Crisis Communications Plan And On Call Crisis Communications RFP
| Agency: | Meridian charter township |
|---|---|
| State: | Michigan |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| NAICS Category: |
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| Posted Date: | Aug 10, 2026 |
| Due Date: | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Original Source: | Please Login to View Page |
| Contact information: | Please Login to View Page |
| Bid Documents: | Please Login to View Page |
Description
Department:
Communications
Start Date:
08/10/2026
Close Date:
09/30/2026 at 4:00 pm
Meridian Township is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to update the Township's Crisis Communications Plan and provide on-call crisis communications services.
Please submit your proposal electronically to bids@meridian.mi.us by 4:00 pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered. See below for information about submitting questions.
All questions should be emailed to Manager Diehl at diehl@meridian.mi.us and submitted by Wednesday, September 15, 2026. Responses will be posted on the Township’s website as an addendum to this RFP. If you submit a question and do not receive a response within 24 hours, please call Manager Diehl at 517.853.4378.
For additional questions, please contact Manager Diehl at diehl@meridian.mi.us or 517.853.4378.
To read more, please visit the link below:
Attachment Preview
Crisis Communications Plan and
On-Call Crisis Communications
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Crisis Communications Plan & On-Call Services RFP - Page 1
Request for Proposals
On-Call Crisis Communications
RFP Issue Date:
Issued By:
Inquiries/Contact:
RFP Due Date:
August 10, 2026
Meridian Township
5151 Marsh Road
Okemos, MI 48864
Samantha Diehl, Communications Manager
diehl@meridian.mi.us | 517.853.4378
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 by 4:00 pm
Section I – Introduction and Purpose
Meridian Township is soliciting proposals from quali�ied �irms to:
1. Update the Township’s Crisis Communications Plan
2. Provide on-call crisis communications services
The purpose of this RFP is to secure a �irm to work with the Township to update its Crisis
Communications Plan and provide on-call crisis communication services that can be deployed
rapidly during high-risk, time-sensitive, or reputationally signi�icant events.
This RFP is not intended to procure ongoing or day-to-day public relations services. Instead, it is
designed to ensure the Township has immediate access to experienced crisis communications
professionals who can:
• Respond to breaking or emergent situations.
• Manage intense or adversarial media attention.
• Counter misinformation and disinformation.
• Support Township leadership with disciplined, legally sound messaging.
• Assist in de-escalation and transition planning following the crisis period.
Section II – Communications Department Background
The Communications Department aims to increase transparency in governance by providing
timely, relevant information to residents. The department coordinates with various
departments to inform the public about Township goals, plans, emergency alerts, activities,
and events through multimedia platforms, including the web, digital, and print.
Crisis Communications Plan & On-Call Services RFP - Page 2
The department is staffed by three full-time members and receives additional support from
a freelancer and two interns per year.
Key Responsibilities of the Communications Department:
• Update the public during emergency situations
• Maintain the Meridian Township website
• Manage 20 Township-af�iliated social media accounts
o Facebook (8 pages)
o Instagram (5 pages)
o Nextdoor (1 page)
o X (2 pages; do not actively post)
o LinkedIn (2 pages)
o YouTube (2 pages)
• Issue press releases to the media
• Oversee HOMTV, Meridian Township's government access channel
Section III – Scope of Work
The scope of work will be broken into two main categories: Crisis Communications Plan
Update and On-Call Services.
1. CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS PLAN UPDATE
• Crisis Communications Plan Review and Update
o Meet with staff and elected leadership to discuss Crisis Communications
expectations.
o Review existing Crisis Communications Plan and related policies.
o Recommend updates based on current best practices and Township
operations.
o Develop crisis message templates, holding statements, and communication
work�lows.
o De�ine roles, responsibilities, and approval processes.
o Deliver �inal updated Crisis Communications Plan in editable format.
• Training and Preparedness
o Conduct media training for designated spokespersons.
o Facilitate at least one crisis communications tabletop exercise.
o Provide recommendations for improving response readiness.
o Develop crisis communications training materials for leadership and staff.
2. ON-CALL SERVICES
Respondents must be capable of providing immediate, high-level crisis communications
support upon notice. Services may include but are not limited to:
• Immediate Crisis Media Response
Crisis Communications Plan & On-Call Services RFP - Page 3
o The selected �irm must be available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365
days per year. Upon activation by the Township, the �irm must acknowledge
receipt of the request within one (1) hour and provide initial strategic
communications support within two (2) hours.
• Media Relations and Public Information Management
o Work with the Communications Department to coordinate and manage
media inquiries, interview requests, press briefings, and news conferences.
Develop media strategies that support Township objectives while
maintaining transparency and credibility.
• Misinformation and Narrative Management
o Monitor traditional media, social media, and online platforms for
misinformation. Develop corrective messaging strategies. Coordinate with
legal counsel and subject matter experts, as appropriate.
• Leadership and Spokesperson Support
o Messaging guidance for designated spokespersons. On-call coaching for
interviews, press conferences, or public statements.
• Internal Communications Support
o Draft employee communications and leadership updates.
o Develop internal FAQs and talking points.
Section IV – Desired Quali�ications
In addition to general public relations quali�ications, respondents must demonstrate speci�ic
crisis communications expertise, including:
• Proven experience providing crisis communications support for local governments,
public agencies, public safety organizations, or similarly complex organizations.
• Experience supporting elected of�icials and executive leadership teams.
• Demonstrated understanding of public records, transparency, and governmental
communication requirements.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with legal counsel, law enforcement, emergency
management personnel, and other governmental stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to operate under intense pressure and public scrutiny.
• Experience managing misinformation, disinformation, or hostile media
environments.
• Availability for rapid activation, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Section V – Proposal Requirements
Submitted proposals should include the following:
• Cover Letter
o State a brief overview of the �irm, reason for interest, list of services offered,
in accordance with the Scope of Work section, and the contact information
for the main point of contact.
Crisis Communications Plan & On-Call Services RFP - Page 4
• Relevant Experience
o Description of comparable clients and projects.
• Project and Team Availability
o Identify personnel who would be assigned to Meridian Township.
o Describe roles, responsibilities, and relevant experience.
o Identify primary and secondary emergency contacts.
o Describe after-hours activation procedures.
• Availability and Activation Procedures
o 24/7 availability procedures.
o Emergency contact methods.
o Expected response times.
o Staf�ing redundancy if primary personnel are unavailable.
o Any limitations affecting emergency deployment.
• Proposed Approach and Work Plan
o Description of how the �irm would meet the Scope of Work.
o Provide proposed communication strategies and methods.
• Training Plan
o Description of media and communications training offerings, including
format, duration, and audience.
• Detailed Cost and Pricing
o Crisis Communication Plan and Related Training Support
Not-to-exceed costs for updating the Township’s Crisis
Communication Plan.
Per-session pricing for media training, spokesperson training, and
staff communications training.
Pricing for in-person vs. virtual meetings.
Pricing for tabletop exercises or crisis simulations.
o On-Call Services
Provide monthly or annual retainer rate for crisis communication
services, if required.
Provide hourly pricing for content development (press releases,
media advisories, statements, talking points, brie�ing materials) and
crisis management services.
Clear description of services included in the base retainer.
After-hours, weekend, and emergency response rates, if different
from normal business hours.
o Optional Ad-On Services
Clearly identi�ied optional services with separate pricing.
Any volume discounts or bundled pricing options.
o Billing and Invoice Practices
Description of billing frequency and invoicing details.
Sample invoice, if available.
Crisis Communications Plan & On-Call Services RFP - Page 5
This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.
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