PKARC-285 Strategic Communications, Public Relations, and Community Engagement Consulting Services

The Riverside County Regional Park & Open-Space District is seeking a qualified consultant to deliver comprehensive strategic communications, public relations, community outreach, and informational messaging services over a two-year period through August 31, 2028. The contract, identified as PKARC-285, aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of the District’s facilities, programs, capital improvements, and operational priorities across its jurisdiction, which serves approximately 991,000 registered voters in unincorporated areas and seven major cities including Riverside, Menifee, Murrieta, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, and Lake Elsinore. The selected firm will be responsible for developing a district-wide communications framework, conducting a full review and improvement of the District’s website for accessibility and user experience, managing multilingual social media platforms in English and Spanish, creating legally compliant public materials, supporting community workshops and listening sessions tailored to underserved populations, and providing media relations support including press releases and briefing documentation. Proposals must be submitted electronically via PublicPurchase.com by 1:30 PM Pacific Time on July 15, 2026, with mandatory requirements including proof of good standing in California, SAM registration, compliance with economic sanctions and the Iran Contracting Act, and submission of financial statements and a detailed, itemized cost proposal using fully inclusive blended rates that account for all expenses including travel. Evaluation will be based on best value, with weighted factors including experience in public-sector communications (30%), quality of methodology (30%), team qualifications (15%), cost effectiveness (15%), and references (10%). Financial status and the absence of clarifications or deviations are pass/fail gates; failure on either disqualifies a proposal. A five percent price preference applies to small or local businesses within five percent of the lowest bid, and all awarded contracts require compliance with California’s Public Records Act, ADA/WCAG standards, workers’ compensation and general liability insurance (minimum $2 million per occurrence), OSHA regulations, and confidentiality protocols covering sensitive operational and personal information. Invoices will be processed monthly in arrears, with payment due within 30 working days, and no increases are permitted in the first year of the agreement. The District reserves the right to split the award or extend the contract by up to six months under the same terms, and all performance is subject to inspection and quality assurance oversight at any time with reasonable notice.