California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) seeks a media relations firm to provide policy communications support. This Request for Proposal (RFP) presents an organizational background, scope of work, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, reporting requirements, and explanation of pricing for the firm contracted. If your firm wishes to be considered, CCOF is requesting proposals in Microsoft Power Point or PDF that address the points and needs detailed in this Policy Communications Strategy RFP no later than May 1st, 2025.
About CCOF
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) advances organic agriculture for a healthy world through organic certification, education, advocacy, and promotion. CCOF is governed by an elected board of certified organic producers and represents nearly 4,500 diverse organic operations across North America, with almost 3,000 of those operations based in California. In 2020, CCOF published its Roadmap to an Organic California: Policy Report that details nearly 40 policy recommendations to advance organic food and farming in California. Over the last four years, the CCOF policy team has successfully advanced many of these recommendations, including securing $18 million in state funds to support organic agriculture, creating a new Organic Transition Program at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and establishing statewide organic acreage targets as part of California’s climate strategy. CCOF’s 2025 California policy campaigns include: securing additional funding to support farmers transition to organic, setting procurement targets so government institutions buy organic food, and influencing the state’s definition of regenerative agriculture.
Scope of Work
CCOF seeks a media relations and communications firm with a proven track record of effectively messaging to California policymakers, developing policy communications strategy, driving strategic media coverage to support policy campaigns, and developing targeted messaging on food, agriculture, environmental, or organic policy. The ideal firm will have experience engaging farmers in communications strategies to influence policymakers. The selected firm’s goal will be to develop a communications strategy to advance CCOF’s 2025 California policy campaigns, that includes but is not limited to:
- Develop measurable communications objectives and strategy for target audiences
- Message and content creation that aligns with strategies for target audiences
- Develop a plan of activities and timetable
- Provide communication risks and develop mitigation strategies
- Share best practices for CCOF’s policy team to effectively create content that engages our members and policymakers (including tone, wording, etc.)
- Develop media strategy to drive coverage of CCOF’s policy campaigns
- Provide analysis of target audiences and recommended channels of communication for English and Spanish speakers
Eligibility Requirements
The selected firm must exhibit proven expertise in policy communications, strategy development, media relations, and message development on food, agriculture, environmental, or organic policy.
Selection Criteria
CCOF will choose a firm based on its qualifications, experience, approach, and philosophy, as well as the location of the office where the work will be conducted, staff qualifications, client base depth, and pricing. Firms offering services included in or supplementary to the scope of work at pro bono rates or as in-kind donations will receive particular consideration.
Reporting Requirements
The firm selected must have the ability to meet federal reporting requirements to be defined by an agreed upon scope of work.
Explanation for Pricing and Cost Basis
CCOF requires pricing details and explanations based on previous work, industry pricing studies, federal per diem, or GSA rates. The total cost of the proposal should be no more than $25,000.
Submission and Contact Information
Please submit your firm’s proposal and any questions to:
Michael Recco
Marketing Director
CCOF, Inc.
mrecco@ccof.org
CCOF strives to support small businesses, veteran’s-owned, and women-owned business enterprises as well as business owned and/or led by historically excluded groups. If applicable, we encourage proposals to speak to their ownership and leadership structure.
No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by a Federal, State, or local award if they have a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of their immediate family, their partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract.
