RFP Solicitation for Media Campaign for SFSP FY26

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Dec 8, 2025
Due:	Jan 9, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Mississippi
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Solicitation No:	1201-26-R-RFPR-00001
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Effective Date: September 9, 2025

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Summer Food Service Program Media Campaign

Office of Child Nutrition

RFx # 3120003260

Submission Deadline Date:

Friday, January 9, 2026

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

By submitting a PROPOSAL, the Offeror certifies that it is registered to do business in the State of Mississippi as

prescribed by the Mississippi Secretary of State or, if not already registered, that it will do so within seven (7)

business days of being offered an award. Sole proprietors are not required to register with the Mississippi Secretary

of State.

Table of Contents

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW .............................................. 4

1.1

Purpose and Goals.........................................................................................................4

SECTION 2. PLAN TO ACHIEVE THE SCOPE OF SERVICES ........................... 4

2.1 Scope of Services ........................................................................................................... 4

2.2 Contractor Prerequisites ............................................................................................... 5

2.3 Deliverables………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

2.4 Price............................................................................................................................... 5

SECTION 3. REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION........................................... 6

3.1 Agency Decision on Request for Reconsideration ........................................................ 6

SECTION 4. REFERENCES .............................................................................. 6

SECTION 5. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ..................................................... 7

SECTION 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................. 8

6.1 Questions and Answers .................................................................................................8

6.2 Acknowledgment of Amendments ................................................................................8

6.3 Cost of Proposal Preparation ........................................................................................8

6.4 Right to Reject, Cancel and/or Issue Another Solicitation ........................................... 8

6.5 Contract and Property Rights........................................................................................8

6.6 Registration with Mississippi Secretary of State...........................................................8

6.7 Debarment.....................................................................................................................9

6.8 State Approval ............................................................................................................... 9

6.9 Interchangeable Designations.......................................................................................9

6.10 Mississippi PERS Retirees ............................................................................................ 9

SECTION 7. PROCUREMENT OF CONTRACTS................................................ 9

7.1

Restrictions on Communications with the MDE Staff .................................................. 9

7.2 Submission Requirements ............................................................................................ 9

7.3 Confidential or Trade Secret ........................................................................................ 11

7.4 Proposal Submission Period ........................................................................................ 11

7.5 Proposal Exclusion ...................................................................................................... 12

7.6 Important Tentative Dates .......................................................................................... 12

7.7 Acceptance of Proposals .............................................................................................. 13

7.8 Disposition of Proposal ............................................................................................... 13

7.9 Modification or Withdrawal of a Proposal .................................................................. 13

7.10 Minor Irregularities…………………………………………………………………………………………..14

7.11 Rejection of Proposals ................................................................................................. 14

7.12 Corrections and Clarifications..................................................................................... 14

7.13 Proposal Evaluation .....................................................................................................15

RFx # 3120003260 Summer Food Service Program Media Campaign RFP

SECTION 8. PUBLIC RECORDS..................................................................... 16

8.1 Deadlines for Production of Public Records Tolled .................................................... 16

8.2 Delay of Procurement Process Not Required.............................................................. 16

8.3 Efficient Administration of Agency Obligations ......................................................... 16

SECTION 9. CONTRACT AWARD .................................................................. 16

9.1 Right of Negotiation .....................................................................................................17

9.2 The Mississippi Department of Education...................................................................17

9.3 Management Responsibilities of Personnel and Administration ................................17

9.4 Memorandum of Understanding .................................................................................17

9.5 Ethics ........................................................................................................................... 18

9.6 Termination in Event of Employment ........................................................................ 18

Appendix A – Proposal Cover Sheet .................................................................. 19

Appendix B – Standard Terms and Conditions ..................................................21

Appendix C – Exception to the Standard Terms and Conditions ....................... 33

Appendix D - References................................................................................... 34

Appendix E – Reference Score Sheet ................................................................ 35

Appendix F – Acknowledgement of Amendment .............................................. 36

Appendix G - Assurances and Certifications……………………..….………………………37

Appendix H -Release of Proposal As Public Record .......................................... 38

Appendix I – MDE Contracts ............................................................................ 39

Appendix J – Map of Daily Participation and Approval for Free Lunch……….….40

Appendix K - Data of Average Daily Participation and Approval for Free Lunch.41

Appendix L - Cost Data/Budget ………………………………………………………………….43

RFx # 3120003260 Summer Food Service Program Media Campaign RFP

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

This solicitation is to provide information required to submit a response to this Request for

Proposal (RFP). Please be aware that changes to previous versions may have been made.

1.1 Purpose and Goals

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Child Nutrition, issues this Request for

Proposal to solicit offers from qualified, experienced, responsible and financially sound Offerors

to provide media strategy planning and execution of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for

Mississippi which will be publicized throughout the state to increase parents’ awareness of summer

feeding sites. Proposing vendors must have the proven ability to perform all core services requested

in this solicitation. A more detailed listing of services is contained in the Scope of Services (2.1).

The SFSP is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Nutrition Program that

was established to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in

session. SFSP connects children with the nutrition they need to help them be healthy and ready to

learn when they return to school. Meals offered through the SFSP are free to children in low-

income areas through eligible organizations. For more information regarding the SFSP, visit

https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program.

All contract awards are at the discretion of the State Board of Education (SBE). The contract will

be awarded for a project period of five (5) consecutive years. Each year of the contract will be

reviewed to ensure services will be continued annually and shall be contingent upon successful

completion of the services in the preceding year’s contract, availability of funding and a performance-

based evaluation. This solicitation and any resulting contract(s) shall be governed by the applicable

provisions of the State Board of Education Contract Policies and if required, the Mississippi Public

Procurement Review Board (PPRB), Office of Personal Service Contract Review (OPSCR) Rules

and Regulations, a copy of which is available at 501 N. West Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201 for

inspection or visit PPRB/OPSCR Rules and Regulations. The contract Standard Terms and

Conditions (STC) has been included as Appendix B for your review and acceptance. If the Vendor

objects to any of the Standard Terms and Conditions, the objection may be considered as an

adequate cause for rejection without further negotiations.

A copy of this solicitation, including all appendices and any subsequent amendments, including

the Question and Answer amendment, if issued, will be posted on the MDE website under “Public

Notice” RFP/RFQ/RFA/Invitation to Bid section. It is the sole responsibility of all interested

vendors to monitor the website for updates regarding this procurement.

SECTION 2. PLAN TO ACHIEVE THE SCOPE OF SERVICES

This section contains information on services and requirements the Offeror must provide. The

descriptions are not all-inclusive but are provided to inform you of services or requirements that

may require additional planning or programming on your part. A detailed plan is required to

respond to this solicitation to describe how the Offeror will implement and achieve the services

required.

The Vendor is expected to provide the following:

2.1 Scope of Services

A. Provide media coverage of the SFSP offered through the USDA Food and Nutrition

Services.

RFx # 3120003260 Summer Food Service Program Media Campaign RFP

B. Assign the Contract Account Representative to work directly with the MDE

Representative.

C. Utilize the free United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) SFSP marketing

resources when practicable.

2.2 Contractor Prerequisites

A. Technology-related experience.

B. Relative experience to the functional expertise marketing to a large population providing

awareness.

C. Experience in traditional communication and outreach methods with digital systems.

D. Managing experience of social media channels with using tone and messaging; and

E. Knowledgeable of design programs and languages to create appealing visuals from brand

identity.

2.3 Deliverables

A. Provide media planning strategies and execution for increasing the public awareness of the

SFSP for Mississippi, no later than May 15.

B. Publicize the SFSP throughout the state to bring awareness of more than 750 feeding sites

available for all children (multicultural) through age 18 when schools are out for summer,

between May 25 and June 30.

C. Provide a preliminary plan and strategy for the media coverage proposal to the MDE to

include a minimum of two types of coverage (e.g., radio/television spots, mobile

advertising, social media, and digital billboards), no later than May 15.

D. Review program information and data targeting areas of the state with a high percentage

of children eligible for free lunch during the school year and low participation in SFSP and

the 2024 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the 2025 SFSP Data Sheet to review

target areas (Appendix J and K), no later than May 15;

E. Determine the planning and creative development for media coverage locations and

saturation for the anticipated date range of May 25 through June 30, no later than May 15.

F. Secure media coverage as agreed upon by the MDE, no later than May 15.

G. Report performance measures (e.g., impression clicks, geofences, ads) for media coverage

utilized no later than September 1.

H. Provide details for the ratio of staff services expense versus media buy expense no later

than May 15.

2.4 Price

Because of the scope of this project, we believe it should be possible for different Offerors to arrive

at vastly differing estimates of resources required. It is anticipated that this shall allow the Offeror

to explain exactly what the State shall receive for this amount of funds and shall allow evaluators

to determine the best proposals based upon the plan of action and the description of what the State

shall receive in exchange for this amount. Whereas MDE sets the price in this RFP; all Offerors

shall be awarded the maximum amount of points available for Price.

Advertisement costs will be billed to the contractor. The offeror will charge a fixed fee for

staff services related to planning and executing the media strategy. The total budget for the

advertisement costs and staff services shall not exceed $48,000.00 per year.

RFx # 3120003260 Summer Food Service Program Media Campaign RFP

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

Smart Number	1201-26-R-RFPR-00001	Advertised Date	12/08/2025 12:00 AM
RFx #	3120003260	Submission Date	01/09/2026 2:00 PM
RFx Status	Open	Major Procurement Category	PERSONNEL SERVICES NON-IT
RFx Opening Date	01/09/2026 2:00 PM	Sub Procurement Category	PERSONNEL SERVICE - NON-TECHNOLOGY
RFx Type	Request for Proposal
Agency	MS DEPT OF EDUCATION
RFx Description	RFP Solicitation for Media Campaign for SFSP FY26

Name	LEIGH WASHINGTON	Email	LEWASHINGTON@MDEK12.ORG
Phone	6015279821	Fax

PRODUCT CATEGORY	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
91501	Serv CommMediaAdver