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652870 - FY27 RFP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL COMPSCS27025 Marketing and Advertising Services
Funding Opportunity Details
Department-wide Outreach
Final Application Deadline: Mar 24, 2026 4:00 PM
Status Archived
Posted Date Jan 27, 2026 7:27 AM
Award Amount RangeNot Applicable
Project Dates 07/01/2026 - 06/30/2032
Award Announcement Date 04/28/2026
Categorical Area
Recurring Opportunity
Program Officer Kristy Knutson
Phone (515) 281-7689 x
Email [email protected]
Description
It is the responsibility of the Applicant to review all Attachments listed below for additional details regarding this Funding Opportunity.
The issuance of this Funding Opportunity in no way constitutes a commitment by Iowa HHS to award a contract.
Excerpts from the RFP:
Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # COMPSCS27025 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified applicant to provide commercial production services and enter into contracts with vendors as a resource for the Agency to meet the creative campaign development; content production; media partnerships; public engagement; brand strategy; and media buying of the Agency. These services will support campaigns across statewide media modes.
Schedule of Important Dates (All times and dates listed are local Iowa time.)
The following dates are set forth for informational purposes. The Agency reserves the right to change them.
EVENT
DATE
RFP Issued
January 27, 2026
Written Questions and Responses
Round 1 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
February 4, 2025
February 18, 2026
Round 2 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
February 25, 2026
March 11, 2026
Applications Due
March 24, 2026, by 4:00 PM Local Iowa Time
Post Notice of Intent to Award
On or About April 28, 2026
| Description | File Name | Type | Size | Upload Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. RFP COMPSCS27025 Marketing and Advertising Services | A. RFP COMPSCS27025 Marketing and Advertising Services.pdf | 476 KB | 02/17/2026 02:10 PM | |
| B. HHS Application Instructions Guidance | B. HHS Application Instructions_Guidance New IG.pdf | 2 MB | 01/20/2026 03:29 PM | |
| C. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Contract Marketing and Advertising Services | C. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Contract Marketing and Advertising Services.pdf | 350 KB | 01/28/2026 08:36 AM | |
| D. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Score Tool Marketing and Advertising Services | D. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Score Tool Marketing and Advertising Services.pdf | 259 KB | 01/27/2026 07:26 AM | |
| E. Amendment 1 RFP COMPSCS27025 | E. Amendment 1 RFP COMPSCS27025.pdf | 136 KB | 02/17/2026 02:11 PM |
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| A. IowaGrants Registration and Login Instructions | https://dom.iowa.gov/state-government/grant-management |
| B. General Terms and Contingent Terms | https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/contract-terms |
| Submitted Date | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2, 2026 9:56 AM | it asks for signature by ED/CEO. The leadership title of the person who will sign in our company is Sr. VP/General Manager. Is that sufficient? If so, do we need to make note or indicate that somewhere? | The leadership title can be explained via Table of Organization, which is required under 3.02/Business Organization, in the application forms of the RFP. Also, applicants can provide the title of staff under 3.02/Project Personnel, which is a component in IowaGrants that captures the Title, Position, Name, Role, and Responsibilities. |
| Feb 2, 2026 9:57 AM | URL/hyperlinks - does Iowa Grants allow for hyperlinks in the application? If so, is there any specific instructions on how to accurately insert them? | In IowaGrants, there is an area called Narrative (text box). This area can accept URLs/Links for the Work Plan. However, it is best to upload a PDF of any documents or webpages so the Reviewers aren't spending additional time opening URLs/Links. Please indicate in the Narrative area what the URLs/Links are for or are referencing. URLs/Links need to be public-facing so Reviewers have access to them. |
| Feb 2, 2026 9:58 AM | Max file attachment- what is the max file size per attachment in Iowa Grants? | The Max size for file attachments in IowaGrants is 50MB per upload. |
| Feb 2, 2026 9:59 AM | Campaigns must conclude by one week before funding ends? What if funding is last minute and time is needed to complete campaign? | Those situations will be address on an individual basis. |
| Feb 2, 2026 9:59 AM | Under 3.01, it says only one entire application is completed and submitted for the same service area. But under 1.14, it says applicant may submit only one application for the state of Iowa. then under 1.06 it says the applicant is responsible for ensuring only one entire application is completed and submitted for each requested service area. So can you clarify is it one application for as many service areas as qualified for? Or one application per service area? | Applicants can apply to any number of Service Elements Categories that they can support statewide. |
| Feb 3, 2026 11:05 AM | Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing this work? | Yes, there are 3 current incumbent contractors. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:36 AM | What is not present in your marketing efforts today that you are looking to gain with a new agency partner? | Please refer to Section 2.03 of the RFP, "Scope of Work." |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:38 AM | What is prompting the RFP process? | "The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) # COMPSCS27025 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified applicant to provide commercial production services and enter into contracts with vendors as a resource for the Agency to meet the creative campaign development; content production; media partnerships; public engagement; brand strategy; and media buying of the Agency. These services will support campaigns across statewide media modes," can be found Under Section 1.01 of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:39 AM | What is most important to you in an agency partner? | A company that can provide the services listed under section 2.03 of the RFP |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:40 AM | Assuming they meet all requirements, are you open to partnering with agencies outside of Iowa? | Eligibility requirements can be found under section 1.03 of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:40 AM | How many agencies do you anticipate participating in this selection process? | This is a competitive process, and the Agency does not know how many, or who, will apply. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:40 AM | Are there any agencies that would be considered "incumbents" participating in the selection process? | This is a competitive process, and the Agency does not know how many, or who, will apply. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:40 AM | What is working with the current campaigns and what areas of opportunity have you identified for the next campaign iterations? | For background or goals and objectives of the program, review 2.01 Background of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:40 AM | Do you have a preferred RFP response format (e.g., slides vs. document)? | IowaGrants has a Narrative box (text box) and file uploads (50MB max per upload) that an applicant may use for their submission. PDFs are preferred, but applicants may also submit word docs. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:41 AM | For campaign purposes, how do you currently prioritize the programs listed on page 17 of the RFP? | The expectations of advertising and marketing services is unknown due to program needs and funding availability. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:41 AM | Where can more information on the Minority Impact Statement document be located? | Learn more from the Department of Management https://dom.iowa.gov/ |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:42 AM | Will there be a mix of federal and state funding? | Under section 1.05, Available Funds, of the RFP, "The source of funding is federal and state funds." |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:42 AM | Are there any notable parameters or stipulations to the budget not currently mentioned in the RFP? | Any parameters set forth by the funding source will be disclosed when the Agency requests the services. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:42 AM | Are hard costs for events assumed to be included in the total budget? | Under section 2.01 of the RFP, "Background," provides some information about budgets. Also, under 2.03 of the RFP, "Scope of Work," there is information such as: Because costs for future services will vary by project (based on the number of deliverables and rounds of revisions; translation services; production or media‑buying needs; formatting and layout; creative‑asset development such as talent fees or buy‑out costs, music licensing, location and scouting needs, and consultants; event or partnership engagements; travel stipends; focus groups; or other factors), future scopes of work will be established as part of program‑specific planning. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:42 AM | Will pre-billing be provided for any major media expenses and/or productions? | Under 8.514 of Iowa Code, the Agency pays on a reimbursement schedule. |
| Feb 4, 2026 9:43 AM | What are the most common languages that creative content is translated into? | Any parameters set forth by the funding source will be disclosed when the Agency requests the services. |
| Feb 4, 2026 11:18 AM | Page 49 / Section 4.02 Scoring of Applications: If the Agency makes multiple awards across service elements, how will the Agency decide which awardees receive funding for specific projects? | Funding will be decided by the review committee, based on the responses submitted by the applicants. |
| Feb 4, 2026 11:19 AM | Where can applicants find the subcontract plan form? | This is an IowaGrants form to list out possible subcontrators that applicants may already know they will be subcontracting with to provide services. |
| Feb 4, 2026 11:19 AM | Page 2 / DRAFT Score Tool / Background and Demonstrated Experience section. Can you clarify the following bullet, “List the items you want evaluated related to collaboration and community partnerships”? | The Draft Scoring Tool is a draft and may change. What the Agency has provided gives applicants a background on what the Agency may require. |
| Feb 4, 2026 11:21 AM | Page 31 / RFP: The Agency states “because costs for future services will vary by project, specific scopes of work will be defined during program-level planning.” Additionally, the Draft Score Tool does not reference evaluating proposals based on vendor costs. Can you confirm that applicants are not required to submit any rates, costs or pricing in our proposal? | The Agency understands each campaign or project will differ. The Agency prefers a general understanding of a baseline number for various services that applicants would charge for each service element category the applicant is applying to provide services for. The Draft Scoring Tool is a draft and may change. What the Agency has provided gives applicants a background on what the Agency may require. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:06 PM | How does the Agency anticipate allocating campaign work among multiple awarded vendors (e.g., best-fit assignment, rotation, or other)? | Allocation will be as the best-fit for assignment as determined by the Agency. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:07 PM | Is it possible that an awarded vendor may receive no campaign assignments during a contract term? | Yes, it is possible that an awarded vendor may not receive a campaign or project. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:07 PM | Will individual campaigns generally be led by a single prime contractor, or may multiple vendors be assigned to the same campaign simultaneously? | Assignment will be based on the best-fit, as determined by the Agency. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:09 PM | May subcontractors or specialty partners be added after contract award with Agency approval, if not identified at proposal submission? | Under section 1.18 of the RFP, "Use of Subcontractors" addresses the use of Subcontractors. Additionally, in the Draft Score Tool, there is information about the HHS Subcontract Plan. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:13 PM | What model is HHS using today to acquire these services? | Competitive procurement. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:18 PM | Please confirm if the agency anticipates awarding multiple contracts per Service Element Category, or whether some categories are more likely to result in a single primary vendor? How has this been handled in the past? | A) Under section 4.01, Overview of the Review Process, of the RFP: "The Agency reserves the right to make multiple awards across service elements or for all service elements, including providing funding for specific projects and services among multiple successful applicants. In the event competitive applications receive an equal number of points (for example, for the same service element category or when the Agency receives more applications than funding allows), a second review may be conducted utilizing the same scoring process. If a second review is conducted, the respective program’s division director will designate one management employee and one non-management employee to conduct the review." B) This is determined on an individual basis. Not all programs need the exact same services. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:18 PM | If an applicant applies to multiple Service Element Categories, will the application be evaluated holistically, or scored independently per category? | Under Section 4.02, "Scoring of Applicants," of the RFP, after the table, there is information that address scoring of the Project Work Plan. This is independently per category. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:19 PM | Once contracts are awarded, will campaign opportunities be issued as competitive mini-RFPs among awarded vendors, or assigned directly at the Agency’s discretion? | When a campaign is needed for a specific service element category, the best-fit for assignment will be determined by the Agency. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:19 PM | How will cost considerations be evaluated given that future campaign scopes and budgets are not known at the time of application? | "During discovery sessions, a consistent set of questions must be used to clarify objectives and minimize revision cycles; the Agency will provide a standardized Discovery Meeting template for this purpose," is language found under 2.03 Scope of Work, of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:19 PM | Is the Agency expecting applicants to propose a standard agency fee structure (e.g., percentage, hourly rates), or simply demonstrate an approach to pricing transparency? | The Agency understands each campaign or project will differ. The Agency wants a general understanding of a baseline number for various services that applicants would charge for each service element category the applicant applies to provide services for. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:20 PM | Should applicants include administrative or indirect cost methodologies in the application narrative, or will these be negotiated at the campaign level? | It will be negotiated at the campaign level. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:20 PM | Are applicants required to name specific subcontractors or partners in the application, or is disclosure only required at the campaign level once scopes are issued? | Disclosure will be required at the campaign level. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:20 PM | If a contractor does not self-perform a highly specialized task (e.g., drone operations, translation, accessibility remediation), is subcontracting acceptable provided compliance requirements are met? | Subcontracting is acceptable, provided compliance requirements are met. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:21 PM | Does the Agency prefer a dedicated core team assigned to HHS, or a flexible team model scaled per campaign? | At minimum, a dedicated Point of Contact is required. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:21 PM | Does the Agency require formal accessibility certification or testing documentation, or is contractor attestation sufficient unless issues arise? | No. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:22 PM | Will the Agency define standard KPIs across campaigns, or should contractors propose campaign-specific performance measures? | "During discovery sessions, a consistent set of questions must be used to clarify objectives and minimize revision cycles; the Agency will provide a standardized Discovery Meeting template for this purpose," is language found under 2.03, "Scope of Work," of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:22 PM | What level of reporting cadence does the Agency anticipate (e.g., monthly dashboards, end-of-campaign summaries)? | "D. Required Reporting," has information about reporting, found under 2.03, "Scope of Work," of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:23 PM | Can you tell me more about what you are expecting to see in the Marketing and Advertising Services Project Work Plan section of the application. Is it our approach or process for handling the work for each work type we are applying for? Do you expect to see budgets of any kind? | A. The Draft Score Tool can help applicants when submitting the Work Plan. Additionally, in the RFP, "A. Work Plans," provides information about the Work Plan. B. The Agency understands each campaign or project will differ. The Agency wants a general understanding of a baseline number for various services that applicants would charge for each service element category the applicant is applying to provide services for. |
| Feb 4, 2026 1:51 PM | Marketing Questions You anticipate approximately 22 campaigns per year. Are these typically launched in a "pulse" fashion (e.g., all at the start of the fiscal year) or evenly distributed throughout the 12 months? Can the Agency provide a "Sample Asset List" for a typical campaign? For example, does a "Standard Campaign" consist of one 30-second video, five social media graphics, and three display banners, or is the volume significantly higher? The RFP mentions that future scopes will vary based on the "number of deliverables and rounds of revisions". Does the Agency have a standard limit on revision cycles (e.g., two rounds of edits) before additional costs can be negotiated for a project? How many stakeholders are typically involved in the final approval of creative assets? A multi-layered approval process significantly increases project management hours. For translation services, are these treated as a separate pass-through cost for a specialized vendor, or is the agency expected to provide "Cultural Adaptation" and translation as part of the creative development fee? You mention the "potential for co-creation with target audiences" in storytelling. Does the Agency already have established "community advisory boards" we can tap into, or is the contractor expected to recruit and compensate these community members? Regarding ADA, WCAG, and 508 compliance. Does the Agency provide its own accessibility auditing and remediation, or is the contractor responsible for the costs of third-party accessibility certification for every deliverable (e.g., PDFs, videos, and social content)? For Influencer and NIL partnerships, does the Agency have a pre-approved talent pool and rate card, or is the contractor responsible for finding and negotiating contracts? How many websites are in the scope for SEO/SEM services? Is it just the HHS property, or would it also include program (Quitline Iowa, Your Life Iowa) or location specific (counties, cities) properties? How many profiles are in scope for social media services? This would include all programs and locations across all platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) Does the budget include paid ad spend? What is the expected turnaround time for campaigns around emergency public health issues? How will success be measured (Enrollments, tours, clicks/shares, etc.)? Creative + Web Questions Are selected vendors responsible for both design and development of web and landing page assets, or will technical implementation be handled by an internal HHS team or a separate vendor? What CMS platforms and environments are currently in use across HHS and affiliated program sites, and will vendors have direct access to those environments for development and deployment? For web pages, PDFs, video, and digital assets, is the contractor responsible for WCAG 2.1 AA / Section 508 compliance validation and remediation, or does the Agency pr | Under section 1.06, "Schedule of Important Dates," in the RFP, questions should follow this guideline "Click on ‘Ask A Question’ link located at the top right-hand side of the Opportunity Details page, and enter a single question in the ‘Post Question’ box" |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:02 PM | Section 1.06, pages 5-6 For the application due date, page 5 shows Mar 24, 2026, but later language on page 6 references Mar 14, 2026. We are assuming March 24 is correct but want to make sure you are aware of the discrepancy. | The correct date is March 24. There is amendment posted. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:03 PM | 2.04 B, Page 40 In situations where media outlets require prepayment for paid media placements, will HHS be willing to make an exception to their payment terms to allow prepayment, or is there an expectation that we would be responsible for advancing costs prior to placement execution? | Under 8.514 of Iowa Code, the Agency pays on a reimbursement schedule. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:03 PM | 2.04 B, Page 40 In situations where media outlets require prepayment for paid media placements, will HHS be willing to make an exception to their payment terms to allow prepayment, or is there an expectation that we would be responsible for advancing costs prior to placement execution? | Under 8.514 of Iowa Code, the Agency pays on a reimbursement schedule. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:03 PM | 2.04 B, Page 40 In situations where media outlets require prepayment for paid media placements, will HHS be willing to make an exception to their payment terms to allow prepayment, or is there an expectation that we would be responsible for advancing costs prior to placement execution? | Under 8.514 of Iowa Code, the Agency pays on a reimbursement schedule. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:07 PM | Post-award assignment process: After multiple awards are made, how will specific campaigns/projects be assigned to vendors (e.g., Agency discretion, rotation, mini-bids, best-fit selection)? | Awarded as the best-fit for assignment as determined by the Agency. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:07 PM | Do you have an example or template to help us better understand what you’re looking for related to pricing? Do you want the pricing to be included in each Service Element category? | The Agency does not have an example template. The Agency is looking for examples of what an applicant's pricing would be for each service element category applied for. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:08 PM | What do you think is going to be the most challenging part of this engagement for your organization? For your selected partner/vendor? | The Agency does not know what campaigns are coming, or how many campaigns are coming. The Agency needs a contractor(s) that is able to adapt to the campaigns or projects, as they come in. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:08 PM | Are there any restrictions on media vendor types, platforms or contract terms we should be aware of (e.g., state-approved vendors, GSA schedules)? | The Agency is not restricted to state-approved vendors for this RFP. Platforms will be approved per campaign. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:09 PM | Are links to portfolios/work samples acceptable in the Background form fields within the IowaGrants portal, and if so, are there preferred hosting/security constraints? | In IowaGrants, there is an area called Narrative (text box). This area can accept URLs/Links for the Work Plan. Please indicate in the Narrative area what the URLs/Links are for or are referencing. URLs/Links need to be public-facing so Reviewers have access to them. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:10 PM | Is the Agency open to an all or nothing bid? | Under section 2.03 of the RFP, "Applicants may apply to as many Service Elements as the company is qualified." |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:10 PM | We have freelance partners we work with on a regular basis to implement all of our services. Can we include them under personnel or do they have to be a subcontractor? | Under section 2 and section 3 of the RFP, personnel requirements are outlined. Subcontractors, should not be included. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:10 PM | Can the vendor set a minimum percentage of scope? | The Agency would prefer a vendor that can provide all services entailed in the service element category that they are apply for. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:18 PM | In the Marketing and Advertising Services Project Work Plan Form section of the IowaGrants platform, we see the box to enter our narrative for each section. There is a ‘file upload’ option below the narrative box. Can we use that file upload to share case studies and/or visual examples of our work to support our narrative? | Yes. In IowaGrants, there are file uploads (50MB max file size per upload). There is also an area that reads "Use this section to upload anything else applicants may need to add in the RFP." The Narrative box (text box), and file uploads, are for any items pertaining to the Work Plan. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:56 PM | Service Element 3 (Section 2.03) ○ How does the Agency define “high-profile” or “VIP” talent? Are there specific tiers (local, national) or maybe minimum social metrics (of their channels) expected for the influencer partnerships? ○ For the vetting criteria, does the Agency aim to work with influencers adaptable to all campaigns and programs, or are there specific campaigns from the list provided in Section 2.01 where this strategy is prioritized? | It will be decided on an individual campaign basis. |
| Feb 4, 2026 3:57 PM | Section 3.02 - Forms ○ When applying for multiple Service Elements, should the 'Background and Demonstrated Experience' form be submitted as one consolidated narrative, or should it be partitioned for each specific category? ○ The Work Plan Form requires “proposed service area” - should it be “statewide” or is the Agency looking for a breakdown of focus areas? | A) Applicants should address any service element category that they want to apply for as one consolidated narrative. B) In section 1.04 of the RFP, "Service Delivery Area," This contract covers statewide audiences in Iowa. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:19 PM | For the Minority Impact Statement, do we need to include anythng beyond answering the two questions in the portal? Should we also write up an official statement to attach to our application? | Applicants should fill out the minority impact statement to the best of their ability. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:27 PM | In the portals "Iowa HHS Subcontract Plan" it references "All anticipated subcontracts must also be reflected in the budget form." Where is the budget form? Do not see one in the portal. | There is not a budget form, but there is a Subcontract Plan component in IowaGrants to outline subcontractors that applicants may use, if known. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:35 PM | Based on Section 1.03, 1.14, and 1.16, can the Agency clarify whether an applicant that has submitted, or may be awarded, a separate Iowa HHS grant or funding opportunity (e.g., Healthy Hometowns) is eligible to apply for and hold a contract under RFP COMPSCS27025 concurrently, provided there is no duplication of scope, funding, or deliverables? | Applicants can apply based on the eligibility requirements in section 1.03 of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:35 PM | If multiple applicants are awarded contracts under the same Service Element Category, how does the Agency anticipate allocating campaigns or projects among awarded contractors (e.g., rotation, specialization, capacity, performance, or program-specific fit)? | The Agency anticipates it will be by performance or program-specific fit. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:54 PM | Is there an estimated annual budget for this contract, and does it cover media, fees, and production? | There is not an annual budget for this contract. Section 2.01 of the RFP, "Background," provides information about past campaigns. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:55 PM | Is this a rebid of an existing contract, and are there current vendors (incumbents) already supporting this work? (if there is an incumbent, can you share who?) | Yes, there are current vendors supporting the work. This is a competitive process, and the Agency does not know how many, or who, will apply. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:55 PM | Is this a rebid of an existing contract, and are there current vendors already supporting this work? About how many vendors does the Agency expect to select across the service elements? | Yes, there are current vendors supporting the work. This is a competitive process, and the Agency does not know how many, or who, will apply. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:55 PM | Will awarded vendors handle both media strategy and buying, or will media buying be centralized or managed separately by the Agency? | Media buying not be managed by the Agency. However, the Agency has final approval on all campaigns. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:56 PM | Are there any fee guidelines or caps the Agency prefers vendors to follow? | Please refer to section 2.04, "Contractor Budget(s) and Contract Payment Methodology," subsection B "Cost Restrictions," of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:57 PM | What constitutes “Agency approval” for accessibility (internal QA, third-party tools, checklist), and is there a required standard beyond “WCAG/508” (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA)? | The Agency is required to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA guidance. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:58 PM | If presentations occur: Will they be evaluated/scored, and will they focus on a scenario exercise, portfolio review, or clarification only? | Please refer to Section 1.15 "Oral Presentation," of the RFP. |
| Feb 4, 2026 4:58 PM | Will vendors be granted access to Agency-owned analytics environments (e.g., GA4, social accounts, ad accounts), or will reporting rely primarily on vendor-side dashboards and platform reporting exports? | No. |
| Feb 16, 2026 5:06 PM | Hello, the RFP states in the scope of work under "Service Element Category 6" that the contractor would be responsible for "digital, broadcast, traditional, and out-of-home channels". Gray Media TV stations cover more of Iowa than any other TV group (76% of Iowa), and we also have a robust suite of digital marketing products including OTT, SEM, SEO, and many more. We can cover out-of-home as well with digital out-of-home. However, what other channels are included in "traditional"? I see radio was covered separately in "Service Element Category #3", so assuming that is not considered traditional in this situation. We do offer streaming audio, so, I assume we can apply for #3? Finally, would we still be able to submit a proposal for category 6 even if we cannot buy traditional media outside or our services? Working directly with Gray will provide the most efficient use of your time and ad spend as you would have one Point-of-Contact and the best rates. Thank you for your help! | Under section 1.06, "Schedule of Important Dates," in the RFP, questions should follow this guideline "Click on ‘Ask A Question’ link located at the top right-hand side of the Opportunity Details page and enter a single question in the ‘Post Question’ box". The way we understand your question is you're asking if you can submit for Category 6. To answer that, under section 2.03 of the RFP, "Applicants may apply to as many Service Elements as the company is qualified." |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:09 AM | 1. You anticipate approximately 22 campaigns per year. a. Are these typically launched in a "pulse" fashion (e.g., all at the start of the fiscal year) or evenly distributed throughout the 12 months? b. Can the Agency provide a "Sample Asset List" for a typical campaign? For example, does a "Standard Campaign" consist of one 30-second video, five social media graphics, and three display banners, or is the volume significantly higher? | a. This all depends on funding and campaign requests. b. No, the Agency is unable to provide a Sample Asset List. The Agency understands each campaign or project will differ and wants a general understanding of a baseline idea of the various services that applicants can create for each service element category the applicant applies to provide services for. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:09 AM | 2. The RFP mentions that future scopes will vary based on the "number of deliverables and rounds of revisions". Does the Agency have a standard limit on revision cycles (e.g., two rounds of edits) before additional costs can be negotiated for a project? | The Agency does not have a standard limit on revision cycles. Under 2.03, "Scope of Work," of the RFP, "During discovery sessions, a consistent set of questions must be used to clarify objectives and minimize revision cycles; the Agency will provide a standardized Discovery Meeting template for this purpose." |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:09 AM | 3. How many stakeholders are typically involved in the final approval of creative assets? A multi-layered approval process significantly increases project management hours. | It will be negotiated at the campaign level. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:09 AM | 4. For translation services, are these treated as a separate pass-through cost for a specialized vendor, or is the agency expected to provide "Cultural Adaptation" and translation as part of the creative development fee? | Under 2.03 of the RFP, "Scope of Work," there is information such as: Because costs for future services will vary by project (based on the number of deliverables and rounds of revisions; translation services; production or media‑buying needs; formatting and layout; creative‑asset development such as talent fees or buy‑out costs, music licensing, location and scouting needs, and consultants; event or partnership engagements; travel stipends; focus groups; or other factors), future scopes of work will be established as part of program‑specific planning. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:09 AM | 5. You mention the "potential for co-creation with target audiences" in storytelling. Does the Agency already have established "community advisory boards" we can tap into, or is the contractor expected to recruit and compensate these community members? | It will be negotiated at the campaign level. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:10 AM | 6. Regarding ADA, WCAG, and 508 compliance. Does the Agency provide its own accessibility auditing and remediation, or is the contractor responsible for the costs of third-party accessibility certification for every deliverable (e.g., PDFs, videos, and social content)? | The Agency will provide accessibility standards. The successful applicant will be responsible for remediation, cost of third-party accessibility certification for every deliverable. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:10 AM | For Influencer and NIL partnerships, does the Agency have a pre-approved talent pool and rate card, or is the contractor responsible for finding and negotiating contracts? | No, the agency does not have a pre-approved talent pool and rate card, and it will be decided on an individual campaign basis. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:10 AM | How many websites are in the scope for SEO/SEM services? Is it just the HHS property, or would it also include program (Quitline Iowa, Your Life Iowa) or location specific (counties, cities) properties? | Most paid messaging will focus on the Iowa HHS, Your Life Iowa, and Quitline Iowa websites. It will be negotiated at the campaign level. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:10 AM | How many profiles are in scope for social media services? This would include all programs and locations across all platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) | The Agency has Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn for the main Iowa HHS account. It will be negotiated at the campaign level due to program specific accounts and platforms. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:11 AM | Does the budget include paid ad spend? | It will be negotiated at the campaign level. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:11 AM | What is the expected turnaround time for campaigns around emergency public health issues? | Any parameters set forth around expected turnaround time will be disclosed when the Agency requests the services. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:11 AM | How will success be measured (Enrollments, tours, clicks/shares, etc.)? | "During discovery sessions, a consistent set of questions must be used to clarify objectives and minimize revision cycles; the Agency will provide a standardized Discovery Meeting template for this purpose," is language found under 2.03 Scope of Work, of the RFP. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:11 AM | Are selected vendors responsible for both design and development of web and landing page assets, or will technical implementation be handled by an internal HHS team or a separate vendor? | The Agency handles web and landing pages internally. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:11 AM | What CMS platforms and environments are currently in use across HHS and affiliated program sites, and will vendors have direct access to those environments for development and deployment? | Disclosure will be provided at the campaign level. The Agency does not provide direct access to vendors for deployment. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:11 AM | For web pages, PDFs, video, and digital assets, is the contractor responsible for WCAG 2.1 AA / Section 508 compliance validation and remediation, or does the Agency provide accessibility review and final certification? | The Agency will provide accessibility standards. The successful applicant will be responsible for remediation, cost of third-party accessibility certification for every deliverable. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:11 AM | Should vendors assume that copy, translations, imagery, legal disclaimers, and program approvals are finalized prior to creative and web execution, or that content development occurs concurrently? | It will be negotiated at the campaign level. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:12 AM | After delivery, who owns hosting, maintenance, updates, and long-term support for campaign-related web assets? | As quoted in the Draft Contract "Transfer all intellectual property rights of deliverables to the Agency upon delivery and payment, ensuring the Agency holds exclusive rights (not required to buyout stock photos) to use, modify, and distribute materials, unless otherwise negotiated in advance." |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:12 AM | Are vendors expected to implement analytics, tagging, and conversion tracking for web deliverables, or will HHS provide existing analytics frameworks and access? | The Agency handles HHS website analytics frameworks internally and the contractor is expected to handle media software analytics framework and access. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:12 AM | For urgent public health needs, what turnaround time is expected for creative and web execution outside standard campaign planning? | For urgent public health needs, the agency handles these internally, however, any parameters set forth around turnaround time will be disclosed when the Agency requests the services. |
| Feb 23, 2026 9:52 AM | For Category 6 in the Scope of Work, do the items A-F pertain to this category, or just the overall scope? | A-F is a multi-level list found Under 2.03 "Scope of Work," of the RFP, and does not pertain to only Category 6. |
| Feb 24, 2026 5:38 PM | Where should pricing information be included in proposals? | The Agency expects the applicant to decide where pricing information should be included in the proposals. The Agency understands each campaign or project will differ. The Agency wants a general understanding of a baseline number for various services that applicants would charge for each service element category the applicant is applying to provide services for. |
| Feb 24, 2026 5:39 PM | Is there a specific budget form that offerors need to fill? It seems to be referenced in the RFP but not included in the online forms. | There is not a specific budget form to complete. |
| Feb 24, 2026 6:13 PM | In what field should offerors include information about turnover? There appears not to be an explicit place to include this information. | The Draft Score Tool can help applicants with additional information. |
| Feb 24, 2026 6:16 PM | We would like to include samples of our work in our response. Will these be considered? If so, where should they be included? | Yes, they will be considered and should be submitted in IowaGrants. The Draft Score Tool can help applicants when submitting the Work Plan. |
| Feb 25, 2026 4:19 PM | For sections that naturally overlap, such as partnerships and video production, does the evaluation team prefer that we restate relevant capabilities within each section for completeness, or cross-reference other sections (for example, noting that script development is described in detail in the video section) to avoid redundancy? | Under Section 4.02, "Scoring of Applicants," of the RFP, "Each Element will be scored individually. A maximum of 25 points may be awarded to each element. With a potential of 35 points for background and demonstrated experience and personnel for an minimum average score of 21 for background and demonstrated experience and personnel and a minimum score of 15 for an element or greater is required for the application to be considered for funding. Applications scoring less than the minimum average score will be rejected. Accepted applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria: A. All parts of each section are included and addressed. B. Descriptions and detail are clear, organized and understandable. C. Descriptions are responsive to the intent of the RFP objectives and service elements. D. The overall ability of the applicant, as judged by the evaluation committee, to successfully complete the project within the proposed schedule. This judgment will be based upon factors such as background and demonstrated experience, personnel, project work plan and availability of staff." |