Staff recommends that City Council approve the Advertising and Marketing Program Consulting and Support Services contracts with A.D. Creative Group, Kinetic Marketing & Creative, and Spotlight Productions. 

 

The Aviation and Transit Department has recently expanded its Advertising and Marketing programs in both the Airport and MET Transit Divisions. This includes expansion of advertising amenities within the Terminal Building as well as the internalization of the bus and bench advertising program. Both programs have a large number of amenities of varying specifications including both physical and digital offerings. To ensure the creative and production services offered to customers purchasing advertising opportunities are of high quality and professional grade, the Department published a Request for Proposals (RFP) from eligible vendors to provide these services. Expenses for these services will ultimately be paid for by the advertising customer, unless the advertising or marketing work is for the Department or is for a public service announcement, in which case the Department would pay for those costs.  The Department advertised the RFP via the City and Airport's Websites and in the Yellowstone County News with print publication dates of September 2, 9, and 16, 2022. Vendors were requested to respond to multiple categories of services including Graphic Design Services, Photography/Videography Services, and Production Services. Twenty-One RFP Specifications were sent to interested parties and nine proposals were received.

An RFP Selection Committee evaluated and ranked received proposals based on each firm's ability to provide requested services and products in a cost effective manner. Based upon these rankings, the committee recommends the City Council approve the contracts for the following creative consultants to provide these services:

Graphic Design Services:  A.D. Creative Group and Kinetic Marketing & Creative
Photography and Videography Services:  A.D. Creative Group and Spotlight Productions
Production Services:  None

All RFPs for the Production Services were rejected and staff will re-advertise the RFP, which will be revised so that the requirements for the responders is less confusing.  Staff decided to award contracts to two companies in both the Graphic Design Services and the Photography and Videography Services, and will share projects between the consultants.

City Council may:

• Approve the Advertising and Marketing Program Consulting and Support Services contracts with A.D. Creative Group, Kinetic Marketing and Creative, and Spotlight Productions; or
• Not approve the contracts and advise staff on how to proceed. 

The fiscal effects for these services will generally be minimal to the Aviation and Transit Department unless the services are strictly for the Department's use for the Airport or Transit's marketing needs.  Any marketing for the Airport or MET will be budgeted for.  All graphic or creative design services requested by a client/advertiser will ultimately be paid for by the client/advertiser.