Crisis Communications Services

The Vendor is required to provide emergency communications and crisis communications support services to any of the 17 constituent institutions of the University.
- Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing timely, accurate, and effective communications during emergency incidents and crises that may impact public safety, operations, or the institution’s reputation.
- Responsible for managing all aspects of university life—academics, research, housing, dining, athletics and student organizations, campus operations, IT, safety and security, etc.
- The universities are continually faced with potential emergency situations, including natural disasters (e.g., Hurricane Helene), public health events (e.g., COVID), infrastructure failures (e.g., power, water), or security incidents (e.g., swatting calls, bomb threats, violent crimes, cyber-crimes).
- Comprehensive emergency communications consulting and support may include but are not limited to:
•    Development and execution of emergency communication strategies
•    Drafting and dissemination of time-sensitive messaging
•    Media relations and press coordination during emergencies
•    Coordination with internal campus leadership and system office leadership, public safety agencies, and external partners
•    Social media monitoring, digital strategy, and response during crisis events
•    Support for emergency notification systems and public alerts
•    Training & Exercises: Providing training for campus emergency alert authorities and designing, facilitating, and conducting tabletop exercises or functional drills to test response capabilities
•    Helping universities manage reputation, communication, and stakeholder trust following crises
•    Immediate Crisis Response: Consultants provide 24/7 strategic support to define and control the narrative
•    Spokesperson Training: Training police chiefs and university leaders to deliver confident, empathetic, and transparent messages
•    After-action reporting and recommendations for improvement
- Key deliverables may include:
•    Emergency communications plans and templates
•    Situation reports and public messaging materials
•    Media statements, press releases, and talking points
•    Real-time communication support during active incidents
•    Post-incident evaluations and lessons-learned reports.