Communications Support Services

The vendor required to provide communications support to assess, develop, communications management programs, internal communication programs, and culturally informed communications.
- The service will focus on enhancing public awareness of department services, maintaining public media relations, and fostering public trust.
- Requirement:
1. Strategic communications plan
•    Develop a strategic communication plan and state fiscal year calendar for all service activities that align with department requests, mission and vision.
•    The strategic communication plan shall be reviewed and approved by the department director’s office.
2. Public media and community relations
A. Public media
•    Assess and plan for department -approved informational and educational campaigns to inform the public about government services, programs, policies, and activities
•    Identify media production partners to submit department -approved storylines and public service announcements through various channels (print, tv, radio, online media, social media, exhibits, community events, press releases, website management, and speech writing).
•    Assist in the development of public trust-building messages, speeches, opinion pieces, or video scripts, as requested by department.
•    Cultivate and maintain relationships with local media outlets, including those focused on neighbor island news and language and cultural coverage.
•    Develop media training and interview preparation in support of department leadership, as requested by the department director.
•    Monitor public sentiment and media coverage related to department and provide the department director's office with draft responses to misinformation or negative narratives, serving as a behind-the-scenes assistant in support of the department’s unified voice.
B. Community relations
•    Identify and pitch story ideas to the department that highlight efforts, success stories, and community partnerships, including but not limited to promoting awareness of department partnerships and community impact.
•    Develop community outreach messaging and communication materials to assist the department with community communication processes to ensure a uniform message about agency initiatives to foster community cohesiveness and public trust. 
•    To include, but not limited to, approval of all marketing materials created by the department that will be disseminated and shared with the community.
3. Communications management
•    Offer real-time and responsive communications guidance to the department during high profile or sensitive incidents, as requested by department.
•    Draft and refine crisis-related messaging and materials, press statements, talking points, frequently asked questions (FAQS), and internal communications, as requested by department.