Request for Prequalification for Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relation Services

Location:	North Carolina
Posted:	May 1, 2025
Due:	Apr 30, 2026
Agency:	State Government of North Carolina
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Solicitation No:	Doc1556174934
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Request for Prequalification

Prime Contractors for

Marketing, Advertising, and Public

Relation Services

Request for Prequalification # 19-RFP-1556174934-WAX

Date of Issue: May 1, 2025

Applications Accepted on an Ongoing Basis

Email Completed Application to: DPSPurchasing@ncdps.gov

19-RFP-1556174934-WAX

Vendor: ___________________________________

PURPOSE

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking to develop and maintain a list of prequalified prime

vendors to provide comprehensive digital marketing, communications, and advertising support to the Department’s

various marketing, outreach, and education programs on an as/if needed basis. The frequency and scope of services

will be determined according to DPS’s priorities, objectives, and resources at the time, but are not limited to the

following:

1. Market Research: Vendor shall provide research and analysis of the current market and provide any

existing market research that would help DPS determine the most effective way to receive the most

return on the State’s investment.

2. Creative Services: Vendor shall provide design for productions of print, billboards, websites, social media

postings, video production, audio production, and script writing for broadcast radio and television

commercials. When voice or acting talent is required, vendor shall manage the acquisition of talent for

the project.

3. Account Management: Vendor shall provide project management across multiple platforms, strategic

planning, consistent and clear communications, and marketing plan creation.

4. Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Vendor shall provide performance monitoring and provide at

a minimum monthly progress reporting.

5. Advertising: Vendor shall provide all approved advertising materials to media outlets or advertising

platforms in accordance with media deadlines and provide analysis on effectiveness.

6. Search Engine Optimization: Vendor shall identify effective placement of advertising materials that will

result in the desired outcomes.

7. Media Buying: Vendor shall provide negotiation and placement of advertising in various media channels.

8. Print Production: Vendor shall provide printing production for all communications like flyers, brochure’s,

banners, etc.

9. Copywriting and Editing: Vendor shall provide copywriting and editing services for all required

marketing outreach materials.

10. Data Security and Privacy: Vendor shall provide data security and privacy measures on all marketing and

advertising.

The funding consists of state and various federal funding sources.

The DPS Communications Office will utilize the prequalified list for assigning projects below the small purchase

threshold of $29,000. For projects $29,000 and below the DPS Communications Office will obtain a quote from the

selected prequalified Vendor detailing the work to be performed, project milestones, and the timeline for

completion. No work is authorized, or shall be performed, until the Vendor is issued a purchase order from the

eProcurement System.

A project over $29,000 will require a Scope Statement that will be issued by DPS Purchasing and Logistics to all

Vendors on the prequalified list to solicit offers.

This Prequalified Vendor List is not a contract. The purchase order or Scope Statement will be the contract.

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19-RFP-1556174934-WAX

Vendor: ___________________________________

Vendors that submit an Application to be added to the Vendor Prequalified List will be expected to accept the terms

and conditions of the Contract.

METHOD OF ADDITION TO PREQUALIFICATION LIST

There is no limit on the number of Vendors to be added to the Prequalified List. The process will be open for one

year, in that, it will be publicly posted to allow additional Vendors the opportunity to be added to the List.

NCDPS shall review the applications to confirm that they meet the requirements specified herein.

If a vendor’s prequalification is rescinded for any reason, they may reapply when the next prequalification is issued.

If a vendor’s prequalification has been previously rescinded, it is NCDPS’s sole discretion whether the Vendor is

eligible to be included on the prequalified list.

The State may request additional formal responses or submissions from any or all Vendors for the purpose of

clarification or to amplify the materials presented in any part of the Application. Vendors are cautioned; however,

the State is not required to request clarification, and often does not. Therefore, all Applications should be complete.

REQUIRED VENDOR EXPERIENCE

Vendor must have a minimum of two years of experience in marketing, advertising, and public relations as outlined

in the Purpose section above. The Vendor is required to provide all relatable experience in Attachment B. Vendor

must be familiar with all existing social media platforms and ad placement methods for all. Vendor must be able to

include any and all broadcast contacts in media strategy for a project (if applicable). Vendor must be able to provide

a point of contact for projects at initial kickoff meeting.

REGISTRATION – NC SECRETARY OF STATE, SAM

Vendor is required to have an “ACTIVE” North Carolina Secretary of State and an “ACTIVE” SAM registration. See

page 9 for additional information regarding SAM registration.

HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS (HUB) PARTICIPATION

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute G.S. 143-48, it is State policy to encourage and promote the use of small,

minority, physically handicapped, and women contractors in purchasing Goods and Services. NCDPS has established

a recommended goal of meeting or exceeding a 10% HUB participation for each contract. As such, Vendors will

identify those Vendors that are minority owned or have a strategic plan to support the State’s Historically

Underutilized Business program by meeting or exceeding the goal of 10% utilization of diverse firms as 1st or 2nd

tier subcontractors.

Information regarding HUB certification, and to locate HUB Vendors, is located at NC DOA Historically Underutilized

Businesses (HUB) Office - Minority, Women-Owned & Small Businesses.

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19-RFP-1556174934-WAX

Vendor: ___________________________________

VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS

It is the goal of the State to promote and encourage the continued economic development of small businesses

owned and controlled by qualified veterans and that qualified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses

(SDVOSB) and veteran owned small businesses (VOSB) participate in the State's procurement process.

ASSIGNMENT CONTRACT

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety may utilize the prequalified list for assignment work. A project or

set of projects with a total or aggregate total $29,000 or below may be assigned to a Vendor. Project assignments

are based upon Vendor capability and capacity. NCDPS will evaluate all these factors to assign projects properly and

fairly in the best interest of the state. The DPS Communications Office will obtain a quote from the selected

prequalified vendor detailing the work to be performed, project milestones, and the timeline for completion. The

Vendor will have seven (7) business days, to provide the requested quote back to The DPS Communications Office.

Once the quote is received, the DPS Communications Office will provide a purchase order to the Vendor via the

eProcurement System and shall include the detailed tasks to be performed by the Vendor, serving as the Contract.

ASSIGNMENT METHODOLOGY

NCDPS will assign projects only to responsible vendors with adequate capacity. To evaluate capacity, Vendors will

be limited to a total number of projects based on the number of projects a vendor has completed to date. For

Vendors without a scorecard, DPS will use its discretion based on its current need and volume of work to determine

how many projects may be assigned to a Vendor at one time.

Vendors with less than 2 project completions may be assigned up to 5 total projects awarded or in progress at a

time. Vendors with 3 or more project completions will be eligible to be assigned greater than 8 or more projects

awarded or in progress at a time based on project completions and total number or unfinished projects in their

queue.

SCOPE STATEMENT

A project over $29,000 will require a Scope Statement that will be issued by DPS Purchasing and Logistics to all

Vendors on the prequalified list to solicit offers. Offers from responsible vendors will be evaluated and contract

award will be made based on the determination which offer provides the best value to the State.

PREQUALIFICATION LIST RESCISION

Vendor may be removed from the Prequalified List because of poor performance, material breaches of contract,

substantiated non-payments, substantiated complaints, violations of policies concerning alcohol, illegal drugs,

possession of firearms, disrespectful behavior, theft of personal property, Vendor damage to real property, etc.),

False Claim Act violations, and misrepresentation of experience, violations of permits, failure of Vendor to respond

to requests for information, failure of Vendor to respond to Scope Statements, Vendor speaking or acting in an

unprofessional, aggressive, or degrading manner towards State staff, it’s vendors, and/or negative Vendor

evaluations/scorecards.

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19-RFP-1556174934-WAX

Vendor: ___________________________________

ATTACHMENT A: QUESTIONNAIRE

This form gathers information about the Vendors seeking to be added to the Prequalified List. Completing this

questionnaire does not guarantee being added to the List. Evaluation of the submittal shall be performed by the

prequalification committee. Vendors are cautioned it is their responsibility to ensure ALL information is provided

with the Application and all information conforms to the requirements herein. Any Application that is incomplete

and/or does not meet requirements will be denied.

SECTION 1. COMPANY INFORMATION

ORGANIZATION

Business Type (check box)

☐ Corporation ☐ Partnership ☐ Limited Liability Company ☐ Sole Proprietor ☐ Joint Venture

Indicate your North Carolina HUB Certification; if applicable (check only one box)

☐ B (Black) ☐ HA (Hispanic) ☐ AA (Asian American) ☐ AI (American Indian)

☐ W (Female) ☐ D (Disabled) ☐ SED (Socially Economically Disadvantaged)

Ensure NC HUB certification is ACTIVE prior to certifying to the above question. Contact the NC HUB

Office, NC DOA: Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), for certification assistance.

☐ Applied for North Carolina HUB certification; application pending.

☐ Not a HUB Vendor.

Is your firm a Veteran-owned business? ☐ YES ☐ NO

Is your firm owned or controlled by a parent or any other organization? ☐ YES ☐ NO

If “YES”, describe Ownership:

List all other names your firm has operated as for the past three (3) years:

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Solicitation Number:	Doc1556174934
Project Title:	Request for Prequalification for Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relation Services
Description:	Request for Prequalification for Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relation Services
Opening Date:	4/30/2026 5:00 PM
Posted Date:	5/2/2025
Status:	Open
Department:	DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY


Solicitation Number * Doc1556174934	Department DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY	Status Reason Open
Opening Date 2026-04-30T17:00:00.0000000	Posted Date * 2025-05-01T20:19:04.0000000Z	Commodity Code Publicity and marketing support services
Mandatory Conference/Site Visit — —	Special Instructions —
Description Request for Prequalification for Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relation Services

Attachments 19-RFP-1556174934-WAX - RFPQ Media Request.pdf (446.03 KB)

Request for Prequalification for Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relation Services

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