half-assed seasonal advertising and promotion.

Sounds like DTU sucked.  Was there a reason it didn't get challenged/audited/dissolved in those 20 years?

I guess regardless of the issues with DTU, which advertises itself as a private not-for-profit association, the RFP makes it clear that the marketing collateral will be the property -- and under the jurisdiction of -- the City of Tulsa.  Different masters, different outcomes . . . though if you're of a mind that anything the city runs is doomed to failure, then it's all gonna look like a pile of smile no matter what the RFP looks like.

EDIT:  And not that I'm defending the DTU guy whoever he is, but anyone marketing downtown has got a pretty stiff current to swim against, at least locally.  I consider myself to be living in one of Tulsa's renaissance periods, but I can only imagine how hostile things were to DT in the 80's and 90's.

[dbacks fan]

I have to apologize to people like you who have not been here quite long enough to appreciate our culture and tradition of expecting mediocrity out of those charged with promoting Tulsa.  My cynicism is justifiable.

DTU was supposed to promote business and development within the IDL.  In reality, it was nothing more than a place for a non-Tulsan to take his shoes off and trim his toe nails at his desk for $140K per year for the last 20 years.  The ball park and private investment have done more for downtown development than 50 years of DTU did.

I knew some good people who worked at DTU over the years, but I don't know a single downtown business person who had good things to say about DTU nor it's director.  It wasn't much different than the old tradition of mob bosses shaking down local business for protection, only in this case, business owners got nothing but some half-assed seasonal advertising and promotion.

Nobody has anything good to say about Jim Norton? I'm shocked!!!

[OpenYourEyesTulsa]

Sounds like DTU sucked.  Was there a reason it didn't get challenged/audited/dissolved in those 20 years?

I guess regardless of the issues with DTU, which advertises itself as a private not-for-profit association, the RFP makes it clear that the marketing collateral will be the property -- and under the jurisdiction of -- the City of Tulsa.  Different masters, different outcomes . . . though if you're of a mind that anything the city runs is doomed to failure, then it's all gonna look like a pile of smile no matter what the RFP looks like.

EDIT:  And not that I'm defending the DTU guy whoever he is, but anyone marketing downtown has got a pretty stiff current to swim against, at least locally.  I consider myself to be living in one of Tulsa's renaissance periods, but I can only imagine how hostile things were to DT in the 80's and 90's.

I always said bad things about DTU when they were around.  They did not do anything to keep businesses and retail downtown and they let the city tear up the main mall.  Then when all the retail was out of downtown, DTU became only about the people with offices downtown that fled to the suburbs at quiting time.  DTU had no plans to market downtown or encourage any retail, living, or mixed use projects.

[zstyles]

I saw this last week in the RFP's and it stuck out..very interesting...hopefully a local company will get this and not another out of state company like the recent website incident..

[Townsend]

Anyone want to bet Schnake Turnbow Frank has the inside track on this?

I've heard another shop has this one. 

Schnake doesn't have everything needed to do this unless they outsource alot of it.

[TheArtist]

   The trick with this isnt finding someone who is "capable", but finding someone who is passionate.  Otherwise its about getting the contract for the money, and that won't do it.  At this point, Tulsa needs capable, talented and passionate.  We need someone who knows and loves this city. Thats got to come through.  Anything less will create stuff that will get completely lost in all the noise out there in the world.