The City of Tucson is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced firms and/or individuals to provide marketing, communications, public relations, and public participation services for Tucson Water. The City’s intent is to develop a Qualified Vendor List for these services.

Tucson Water is the second largest water utility in Arizona, serving over 730,000 customers over a 390 square mile service area. Tucson Water is recognized internationally as a leader in water conservation, sustainability, and service.

This contract will be divided into eight groups:

Group 1 - Public Relations Planning and Marketing

Group 2 - Web Design and Organization

Group 3 - Writing and Editing

Group 4 - Video Production

Group 5 - Photography

Group 6 - Graphic Services, Art Design, and Production

Group 7 - Locally-Based Public Relations Services

Group 8 - Public and Stakeholder Engagement

Offerors may submit on one, two, or any combination of groups. Offerors may also submit as a part of a team, by submitting one proposal together with two firms. Example: A firm with experience/qualifications in Public Relations Planning and Marketing (Group 1) and Public and Stakeholder Engagement (Group 8) teams with a firm qualified in Graphic Services, Art Design, and Production (Group 6), and/or a firm that can provide Locally-Based Public Relations Services (Group 7) to be able to provide comprehensive support for the efforts such as a drought/shortage campaign, and/or the One Water 2100 planning project.

The City anticipates that other City departments may also use this contract in the future.

This Request for Proposal (RFP) will establish the Qualified Vendor List to fulfill the City’s annual requirements for services as defined in the Scope of Work and in accordance with the provisions, specifications, and instructions as stated in this solicitation. The City makes no guarantee that Offerors on the Qualified Vendor List will receive work. Each City department will schedule work under this contract on an as-needed, if-needed basis, at which time Qualified Vendor List providers will be asked for availability. To ensure adequate contract coverage, multiple awards will be made for each category to offerors. The City shall accept proposals from any and all firms and individuals with the demonstrated ability to provide Public Relations Services opportunities as described in this RFP. Each respondent must indicate which category(s) of service they are able to provide (as required on the Price Page). Each respondent will then be asked to demonstrate their capacity and level of experience or expertise specific to that category.

This Request for Proposal shall be open and continuous through January 31, 2026, meaning that the City shall accept proposals from prospective offerors at any time through January 31, 2026. The City intends to review submissions three times per year. Proposals submitted up to the following dates will begin the review process on the dates and times listed below. In accordance with Addendum #1 to this solicitation, "the City requires an offer in response to this solicitation to be valid and irrevocable for ninety (90) days from the time of the next review date."

All approved contracts will expire September 30, 2026, unless terminated by the City of Tucson.

July 12, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

November 15, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

March 7, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

July 11, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

November 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

March 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

July 16, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

November 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

March 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

July 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

November 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

January 31, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Local AZ Time

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