Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is for the City of Olympia (City) to solicit Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified respondents to perform newsletter editing, website management, social media, and monthly email communication services. Services will benefit the Regional Environmental Education Partnership (REEP).  

The City of Olympia is committed to being an inclusive, affirming, and equitable place for our community members and staff to live, play and work. We adhere to the non‐discriminatory treatment of all persons in employment and the delivery of services and resources. We strongly encourage proposals from minorities, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises. 

BACKGROUND 

 The Thurston County community has an interest in keeping pollution out of stormwater systems and surface waters. REEP partners manage Stream Team which is cooperatively sponsored and funded by the Storm and Surface Water Utilities of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater. Stream Team provides free, quality, environmental education programs, volunteer stewardship activities/workshops, and hands‐on action projects in the South Sound.  

Stream Team actively engages the public through its programs to create a stewardship ethic and build sense of place among residents of Thurston County. REEP partners meet state and federal requirements for volunteer‐based stewardship, public education, and behavior change, by conducting outreach and engagement with diverse community groups and organizations, both rural and urban, including students, residents, tribes, and businesses, to reduce stormwater pollution. Environmental education and outreach campaigns and programs include:

• Pet waste disposal
• Stream‐friendly car practices (fixing vehicle leaks, using commercial carwashes and properly inflating tires)
• Natural lawn and yard care
• Habitat stewardship
• Reporting spills
• Installing and maintaining private stormwater infrastructure (including rake a drain)
• Other actions that prevent or reduce polluted stormwater runoff 
• Volunteer stewardship and docent activities 
• Lectures and workshops 
• Hands‐on community science activities 

For examples of REEP activities and samples of prior communication channels, go to:

• www.streamteam.info
• https://www.facebook.com/ThurstonStream/

PRELIMINARY SCOPE OF WORK

The successful consultant will promote the Stream Team  brand and programs that raise awareness on how to protect and restore the water resources of Thurston County. REEP’s goal is to ensure our outreach and communication strategies are inclusive, accessible, and representative of the entire community, and result in fair distribution of program benefits county‐wide. The consultant will promote the Stream Team brand and programs in a cohesive style, using platforms such as the Stream Team monthly email and Stream Team Newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to increase local awareness and public engagement with Stream Team programs.

OBJECTIVES   

The selected consultant will work with the City of Olympia and REEP to provide editorial services for quarterly editions of the Stream Team Newsletter,  Stream Team website social media and monthly email management. This will include planning and executing publication schedules, coordinating with graphic designer(s) and content providers from multiple jurisdictions, and recommending complementary images or graphics for the newsletter covers and featured articles. The consultant will provide additional coordinated outreach, promoting Stream Team programs and campaigns through multiple social media channels, and prepare content and delivery of monthly email updates to subscribers. 

TASKS 

A.   Initial Meeting with Consultant and REEP Coordinators.

B.  The Consultant will conduct Editorial Management of Stream Team Newsletter

C.  The Consultant will contribute One Page of Kids’ Corner Content per Newsletter Edition. 

D.   The Consultant will execute social media posts on  Stream Team Facebook and Instagram accounts according to publication schedule.  

E.  The Consultant will generate a monthly and year‐ end report of email, social media, website, and QR code analytics. 

F.  The Consultant will conduct editorial management of Stream Team Website. 

G.  Consultant will execute Monthly Stream Team Emails