HomeMy WebLinkAbout6 Conservation Marketing Services Agenda Item # 6
DONNER
Public Utility District
ACTION
To: Board of Directors
From: Scott Terrell
Date: April 16, 2008
Subject: Award of a Contract to Perform Conservation Marketing Services
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
Board action is required for expenditures in excess of $15,000.
2. HISTORY
The District has a need for marketing services related to the promotion of the
District's conservation programs.
The District has been promoting energy and water conservation for over 15 years
and has previously retained the use of marketing consulting firms for assistance in
promoting those programs. The District has previously used two marketing firms and
is looking to hire a new firm for the remainder of 2008.
3. NEW INFORMATION
The District has been very successful in promoting conservation over the last several
years with the assistance of professional marketing firms. The District has not gone
out to bid for several years to compare the qualifications and competitive pricing of
marketing firms.
A Request for Proposals for Conservation Marketing was issued in mid-February of
2008. Responses to the RFP we're due on March 7, 2008. Seven marketing firms
responded to the RFP including: AdManor (Aptos, CA), Cintara (San Jose, CA),
Creative Concepts (Truckee, CA), Nimbus (Redwood City, CA), Smith/Jones (Incline
Village, NV), Switchback Marketing (Truckee, CA) and Wild West Communications
(Homewood, CA).
Each marketing firm was asked to provide sample marketing materials along with
their proposal. Each firm was evaluated under the following criteria: firm capabilities,
experience, efficiency, work samples, marketing results and fees. After evaluation
from the Review Committee composed of Kathy Neus, Barbara Cahill and Scott
Terrell, it was determined that there we're three top candidates that should be
interviewed.
The marketing firm candidates selected for an April 10, 2008 interview included
AdManor, Smith & Jones and Switchback Marketing.
The review committee unanimously selected Switchback Marketing based on their
firm's capabilities and experience, quality of work, desire to strategically provide the
District with marketing opportunities, and their thorough knowledge of the greater
Truckee Community.
Switchback Marketing's fee proposal totaled $28,000.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds exist in the Conservation budget to cover Switchback's Marketing's
fees.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Award a marketing contract to Switchback Marketing in the amount of $28,000 for
services through the end of 2008.
Michael D. Holley, General Manager