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Request for Qualifications – Brand Development Services – Great Falls Development Authority

Following a planning process that included widespread public and private community leadership, the Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) http://www.gfdevelopment.org adopted a new vision, mission and values, as well as strategic priorities. Key among these priorities is the development of a brand promise for Great Falls.

GFDA desires to hire a highly respected, successful brand development consultant who specializes in branding cities and regions, to help define the city’s strengths and assets, and develop an effective, professional brand, giving the city a stronger and more viable image and unified message as it markets to attract tourists, events and meetings, business investment, and workforce and new residents. It is important that the brand promise and subsequent materials work for all three of these marketing audiences, as well as to improve the overall image and perception of Great Falls.

Since this brand will be the city’s promise to the outside world, it needs to be professionally developed based on intensive research and input from the community as well as outsiders to discover the current perception of Great Falls. This brand development project is part of the GFDA’s strategic plan to focus our resources on a few key efforts that will have the biggest impact on our area’s economy.

Consultant will work with GFDA to form a Great Falls Brand Alliance to develop the brand and to later coordinate use of the brand in future marketing efforts. It is our intent that the Alliance will include the City of Great Falls, GFDA, the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Great Falls International Airport, MSU Great Falls, the University of Great Falls, Great Falls Public Schools, Great Falls CVB, Great Falls Tourism BID, Great Falls BID, Downtown Great Falls Association, Great Falls Association of Realtors, private employers, and others.

GFDA is requesting statements of qualifications from brand consulting firms to provide services to assist with facilitating the development of a brand promise. Payment terms will be negotiated with the selected offeror. GFDA has a total budget of $35,000 for consultant services and expenses.

I. Scope of Work

The selected consultant will conduct the needed research and interviews to create and present ideas/concepts for the community of Great Falls brand identity and subsequent template materials including guidelines for long-term use. The consultant will work with GFDA and its partners to facilitate the brand development process to insure that it is inclusive and representative of the various public and private organizations that we hope will use the brand in future marketing efforts.

We intend to utilize the services of local design talent for graphic components of the brand.

II. CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS

A. Firm’s legal name, address, and telephone number;

B. Principal(s) of the firm and their experience and qualifications;

C. Experience and qualifications of the staff to be assigned to project;

D. Description of prior experience, including similar projects, location, cost, and the point of contact knowledgeable of performance;

E. Description of firm’s current work activities and how these will be coordinated with the project, as well as the firm’s anticipated availability during the term of the project

III. SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Demonstrated experience of firm completing brand development in similar cities/regions (20%)

B. Qualifications and experience of the professional personnel to be assigned to the project (20%)

C. Fit of consultant’s brand development methodology with GFDA’s values, operations and desire for community engagement in process (20%)

D. Consultant’s capability to meet time and project budget requirements (20%)

E. Creativity of Consultant (not a cookie cutter approach to brand development (20%)

GFDA may, at its discretion, select finalists to be interviewed based on an evaluation of the written responses, or the award may be based solely on written statements of qualifications. The award(s) will be made to the most qualified offeror whose statement of qualifications is deemed most advantageous to the Owner, all factors considered. Unsuccessful offerors will be notified as soon as possible.

Questions and responses should be directed to GFDA, attn: Nano McCluskey, P.O. Box 949, Great Falls, MT 59403-0949, (406) 771-9023. All responses to the detailed RFQ must be received by April 15, 2011. Please state "Statement of Qualifications for Great

Falls Brand Development" on the outside of the response package. Please provide one original and five copies of the statement of qualifications.

IV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS

A. STATEMENT OF NONCOMMITMENT

Issuance of this RFQ does not commit the Great Falls Development Authority to award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in preparation of proposals responding to the RFQ. The GFDA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and re-advertise. All proposals become the property of the GFDA.

B. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Successful contract bidders must comply with provisions of all applicable federal law, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Any subcontracting by the successful bidder subjects subcontracting firm(s) to the same provisions of federal law.

In accordance with state and federal requirements, the consultant (hereinafter referred to as "contractor") must agree as follows:

1) COMPLIANCE WITH THE MONTANA GOVERNMETNAL CODE OF FAIR PRACTICES, 49-3-207. MCA

In accordance with 49-3-207, MCA, the Contractor agrees that for this agreement all hiring will be made on the basis of merit and qualifications and that there will be no discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin by persons performing the Agreement.

2) COMPLIANCE WITH MINORITY & WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

Contractor will make efforts to encourage the use of minority and women’s business enterprises in connection with Agreements activities in accordance with 24 CFR Part 85.36(e) which describes the actions to ensure that minority and women’s business enterprises are used when possible in the procurement of property and services.

C. VENUE

The laws of the State of Montana will govern the contract. The parties agree that any litigation concerning bid, proposal, or subsequent contract must be brought in the Eighth Judicial District of Cascade County, State of Montana and each party shall pay its own costs and attorney fees. (Reference 18-1-401 MCA)

D. INSURANCE

Certificates of Insurance, indicating compliance with the required overage, must be filed with the Great Falls Development Authority within ten (10) working days of the Notice of Award. The proof of insurance/exemption must be valid for the entire contract period.

Contracts WILL NOT be issued to contractors that fail to submit insurance certificates as specified herein:

* Proof of Worker’s Compensation Insurance valid within the State of Montana or proof of exemption thereof.

* Proof of commercial general liability insurance, including automobile insurance, with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence.

E. RFQ AUTHORITY

This RFQ has been issued in accordance with Title 18, Montana Code Annotated and the Administrative Rules of Montana, Title 2, Chapter 5. The RFP process is a procurement option, allowing award to be based on stated criteria or evaluation factors. The evaluation factors to be used in this procurement have been specified in Section IV of this RFQ.

V. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Inquiries should be directed to Nano McCluskey, [email protected] or 1-406-771-9023.

Regards,

Nano McCluskey

Community & Investor Relations Manager

Great Falls Development Authority

406-771-9023

Fax 406-454-2995

Mission: Lead Great Falls economic development efforts to promote growth, diversification and the creation of high wage jobs.

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