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672135 - FY27 RFP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL COMPSCS27025 Marketing and Advertising Services
Funding Opportunity Details
Department-wide Outreach
Final Application Deadline: Jun 22, 2026 4:00 PM
Status Posted
Posted Date May 28, 2026 3:13 PM
Award Amount RangeNot Applicable
Project Dates 08/01/2026 - 06/30/2032
Award Announcement Date 07/07/2026
Categorical Area
Recurring Opportunity No
Program Officer Julie Jones
Phone (515) 242-5934 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
May 28, 2026
Written Questions and Responses
Round 1 Questions Due:
Responses Posted By:
June 9, 2026
June 11, 2026
Applications Due
June 22, 2026, by 4:00 PM Local Iowa Time
Post Notice of Intent to Award
On or About July 7, 2026
| Description | File Name | Type | Size | Upload Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. FY27 RFP COMPSCS27025 Marketing and Advertising Services | A. FY27 RFP COMPSCS27025 Marketing and Advertising Services.pdf | 441 KB | 05/28/2026 03:11 PM | |
| B. HHS Application Instructions Guidance | B. HHS Application Instructions_Guidance New IG.pdf | 2 MB | 05/27/2026 10:55 AM | |
| C. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Contact Marketing and Advertising Services | C. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Contact Marketing and Advertising Services.pdf | 323 KB | 05/28/2026 03:12 PM | |
| D. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Score Tool Marketing and Advertising Services | D. COMPSCS27025 DRAFT Score Tool Marketing and Advertising Services.pdf | 278 KB | 05/28/2026 03:12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2026 7:20 PM | Section 1.03 states preference will be given to businesses based in the State of Iowa. For purposes of evaluation, how does the Agency define 'based in Iowa'? Would an organization with multiple staffed Iowa offices, Iowa employees, and substantial Iowa operations, but with corporate headquarters located outside Iowa, be considered an Iowa-based business? | Yes, this is acceptable. Under 1.03 of the RFP, Eligibility Requirements, on page 4, it states: Organizations considered for-profit, nonprofit, or governmental with experience providing services in visual and audio production; campaign, creative and media development; event, influencer, and partnership activation; research and insights; media planning and buying, or production for marketing and advertising placement are eligible to submit an application in accordance with this RFP. Respondents must maintain a physical business presence in Iowa, |
| May 31, 2026 7:21 PM | Section 1.14 states that an applicant may submit only one application for the RFP. However, Section 2.03 indicates that applicants may apply to as many Service Element Categories (SECs) as they are qualified to perform and should identify which SECs are included in their response. Can the Agency clarify whether applicants should submit: a) One application that includes responses for multiple Service Element Categories, if qualified; or b) A separate application for each Service Element Category? If one application is required, please clarify how applicants should structure their response when seeking consideration for multiple SECs. | Just one application for any service element categories they are qualified to provide services for. |
| May 31, 2026 7:22 PM | Section 1.19 states that the Agency reserves the right to contact references during the evaluation process. However, we did not identify a section within the RFP narrative that requests applicant references. Can the Agency clarify whether references will be requested as part of the IowaGrants application forms, through project examples submitted by the applicant, or through another process? If references are required, please identify where they should be provided. | Applicant references are not identified as a required upload within the IowaGrants application or the RFP narrative. While Section 1.19 notes that the Agency reserves the right to contact references during the evaluation process, the application materials do not request applicants to submit references at this stage. |
| Jun 4, 2026 7:03 PM | Section 1.03 states that preference will be given to businesses based in the State of Iowa. The application in Iowa Grants appears to provide space for only one Iowa business address for contact information; however, our organization maintains multiple staffed offices across Iowa. May applicants provide additional information regarding Iowa office locations, Iowa-based personnel, and statewide operational presence within the proposal narrative or supporting materials? If so, where would the Agency prefer this information be included? | Applicants may provide additional information regarding Iowa office locations, Iowa-based personnel, and statewide operational presence by listing these details in an Excel document and uploading it within the Business Organization form in Iowa Grants. |
| Jun 9, 2026 3:53 PM | Fee structure and blended-rate approach - Section 4.02 / Draft Score Tool For the fee-structure requirement, may applicants provide a blended hourly rate and identify the top common roles/functions covered by that rate, or does the Agency require separate hourly rates for each of the top ten roles listed? If the same core fee structure applies across multiple SECs, should that fee structure be repeated in each applicable SEC narrative box, or may it be provided once and referenced consistently? | As found in the Draft Score Tool, "Provide their fee structure (e.g., hourly rates/ranges, project‑based fees, vendor‑markup fees/percentages, percentage‑based pricing, and/or other pricing models, et cetera), along with any anticipated additional costs or pass‑through expenses for the Service Element Category/Categories they are applying to. Applicants should provide a table listing the top ten (10) most common roles and their associated fees and fee structures. Fees must be clearly explained, transparent, and appropriate to the Service Element Category. Applicants must also describe their approach to cost management, budget control, and preventing cost overruns. Fee information will be evaluated based on clarity and transparency, not on lowest cost. The fee amounts themselves will not be scored." |
| Jun 9, 2026 3:54 PM | Representative work plan versus hypothetical campaigns - Sections 2.03 and 3.02 Because future campaign topics, funding levels, deliverables, audiences, and timelines will be determined after award through program-specific planning, should applicants provide a representative implementation methodology for each SEC, or does the Agency expect hypothetical goals, objectives, measures, responsible roles, and timeframes for potential future campaigns? | The Agency does not expect applicants to create hypothetical goals, objectives, metrics, or timelines for future campaigns. Because future scopes of work will be developed collaboratively after award. Funding levels, deliverables, priority populations and target audiences, and campaign priorities will vary by project. So, the Agency is not asking applicants to invent speculative campaign plans. Applicants can demonstrate their capacity and approach to performing the required Service Elements they are qualified to apply to, describing their general process, staffing roles, and overall approach to delivering services. |