ETENDERS

REDZ Digital Towns - Technology Business Engagement Specialist (with a focus on e-commerce & e-marketing)

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Digital County Project – Rural Economic Development Zones

 

 

 

Request for Proposals

 

 

 

Technology Business Engagement Specialist (with a focus on e-commerce & e-marketing)

 

 

 

Advertisement Date: 10th March 2017

 

 

 

Proposals must be received not later than 12:00 (noon)

 

on 29th March 2017

 

 

 

 Proposals that are received late WILL NOT be considered.

 

 

 

 

 

Background to Digital County Economic Development Zone Project

 

 

 

Carlow County Council under the Rural Economic Development Zones operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was successful in the development of a funding proposal for a project called “County Carlow Digital County” which aims to:

 

 

 

  1. Engage in Business Development to make local enterprises more aware of the effectiveness of e-business

  2. Engage in the delivery of collaborative communication to increase communications via a variety of key stakeholders in Enterprise Support, Tourism and Arts.

  3. Engage in the delivery of a student focused programmes which aims to increase civic pride by using technology

  4. To develop a county photographic database for marketing and development in line with Ireland’s ancient east.

     

    The project will be coordinated by a steering group and run by Carlow County Councils – Local Enterprise Office. Measurement of its effectiveness will be measured on the basis of defined outputs by the project team.

     

    The following request for proposals in respect of element 1 of this project.

     

    About the Local Enterprise Office:

     

    The Local Enterprise Office Carlow was established in April 2014 as part of a network of 31 Local Enterprise Office teams across the Local Authority network in Ireland. We provide advice, information and support to entrepreneurs, early-stage promoters, start-ups and expanding businesses. An initiative of the Action Plan for Jobs, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) act as “First Stop Shops” for anyone seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland. The Local Enterprise Office implements measures to assist job sustainability and creation through the development of business know-how, efficiency, expertise and business-related infrastructure in the area. 

    Description of Services Required – Technology Business Engagement Specialist (with a focus on e-commerce & e-marketing)

     

 

The Engagement provider will be responsible for:

 

  1. Assistance with the recruitment and development of client focused based materials in partnership with the Digital County Co-ordinator

  2. Delivery of the Digital Awareness Day

  3. Mentoring of 50 companies in Digital Development in line with the requirements below and production of an individual mentoring report

  4. Development of a Key Summary Report on proposals for:

    1. The development of shared tools

    2. The development of training interventions

    3. The development of digital tools for companies i.e. video production, web graphics etc.

 

In line with the mentoring service of the Local Enterprise Office the max. budget available for mentoring is €175 per session.

 

The max budget for this element of the entire project is €11,000 including VAT

 

 

 

Technology Business Engagement Specialist (with a focus on e-commerce & e-marketing) Specific Tasks:

 

Social Media Development of Companies

 

This element will involve the event creation and co-ordination of a two three hour Digital Awareness Events. It will also involve digital evaluation and mentoring, report generation and indication of training requirements of fifty Carlow businesses over an agreed timescale.

 

 

 

Deliverables:

 

  1. Event creation and co-ordination of a Digital Awareness Day involving group training organised by the Local Enterprise Office.

     

 

The contractor will be required to design, co-ordinate and execute 2 X Digital Awareness Sessions where they assist, advise and educate local business on the importance of building an online presence.

 

 

 

This will include (but will not be limited to):

 

  1. Why you should be online

  2. How to get online

  3. How to improve your existing online presence.

  4. How digital marketing and social media can generate business opportunities.

 

These seminars will be scheduled in May 2017.

 

 

 

  1. Delivery of fifty practical mentoring sessions to individual businesses to evaluate current digital status and provide future recommendations from both a strategic and practical perspective.

     

    The evaluation functionality will include:

     

 

  1. Online branding analysis.

  2. Website evaluation: technical & marketing perspective include SEO indicators and content marketing.

  3. Social Media Strategy aligned with business goals.

  4. Social Media Channels aligned with target audience.

  5. Target Audience and Personas. 

  6. Social Media measurement across all channels.

  7. Brand personality online

  8. Social Media listening strategy and application.

  9. Posting volumes/schedule on across all social channels.

  10. Content creation types across all social channels.

  11. Paid advertising strategies and execution

  12. Relevancy analysis of content creation aligned with business objectives.

  13. Utilisation of social media and content creation tools

  14. Digital Marketing spend aligned to Return on Investment.

  15. Current resource evaluation and application.

 

 

 

Project Timescale Implementation:  June to Mid-August 2017

 

Specific Outputs:

 

  • Report generation of fifty reports denoting the analysis of the functionalities assessed in each mentoring visit and detailing strategy recommendations per each functionality.

  • Reports must incorporate detail on current analysis of each businesses online capacity, presence and social media implementation and management assessed in functionalities detailed in b) above .

  • Reports must provide a future recommendation checklist based on future strategy initiatives and practical recommendations based on the functionalities detailed in b) above.

  • Overall Summary Review of key metrics and recommendations based on the findings from the mentoring reports with regards to the functionalities detailed in b) above along with key training requirements as identified through mentoring evaluation results.

 

Note: Reports submission date August 31st 2017.

 

 

 

Contract Timescale:

 

The contractor will be in place from approx. 15th April 2017 to 15th November 2017 

 

 

 

Proposal Requirements:

 

 

 

Suitably qualified providers will be expected to submit a proposal in writing with references which contains the following:

 

 

 

  1. Outline of Approach: Your proposal should outline your proposed approach, key personal and suggested methodology in respect of the project. The total marks available for this is 30%. Your approach should also outline your relevant experience and give examples of similar contracts.

  2. Expertise, experience and resources: Your proposal should outline the resources you will place on the project and the expertise of the team in terms of social media management. The total marks available is 30%.

  3. Innovation Approach: Your proposal should outline any innovative processes in terms of social media management which will deliver results in line with the projects requirements. The total marks available is 20%.

  4. Price: The price should be on a fixed cost basis for the contract requirements. The total marks for price is 20%.

  5. Tax Clearance: Your proposal should include your up to date Tax Clearance Certificate

  6. References: Your proposal should outline 2 references.

     

    Budget:

     

    The budget for this element of the project will not exceed €11,000 including VAT.

     

     

    Selection Criteria & Evaluation:

     

    The successful tender will be awarded based on the following criteria:

     

 

  • Comprehensiveness, understanding of brief and quality of approach - 30%

  • Expertise, experience and resources allocated - 30%

  • Innovation and originality of submission - 20%

  • Price - 20%

     

    Proposals via e-mail to (mailto:kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie)

     

 

A proposal clarification meeting may be scheduled and the cost of attendance of same will be borne by the proposal provider.

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom of Information:

 

 

 

Carlow County Council is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997. Prior to the award of any contract arising out of this competition the successful tenderer shall be required to produce a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Irish Revenue Commissioners and proof of Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.

 

 

 

Carlow County Council and its stakeholders requires the rights to use all videos and still shots as they see fit across all other marketing tools and also reserves the right to share the photographs and video with community partners to use for their marketing purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

Proposals should be marked with your “company name” and with the following details: 

 

Rural Economic Development Zones

 

Digital Business Engagement

 

Carlow County Council

 

Athy Road

 

Carlow

 

 

 

Proposals can be e-mailed to (mailto:kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie)

 

 

 

 

 

Queries in writing only to (mailto:kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie)