RFP for Contract 26-05: On-Call Public Relations/Communications, Marketing, and Crisis...

Agency:	Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
State:	Rhode Island
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 541613 - Marketing Consulting Services 541820 - Public Relations Agencies
Posted Date:	Apr 21, 2026
Due Date:	May 1, 2026
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April 17, 2026

Request for Proposals

On-Call Public Relations/Communications, Marketing, and Crisis

Management Services

Contract No. 26-05

General Information

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) manages the Newport Pell, Jamestown

Verrazzano, Mount Hope and Sakonnet River Bridges, along with ten (10) small bridges and a

section of Route 138 which runs from North Kingstown and continues through Jamestown. RITBA

is a quasi-public corporation having a distinct legal existence from the state of Rhode Island. The

powers of RITBA are vested in a five (5) member Board of Directors, which is authorized, pursuant

to its enabling act and bylaws, to, among other things, undertake the planning, development,

management and operation of the assets for which it is responsible.

Summary of Scope of Services

RITBA is seeking the services of an experienced Firm (or Firms) to provide the following on-call

services:

1. Public Relations, including communication services

2. Marketing Initiatives (plans/digital marketing strategies/collateral)

3. Crisis Management guidance, recommendations, and communications

4. Graphic design

Request for Proposals Requirements

RITBA requires that the Firms keep the proposal to no more than fifteen (15) single sided 8 ½ x

11 pages, no less than size 12 font, excluding:

• Cover Letter (one page, single sided)

• Table-of-Contents

• Dividers

• Executive Summary (one page, double sided)

• Resume(s) (one page, double sided)

• Professional References

RITBA will not accept videos, simulations, or other electronic presentations for this submittal.

However, such electronic information may be presented during an interview process if RITBA

chooses to interview any firms.

Firms shall submit their proposal by email to procurement@ritba.org and request a confirmation

of receipt to ensure delivery.

The proposal must be submitted no later than 2:00PM EDT, May 1, 2026. Late submissions will

not be accepted. In order to control the dissemination of information regarding this Request for

Proposals (RFP), Firms interested in submitting proposals shall not make personal contact with

any member of RITBA staff or Board of Directors regarding this RFP.

RITBA accepts no financial responsibility for any costs incurred by a Firm in either responding to

this RFP, or in participating in oral presentations or in any meetings with RITBA prior to being hired.

The proposals in response to this RFP become the property of RITBA and may be used by RITBA

in any way it deems appropriate. All information submitted in response to this RFP is deemed

public and subject to disclosure unless a separate redacted public copy is submitted, regardless

of whether the information is marked confidential/proprietary. Firms may redact in the public copy

any trade secrets or commercial or financial information which is of a privileged or confidential

nature pursuant to the Access to Public Records Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-1 et seq.). If a Firm

does not submit a redacted public copy, RITBA assumes that Firm is not seeking confidential

treatment for any of its information and thus, all information is subject to public disclosure without

prior notice to the submitting Firm. By submitting a proposal, the Firm certifies that it has fully read

and understands the RFP, has full knowledge of the Scope of Services to be provided, and

accepts the terms and conditions under which the services are to be performed.

RITBA reserves the right to interview some, all, or none of the Firms responding to this RFP based

solely on its judgment as to the Firms’ proposals and capabilities. RITBA reserves the right to reject

any and all proposals, to request and consider additional information from Firms, and to reject

any and all proposals on any basis without disclosing the reason. No Firm may withdraw its

submittal for at least one hundred twenty (120) days after the time and date set for submission.

RITBA reserves the right to waive any irregularities and technical defects. RITBA reserves the right

to modify, amend, or waive any provisions of this RFP, prior to the issuance of a contract. By this

RFP, RITBA has not committed itself to employ any Firm for any or all of the above-described

services, nor does the suggested Scope of Services or term of agreement require that Firms

should be employed for any of those purposes. RITBA reserves the right to make those decisions

after receipt of responses. RITBA’s decision on these matters is final. RITBA reserves the right to

terminate any relationships with any Firm if it determines that such action is in its best interests.

RITBA may award one or more contracts for any combination of services including specific tasks

within a subcategory.

SUBMITTAL AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

The selected Firm(s) must possess excellent organization, communication, and public relations

skills as demonstrated in your submission. Evaluation will be based on general qualifications and

experience including appropriateness of staff (including key account/relationship manager), the

Firm’s capabilities, capacity, and qualifications. Please describe the following:

1. Firm’s history, organization, management and philosophy

2. Indicate how long your Firm has been engaged in the services required and provide

examples of such services provided to other clients (especially public sector or quasi-state

agencies)

A Selection Committee comprised of RITBA staff will review proposals. This committee will review

all proposals meeting the minimum requirements of this RFP and select a Firm (or Firms) to

present to the Board of Directors.

Fees

As this RFP is for on-call services, RITBA is requesting Firms to provide the hourly rate by

employee (or title) for the remainder of calendar year 2026 and 2027. Thereafter, Firms may

request an adjustment to the hourly rates on a calendar year basis by sending the request to

procurement@ritba.org. RITBA will review these requests and respond to the Firm accordingly.

RITBA plans to enter into separate agreements (letters of engagement) for project related

programs or general monthly services required.

Award

The period of award is for five (5) years. Each party may cancel the award by providing 90 (ninety)

days’ notice to either party.

A. Additional Requirements

Campaign Finance Compliance

Every person or business entity providing goods or services at a cost of $5,000 cumulated value

is required to file an affidavit regarding political campaign contributions with the RI State Board of

Elections even if no reportable contributions have been made (RI Gen. Laws §17-27-1 et seq.).

Forms may be obtained at the Board of Elections, Campaign Finance Division, 50 Branch Avenue,

Providence, RI 02904, (401-222-2056) or https://elections.ri.gov/.

Major State Decision-Maker

Does any Rhode Island “Major State Decision-Maker”, as defined below, or the spouse or

dependent child of such person, hold (i) a ten percent or greater equity interest, or (ii) a $5,000 or

greater cash interest in this business?

For purposes of this question, “Major State Decision-Maker" means:

(i) All general officers; and all executive or administrative head or heads of any state

executive agency enumerated in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-6-1, et seq. as well as the executive

or administrative head or heads of state quasi-public corporations, whether appointed or

serving as an employee. The phrase “executive or administrative head or heads” shall

include anyone serving in the positions of president, senior vice president, general

counsel, director, executive director, deputy director, assistant director, executive counsel

or chief of staff;

(ii) All members of the General Assembly and the executive or administrative head or heads

of a state legislative agency, whether appointed or serving as an employee. The phrase

“executive or administrative head or heads” shall include anyone serving in the positions

of director, executive director, deputy director, assistant director, executive counsel or

chief of staff; and

(iii) All members of the state judiciary and all state magistrates and the executive or

administrative head or heads of a state judicial agency, whether appointed or serving as

an employee. The phrase “executive or administrative head or heads” shall include anyone

serving in the positions of director, executive director, deputy director, assistant director,

executive counsel, chief of staff or state court administrator.

If your answer is “Yes”, please identify the Major State Decision-Maker, specify the nature of their

ownership interest, and provide a copy of the annual financial disclosure required to be filed with

the Rhode Island Ethics Commission pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §36-14-16, 17 and 18.

Title VI Solicitation Notice:

RITBA, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252,

42 USC §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and applicable regulations, hereby notifies all bidders or offerors

that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this solicitation will be

afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be

discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or any other prohibited basis

in consideration for an award.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

RFP for Contract 26-05: On-Call Public Relations/Communications, Marketing, and Crisis Management Services

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