Request for Expression of Interest
Ministry of Highways Advertising Services Competition

The Government of Saskatchewan is seeking an experienced advertising partner to provide communications and marketing services for the Ministry of Highways (ministry).

The ministry builds, operates and maintains the provincial highway system and is responsible for policy and programs that foster and integrated, multimodal provincial transportation system. The ministry conducts two province-wide advertising campaigns annually aimed at promoting safe driving in construction zones and around snow plows and encouraging drivers to protect themselves through awareness of the Highway Hotline services.

Interested suppliers must demonstrate professional experience in:

• Public education and awareness campaigns – the ability to effectively communicate through paid and/or earned media, information that creates awareness, provides easy-to-understand information and calls to action and influences changes in behavior. Experience with safety-related campaigns is a benefit.
• Strategic media buying and measurement – the ability to use multiple media tools efficiently and effectively for public education and awareness campaigns. Tactical understanding of the Saskatchewan media landscape is a benefit.
• Innovative and effective creative concepts – the ability to conceptualize innovative, impactful and effective creative for advertising campaigns and other communications products, incorporating the client’s direction.

Suppliers must also demonstrate an ability to use social media creatively and strategically to achieve social media objectives

Companies interested in pursuing this account should submit a brief letter of intent (not exceeding two pages). The letter should specifically articulate why your experience and capabilities relative to the criteria above make your firm the best choice for this account. Please include two client references who can speak to your ability in the criteria above. Also, bidding firms must identify any intent to use subcontractors, and include a description of the scope of services. From the responses, a shortlist of firms will be developed. These firms will be asked to prepare a proposal and may be asked to demonstrate their capability in an in-person presentation to a selection panel.

Bidding suppliers must immediately disclose to Communications Services, Executive Council any actual or potential conflict of interest which currently exists or which may arise during the period of the competition. Bidding suppliers who are not registered with Communications Services must begin the registration process prior to submitting a letter of intent. Registration forms can be found at http://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/doing-business-with-government/information-for-communications-and-print-service-providers#step-2 or contact commtenders@gov.sk.ca

Letters of intent should be marked “Ministry of Highways Advertising Services Competition" and must be received by email to commtenders@gov.sk.ca no later than 11:00 a.m. Saskatchewan time, Tuesday, February 3.

If you are interested in this opportunity and would like more information about the account, please email commtenders@gov.sk.ca