GLOS Website RFP

glos.us design & development request for proposal

This RFP is for design and development services for a new website the Great Lakes Observing System.

RFP Sent: 06/26/2015

Responses Due: July 10, 2015

Send any questions on the RFP to: Kristin Schrader, Communications Manager, Great Lakes Observing System

Send proposals to: Kristin Schrader, kschrader@glos.us, 229 Nickels Arcade, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

Goal for new website launch: Early October, 2015

Great Lakes Observing System Overview

GLOS is a small nonprofit dedicated to connecting data users with data providers in ways that are supportive of policy and decision making.

We coordinate users, collectors, and providers of Great Lakes data at various scales to identify needs for data, information, and products; identify gaps; and avoid duplication.

We represent the Great Lakes in a global community that establishes technology standards to improve data management and exchange.

We enhance the region’s network of observing and monitoring activities.

We provide data services to support the region’s need for data, modeling, and other data tools or products.

The Great Lakes Observing System is a coordinated network of people, equipment and technology working together to provide data about the Great Lakes in a variety of formats and applications.

Our Audience

Our customers are researchers and decision makers around the Great Lakes. They come to us for realtime information and access to data gathered and made discoverable through our data portal and through various tools.

Current Website

Our current website, glos.us, is several years old and is adequate but not where we want to be in our tenth year. The search functions are not as developed as they should be, and it needs a restructuring to facilitate more intuitive consumption of its information. Also, the site is built in Drupal, and while there were good reasons to do that at the time, we believe it to be more complicated than it needs to be and if possible we would like to move to WordPress for a CMS.

New Website Functionality Requirements

• Our new website will need:
• An easy-to-use content management system (CMS)
• Intuitive navigation
• Clean and focused design
• All applicable content imported from current site
• Optimized with SEO best practices
• Social media integration (share buttons, follow buttons, etc.)
• Email update sign-up form
• Contact Form
• Integrates or replace CiviCRM functions currently built into site

Optional New Website Functionalities/Wish List

We would love to have the following in our new website, depending on how these elements would impact timeline and/or budget. Please provide cost for these elements separately, and note if any additional design or development time would be required.

• Homepage video
• Advanced SEO work
• Separate login area for members

Budget Details

The Great Lakes Observing System has funding identified and secured for this project. We seek the best value to achieve our goals

Proposal Requirements

Please include the following in your proposal response:

• Overview of your company
• Overview of how you will meet our objectives
• Explanation of your proposed platform/CMS
• Outline of your website design & development strategy
• Proposed website timeline from kickoff to launch
• Details about your team
• Recent design & development examples
• References
• Any key differentiators about you?
• Pricing with optional elements line-itemed
• Terms & conditions

RFP & Project Timeline Details 

RFP Sent: 06/25/2015

Responses Due: 07/10/2015

Winner Selected & Contacted : 07/17/2015

Project Kick-off : ASAP

New Website Launch Target Date: October 2015

Thank you for your interest in responding to this RFP with a proposal for our new website. We look forward to your response.

If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Schrader at kschrader@glos.us or 734.332.6113