# Stanislaus Council Of Governments Opengov #26-R01

StanCOG Public Information Officer and Strategic Communications Services

**Posted:** September 15, 2026
**Respond By:** October 06, 2026
**Identifier:** 26-R01
**NAICS:** 541820

Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) seeks one firm for public information officer and strategic communications services.
- **Buyer:** Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG), Administration Department; the solicitation identifies Amber Collins as the buyer contact.
- **Award scope:** Select one qualified firm for an initial two-year agreement, with options for up to three additional years. Compensation is capped at $500,000 for the initial term; work will be assigned through individual work orders.
- **Services requested:**
  - Develop an agency-wide strategic communications plan and advise the Executive Director and Policy Board leadership.
  - Provide public information and media relations, including media intake, releases, statements, talking points, fact sheets, media-list maintenance, and coverage monitoring.
  - Support issues management and rapid response with advance materials, holding statements, and Q&A documents.
  - Develop and place stories about StanCOG programs, projects, and investments, including support for public milestones and funding announcements.
  - Engage member agencies, advisory bodies, organizations, and residents; Spanish-language capability is required.
  - Create messaging, newsletters, annual performance reporting, website and social media content, and provide design, photography, video, print, translation, and event support.
  - Support communications related to California Public Records Act requests. StanCOG staff and its Office of General Counsel retain responsibility for locating, reviewing, redacting, and producing records; the consultant may not access agency records systems or provide legal advice.
  - Measure media coverage and stakeholder perceptions, report on communications metrics, and prepare procedures, templates, and staff training to support transition of capacity in-house.
- **Notable qualifications and pricing requirements:** Demonstrated public-agency communications experience, familiarity with the Brown Act and California Public Records Act, and Spanish-language capability. Proposed pricing should address staff rates, retainers and included hours, surge and after-hours rates, design, video, printing, translation and event support, and pass-through cost markups.
- **OEMs and vendors:** No commercial OEMs, vendors, or named service providers are identified. This is a professional-services procurement, not a product purchase.

### Description

Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) seeks one qualified firm to serve as its Public Information Officer and provide strategic communications counsel on an as-needed basis. The initial work order is expected to develop an agency strategic communications plan, with subsequent work orders implementing it; anticipated services include media relations, issues management, public outreach, content development, and measurement and reporting. The agreement has an initial two-year term, with an option for up to three additional years, and compensation for the initial term may not exceed $500,000. This is a single-award procurement, with assignments, deliverables, and fees negotiated through individual work orders.

[View original listing](https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stancog/projects/303277)