New Hampshire Issues RFP for US Tourism PR Services

On Monday, 24 February the State of New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) issued RFP BEA 2025-09 seeking Domestic Public Relations Services.

Goals stated by BEA are:

• Serve as BEA's PR rep in the US market
• Increase brand awareness among consumer audiences
• Develop and execute a brand-aligned PR program complementing BEA's advertising and marketing campaigns

Term of the non-exclusive contract would be 2 years July 2025 - June 2027 with option to renew through June 2029.

Schedule:

• Vendor inquiry period 2/24 - 2/27 12 PM
• Agency responses to inquiries 2/28 5 PM
• Proposal due 3/20 2 PM
• Notification of selection 4/9 (est.)

Scope of work:

• Create, implement and manage for 12 months through regional and national media relations outreach and hosting a program that supports NH's promotional campaigns. resulting in trackable media coverage. Plan will:
  • Generate positive exposure for NH through consumer and industry media measurable by ROI and qualitative measures
  • Include robust and creative support for a niche consumer ad campaign
• Plan and execute one or more media receptions in key or new markets
• Create media target lists for print, online and broadcast
• Secure a minimum of 6 individual press trips annually
• Coordinate key market media tours and briefings at least twice a year
• Assist in creating media outreach strategies that get coverage of NH tourism
• Work with AOR to develop and implement a digital influencer strategy
• Support crisis communications and reputation management
• Work with BEA on special projects
• Hold bi-monthly and quarterly meetings
• Track and report media coverage
• Prepare monthly, campaign and annual reports
• Participate in conferences and events in NH

Sole point of contact for this RFP is:

Brittany Littlefield

Brittany.L.Littlefield@livefree.nh.gov

RFP contains the usual fine print about Debarment. Validity, Non-collusion, Public Disclosure, etc.

Proposal scoring:

• Company experience and results 30
• Experience and qualifications of staff 25
• Strategic thinking/planning/innovation 25
• Familiarity with NH and NH tourism 10
• Budget 10

Oral interviews will be conducted if necessary.

"Vendors are advised that this is not a low bid award."

Submitting proposals

Send electronically in searchable PDF format one full proposal and one with all confidential information redacted to:

Brittany.L.Littlefield@livefreenh.gov

cc: amy.O.Bassett@livefrreenh.gov

Subject line must contain RESPONSE TO RFP: Domestic Public Relations Services

RFP contains more fine print about what proposal must contain: Form P-37, contractor data sheet, etc.

Nowhere in the RFP could I find a dollar figure.

But this looks like a pretty valuable job.