Vancouver city hall wants to hire a consultant to help sell naming rights for public buildings and ceremonies.
A Nov. 10-issued request for proposals sets a Dec. 6 deadline for an asset inventory valuator and sponsorship expert. The tendering document says city hall wants a contractor to create a master inventory list for eight to 10 city-owned assets, gauge community sentiment on partnerships between the city and corporations, foundations and private sponsors, and to compare policies and practices of similar municipalities, including Surrey, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto. The city wants a report on policies and recommendations by next June and a final report by next November.
“Based upon the information collected, the successful proponent shall advise on the type of policies that should be in place or revised,” the document said. “The city may request to expand the scope of work to include the development of a long-term
sponsorship strategy.”
The assets that could be leveraged for sponsorships include city buildings operated by for-profit and non-profit organizations, city vehicles, the civic website and app, as well as events, such as the Mayor’s Art Awards, Heritage Awards and VIVA Vancouver themed street closures.
Meanwhile, Vancouver School Board is in a rush to hire an advertising agency.
It issued a request for proposals on Nov. 14 with a Nov. 30 deadline, seeking bids on a two-years plus options advertising media communications contract.
The document said the board hopes to begin the contract as soon as December and it would involve advertising and media strategy research, creative development and copywriting, and media buying.
The RFP was issued less than a month after Education Minister Mike Bernier fired the elected school board on Oct. 17 and installed the government’s chief educator, Dianne Turner, as the lone trustee.
An audit by Ernst and Young and former deputy finance minister Peter Milburn found the school board was politicized, did not have proper strategic plans or performance reviews in place and lacked an audit committee. It failed to balance its budget over the last three fiscal years and had not reviewed the superintendent’s performance since a 2011 self-evaluation. Green Party trustee Janet Fraser sided with Vision Vancouver trustees in defiance of the provincial government’s balanced budget requirement.
