Emergency and Crisis Communications Support Services for University Institutions

Background
The University of North Carolina is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide emergency and crisis communications support services to its 17 constituent institutions. The goal is to enhance the existing emergency services and safety departments by providing additional capacity during critical situations that may affect public safety, operations, or institutional reputation. This solicitation aims to establish an Agency Convenience Contract for these services.

Work Details
The selected contractor(s) will be responsible for:
- 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, public safety agencies, and external partners.
- Social media monitoring and digital strategy during crisis events.
- Support for emergency notification systems and public alerts.
- Providing training for campus emergency alert authorities and conducting tabletop exercises or functional drills.
- Assisting universities in managing reputation, communication, and stakeholder trust following crises.
- Offering immediate crisis response with 24/7 strategic support to control the narrative.
- Conducting spokesperson training for police chiefs and university leaders.
- Delivering after-action reporting and recommendations for improvement.

Services may be required on a 24/7 on-call basis, scalable to meet the severity of incidents.

Period of Performance
The contract will have an initial term of three (3) years from the effective date of contract execution, with options to renew for up to two (2) additional one-year terms.

Place of Performance
Services will be performed across the 17 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina located throughout North Carolina.

Bidder Requirements
Vendors must be registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State in good standing. They are required to demonstrate experience with similar projects in public or private sectors, provide at least three references using the Customer Reference Form, complete the HUB Supplemental Vendor Information form indicating participation goals, and certify financial stability through the Certification of Financial Condition form.