Request for Proposals - Strategic Communications Plan

 Community health centres (CHCs) in Canada have over thirty years of experience in providing interdisciplinary primary health care.  The Canadian Alliance of Community Health Centre Associations (CACHCA) was established in 1995 to provide support to Canada's provincially-based community health centre organizations and to represent the interests of those organizations at the national level.    The Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) is the policy and advocacy organization for non-profit, community-governed, multidisciplinary primary health care in Ontario. 

 Both CACHCA and AOHC have a strategic interest in creating an environment that is supportive of the development and expansion of the community health centre model in Canada.  Primary health care reform is receiving a high level of attention, and these organizations wish to take advantage of this attention to move their agendas forward.  

 Scope 

 A communications assessment is required that addresses the following questions:

·        What key messages should AOHC and CACHCA strategically communicate within the immediate short term (3-6 months)?  Why are these important within the current primary health care reform environment? Who are the key audiences (e.g. decision makers, researchers, politicians, the general public) for these messages?  What are the most effective ways to reach these audiences? What internal capacity do CACHCA and AOHC have to communicate these messages?  Given the resources that AOHC and CACHCA currently have, what are the most effective strategies to reach these audiences? 

·        What are AOHC and CACHCA's longer term communication needs?  What might messages to be communicated in the longer term look like? Why might these messages be important?  What internal capacity does each organization currently have to address these needs and communicate in the future? How can AOHC and CACHCA work together to achieve their respective needs?  What else needs to happen?

 Deliverables:

·        A synopsis of the communications assessment, responding to the questions above.  

·        A communications strategy including prioritized recommendations for maximizing communication success of both organizations in the short (3-12 months), medium (1-3 years) and longer terms (3-5 years).  

·        Specific staffing resources and skills, as well as other resources, required to implement these recommendations.   

·        A brief discussion regarding how communication success should be should be measured and how this information should be used.  

 Budget

 Up to a maximum of $7,500 plus expenses.

 Timelines

 Final Report - April 1st, 2006

 Qualifications

 ·        Experience working with not-for-profit health or social service organizations in the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic communication initiatives. 

·        Demonstrated success in journalism, communications or similar field.

·        Experience in providing consultations and leadership on matters related to corporate communications including media relations, public affairs, as well as writing and editing articles, media materials, policy documents, promotional materials, speeches, communication plans, etc. 

·        Experience in developing communication tactics for specific internal and external audiences. 

·        Knowledge of community health centres and primary health care in Canada an asset.  

·        Ability to work in both official languages an asset. 

 Application Guidelines

 ·        A complete application package consists of: 

o       A covering letter that outlines relevant qualifications; 

o       A work plan (three pages maximum) that describes how the deliverables of this RFP will be achieved (this outline may include specific aspects that will be required to be done by AOHC or CACHCA in order to achieve the deliverables);  

o       A short biography highlighting relevant experience and skills of each team member highlighting education and work experience relating to communications, journalism, public relations or another relevant field, ;   

o       A budget;

o       A work sample (10 pages maximum);

o       Two references.     

·        All proposals must be submitted and received by 5 PM on Wednesday February 15th.  

 Please address any questions and complete proposals to:

 Patti Chmelyk, Administrative Assistance

Canadian Alliance of Community Health Centre Associations

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