DS-321-260000000039-1 | MiLEAP - OHE Marketing Solicitation

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), through its Office of Higher Education (OHE), is soliciting comprehensive marketing and communications services under solicitation number DS-321-260000000039-1 to support state education priorities, including initiatives such as Michigan Reconnect and FAFSA outreach. The contract requires an integrated approach encompassing research, strategic planning, media planning and placement, creative content development, stakeholder engagement, public relations, and performance analytics, all targeted at Michigan audiences and executed within the state. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the SIGMA VSS portal by 3:00 PM Eastern Time on August 4, 2026, with strict adherence to format requirements including native file types, a 30 MB file size limit per document, and a mandatory 20-page cap on the integrated communications plan. Failure to comply with submission deadlines or formatting rules results in automatic disqualification. The contract is estimated to have a budget of $8 million for FY2027, used as an evaluation benchmark, though actual funding is unspecified. Award will be made based on best value using a trade-off methodology, prioritizing technical merit over lowest price, with a minimum technical score of 80 required to proceed to price evaluation. The solicitation mandates stringent performance standards and reporting requirements, including weekly, quarterly, and annual reports using State-approved templates, media buy and placement documentation, and an annual marketing plan aligned with fiscal year 2027. All deliverables are State-owned and require prior State approval prior to dissemination. Subcontractors are permitted under condition that at least 20% of subcontracted work goes to Michigan-based Geographically Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (GDBEs), with detailed documentation required for each subcontractor’s credentials and location. Key personnel must be identified with resumes and experience levels, and organizational charts must be provided. The contractor must maintain flexibility to adapt to shifting priorities, absorb unplanned initiatives, and update communications plans upon direction, all while complying with Michigan’s accessibility and GDBE requirements. Creative content must be AI-verified, produced in Michigan unless exempted, and cannot be repurposed without State permission. No formal FAR clauses apply, as this is a state-level procurement, and there are no specified payment offices, accounting codes, invoicing platforms, or security clearance requirements; oversight is managed by the State’s Program Manager, with no named COR or PC