Website Upgrade Services

The Vendor is required public relations/website design firm to redesign, develop and implement a new City website utilizing posted information on its existing websites, as well as new information, products and features as suggested by the city.
• Also requesting design of a City App, as well as research and suggestions for innovative social media platforms appropriate for municipal use.
• City’s existing website contains general city information and separate pages for its ten departments.
• Goals:
1. Develop a highly beneficial, cost-effective, easy-to-use, interactive and architecturally sound and flexible website that supports the City’s needs.
2. Create a standardized format and enhanced user experience for all pages, thereby establishing a unified theme but allowing some level of individuality and/or functionality between City functions and departments by creating multiple custom templates for departments to choose from
3. Create a website that allows multiple users in different departments to have responsibility in managing their information
4. Incorporate design elements that meet the WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance requirements and is accessible, easy to navigate, appealing, functional and searchable.
5. Provide a framework and architecture that will permit future expansion and the addition of new online services as the City’s budget, technology needs and demand dictate
6. Provide a secure site that meets emerging industry standard guidelines on privacy and accessibility
7. Create a site that is mobile responsive.
• User Criteria:
1. Visually appealing – Design of this site is extremely important. The small-town charm and big bright future of Bonita Springs should be conveyed from the initial impression given on the homepage. The redesigned website should reflect Bonita’s beauty and unique charm, while offering an easy-to-use user interface.
2. Common theme – Each section of the site should have a unified look and feel that reinforces Bonita’s image. Each section of the site should visually relate, yet retain some degree of individuality that reflects the service, department or audience being served.
3. Easily updated – Once the site has been completed and accepted by the City, the site should be easy to maintain by non-technical members of the City’s staff. The content management system should provide for at least page level specific permissions, approvals and roles, including creating and publishing as well as version control.
4. Fast-loading pages – The website must be designed with a balance of text and graphics so that the average page loads in an acceptable amount of time on the average computer (100kb/s or faster  connection).
5. Easy to navigate – The site should be easy to navigate, with information grouped and presented in a logical manner. During the initial phase of the project, the successful contractor will be required to develop a comprehensive site map, which shows the strategy for information architecture decisions.
6. Search engine - The site should provide rapid search capability of the entire site, generatingresults of high relevance to users.
7. Chatbot & Artificial Intelligence - To provide 24/7 customer service by answering both simple and complex queries.
8. Future flexibility – The site should include a flexible design template that can easily accommodate the addition of new functionality at a later date.
9. Mailing lists – There should be a mechanism that permits users to sign up (using a double opt in system) to be on various mailing lists targeted at different topic interests. Users should also be able to opt out at any time.