REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: MESSAGING CONSULTANT

The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance seeks a communications consultant to assist in building the will and shaping a program for frame-based message development and dissemination amongst a diverse group of affordable housing stakeholders. 

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance promotes safe, decent, and affordable homes for everyone through Advocacy, Communication and Mobilization.

We are a nonprofit, membership organization whose more than 200 members include housing, shelter, and social service providers; advocates; local government agencies; lenders; housing professionals; faith groups; and low income individuals.

ABOUT THE MESSAGING THINK TANK PROJECT

Affordable and supportive housing advocates in Washington State have an important case to make about the value of our work, but our arguments have not always connected with the policy makers and members of the general public we need to influence.  Our community needs a set of proven, effective messages, and training and assistance in disseminating them.

The goal of the Messaging Think Tank is to develop, using social research, a set of proven messages making the case for affordable housing; to create a media and public education strategy for their use; and to train advocates in using the messages in their work and in other public opportunities.

Messaging Think Tank goals will be met through completion of the following objectives:

• Development and continued involvement of a small planning committee
• Development and continued involvement of a stakeholder group
• Hiring of up to two consultants:
• Public opinion research consultant
• Communications consultant who can effectively explain the need for such a project to a diverse group of stakeholders and help guide the group in developing a message dissemination strategy
• Workshopping of messages and other ideas in the stakeholder group
• Focus group to further refine message ideas
• Statewide poll to determine best messages
• Develop media and public education strategy
• Train advocates in use of the messages
• Ongoing dissemination of the messages after official completion of the project.

We anticipate that the outcomes of this project will be a stronger housing community prepared to use those messages, the appearance of those messages in the public discourse, and eventually, real, positive change in the status and perceived importance of the affordable housing and supportive services issue area.  Ancillary outcomes include improved image, branding, and exposure for the Alliance, and the opportunity to do similar work on a contract basis or create projects that spin off of this work. 

SPECIFIC TASKS REQUIRED FROM CONSULTANT

• Meet with the Think Tank stakeholder group on at least two occasions to explain the key elements of media advocacy and to educate stakeholders in the mechanics and importance of framing and values-based messaging
• Assist Alliance staff in the development of media and public education plans and message training plans
• Provide Alliance staff with general guidance on managing a message development process
• Collaborate with public opinion research consultant when appropriate

DELIVERABLES

• Presentations during at least 2 stakeholder group meetings, one in Spokane
• Multiple meetings with Alliance staff to shape and guide project and to give input on media and public education plan

TIMELINE

The following is the timeline for consultant selection.  Modifications may be made to the timeline by the Alliance for any reason with notice.

July 1                        RFP made public  
July 21                        Bids due by 5:30 pm
July 22-28            Bids reviewed; successful bidder selected
July 28                        Successful bidder notified
August 4            Commencement of project
January 2009            Completion of message, media plan, and training plan development

ASSUMPTIONS AND AGREEMENTS

The consulting work will be completed no later than January 31, 2009, with a preferred completion date of January 12, 2008.  Successful bids will not exceed $5,000.00. 

SUBMITTING PROPOSALS

Proposals should describe consultant qualifications, outline the process the consultant wishes to undertake, and include an estimate of the fees to be charged. 

Please submit the above information, along with firm resume and contact information, to:

Amy Clark
Deputy Director, Operations and Communications
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
1402 Third Ave Ste 709
Seattle, WA 98101
amy@wliha.org
Fax: 206.623.4669

FOLLOW UP

The Alliance will acknowledge receipt of all bids.  Bidders will be informed of modifications to the timeline via email.  The successful bidder will be informed by telephone on July 28, 2008.