The County of Humboldt is issuing this Request for Proposals to solicit proposals from qualified professionals to provide specified professional consulting services (“Services”) designed to assist the County with the development of a comprehensive assessment and strategic framework for community travel and tourism marketing.
Implementation Objectives and Priorities:
The County has a diverse range of travel and tourism assets, including natural attractions, cultural and historical sites, and various accommodations. Several County departments and tourism districts also manage local branding, marketing initiatives, and event promotions independently. It is expected that the comprehensive assessment and strategic framework developed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the final Professional Services Agreement resulting from this RFP process will inventory, compare, and analyze current marketing strategies and assets across the county. The objective is to provide a unified, collaborative approach for enhancing and implementing a countywide travel and tourism marketing strategy.
Overview of the Selection Process:
Information received as part of the Proposals submitted in response to this RFP shall be objectively evaluated to identify the Proposer that is best qualified to provide the Services set forth herein. At the conclusion of the evaluation, selection, contract negotiation and approval processes set forth in this RFP, a final Professional Services Agreement pertaining to the provision of the Services set forth herein will be awarded to the Successful Proposer. The final Professional Services Agreement resulting from this RFP process will expire on June 30, 2025, unless the term thereof is extended through a written amendment thereto.
Outline of Anticipated Services:
The outline of anticipated services presented herein is for the primary purpose of allowing the County to compare Proposals submitted in response to this RFP. The precise scope of services that will be incorporated into the final Professional Services Agreement resulting from this RFP process shall be the subject of negotiations between the County and the Successful Proposer.
A. Research and Data Analysis. The Successful Proposer will be required to conduct comprehensive research and data analysis necessary to develop a countywide travel and tourism marketing strategic framework. The types of research and data analysis that the Successful Proposer will be required to conduct pursuant to the terms and conditions of the final Professional Services Agreement resulting from this RFP process shall include, without limitation: conducting a thorough inventory of the County’s travel and tourism assets; analyzing current marketing efforts and regional tourism trends; identifying key stakeholders, potential partnerships, and opportunities for collaboration; and assessing the County’s brand identity and market positioning.
B. Implementation Goals, Strategies and Activities. The Successful Proposer will be required to collaborate with County staff and other stakeholders to identify and define appropriate goals, strategies, and activities regarding the development of a countywide travel and tourism marketing strategy. The types of activities that the Successful Proposer will be required to conduct in order to identify and define these goals, strategies, and activities shall include, without limitation: synthesizing the findings of the research and data analysis conducted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the final Professional Services Agreement resulting from this RFP process; refining, articulating, and confirming the strategic objectives and priorities outlined herein; and aligning marketing initiatives with the County’s diverse tourism assets and brand identity.
C. Implementation Schedule. The Successful Proposer will be required to collaborate with County staff and other stakeholders to develop an implementation schedule that includes, without limitation, any and all appropriate timelines, milestones, and deadlines associated with the development and rollout of the countywide travel and tourism marketing strategy. This schedule should ensure timely completion of key deliverables, such as the inventory of tourism assets, stakeholder engagement activities, and the final strategic framework.
D. Implementation Budget. The Successful Proposer will be required to collaborate with County staff and other stakeholders to develop an implementation budget that includes, without limitation, any and all anticipated costs associated with, and additional resources needed for, the development and execution of the countywide travel and tourism marketing strategy. This budget should account for expenses related to research, administrative cost, stakeholder engagement, marketing initiatives, and the creation of the final strategic framework.
E. Comprehensive Implementation Plan. The Successful Proposer will be required to develop a comprehensive Travel and Tourism Marketing Strategy that includes the implementation goals, strategies, activities, schedule, and budget developed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the final Professional Services Agreement resulting from this RFP process.
