Website Redesign and Modernization Services

The Vendor is required to provide to redesign and modernize its public-facing website.
- Work collaboratively with commission staff to plan, design, develop, and launch a newly designed website that is accessible and user-centered.
- Provide recommendations and guidance to support ongoing content management and maintenance, ensuring that post-launch, the website continues to serve as a clear, user-friendly and effective tool for the commission efforts in engaging and providing services to stakeholders and the general public.
- An improved website is necessary to:
•    Enhance access to important information for stakeholders, which includes businesses we regulate, customers of regulated utilities and the public.
•    Encourage public engagement by providing clearer, more accessible information about how to submit comments, participate in hearings, and commission decisions and policies.
•    Ensure equity in access by adhering to the information technology disability access standards and mobile-responsive design, so that all users — regardless of ability, device, or digital literacy - can successfully obtain information and interact with the commission via the website.
•    Support businesses and regulated entities by making it easier to find information about the application process, compliance requirements, etc.
•    Improve operational efficiency by reducing the need for staff to handle routine inquiries that could be addressed through a more intuitive site layout, improved search, and/or utilization of AI features, such as a chatbot.
- The redesign and modernization will ensure the commission website serves as an effective platform that supports the agency’s regulatory responsibilities and enhances delivery of public services.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering:
•    Engage with internal stakeholders by scheduling and coordinating discovery sessions, feedback meetings, and reviews.
•    Provide feedback mechanisms for external audiences to obtain feedback on existing website and identify opportunities for improvement
•    Develop a website content strategy:
•    To improve the site’s information architecture and organization.
•    To standardize indexing of content that is logical and intuitive for users and search.
•    To identify content that is outdated, redundant, missing, or needs to be improved and provide recommendations for updating.
•    Include process to easily manage and update content by commission IT and communications staff (commission IT & coms).
- Design Criteria:
•    Develop a modern web design that combines clean and professional aesthetics, responsive layouts, and user-friendly and intuitive navigation and search to create a visually compelling, functional, and user-centric website that fosters a sense of trustworthiness.
•    Modify the block theme’s cascading style sheet colors and cohesive branding that distinguishes the commission as an agency within the State that builds trust and recognition across all commission external collateral material.
•    Blend WordPress redesigned functionality and content with commission CDMS eServices Salesforce Community portal.
•    Design a mobile-responsive design that scales seamlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, maintaining full functionality and a consistent visual experience.
•    Explore and potentially implement AI-powered features, such as a chatbot or virtual assistant, to assist users in finding information and completing forms or applications to improve self-service capabilities.
- Technical Requirements:
•    Website design to be hosted on ETS’s WordPress SaaS.
•    Design will work within the State’s Block Theme Template.
•    Design may leverage ETS approved WordPress plugins. For other plugins, the contractor must work with commission IT staff to have them approved by ETS.
•    Design and functionality must be compatible with the latest versions of all major browsers (e.g., Chrome, Edge, and Firefox).
•    Leverage Google Analytics for monitoring website traffic and user engagement to drive website redesign and content strategy.
•    All functionalities must meet government and industry standard security and data privacy standards.
•    Design should prioritize low-code/no-code philosophy, minimizing the need for custom code.
•    Design for easy system admin maintenance by commission staff without vendor support and minimize risk of conflicts with future WordPress or block templates update. 

- Questions/Inquires Deadline: November 17, 2025