DRUPAL WEB SITE CONSULTANT
The County Library is accepting proposals for a consultant to assist the library to develop a new web site based on the Drupal platform. The purpose of this RFP is to provide a fair evaluation for all candidates and to provide the candidates with the evaluation criteria against which they will be judged. In 2010 the library made the decision to create a new web site and to use Drupal as the content management system for the site. The existing County web site (www.slcl.org) was originally designed and produced in 2001 and modified slightly in 2003. The site is maintained by our in-house Web Coordinator. The new site can be based on an existing or custom Drupal theme, and will need to function as a CMS including templates that library staff members can utilize to create and update content on a regular basis. The site will need an approval process so that staff-created content can be vetted prior to going live. In addition we wish to also port our existing staff intranet site to the Drupal platform with the same flexibility to allow for multiple staff contributors. The site is currently hosted on a Morenet (http://www.more.net/) server which is currently compatible with Drupal 6.0. It does not yet support Drupal 7.0.
2. PROPOSAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS
This is an open and competitive process.
Proposals received after 12:00 pm/noon CST, Wednesday, November 24, 2010, will not be considered and will be returned unopened.
The proposal must be signed by the individual who will provide the consulting services.
If you wish to submit alternate solutions, please do so.
The price you quote should be inclusive. If your price excludes certain fees or charges, you must provide a detailed list of excluded fees with a complete explanation of the nature of those fees.
Provisions of this RFP and the contents of the successful responses are considered available for inclusion in final contractual obligations.
3. CONTRACT TERMS
The St. Louis County Library will negotiate contract terms upon selection. All contracts are subject to review by St. Louis County Library legal counsel, and a project will be awarded upon signing of an agreement or contract, which outlines terms, scope, budget and other necessary items.
4. PURPOSE, DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Purpose
The St. Louis County Library currently has a web presence that is somewhat outdated in appearance, structure and in the presentation of content. An opportunity exists to re-engineer the site to better reflect the mission of the St. Louis County Library and incorporate Web 2.0 interactive functionality. Upon completion of the development of the site, the St. Louis County Library will assume full responsibility for web site content maintenance and administration. All content, coding and graphics will become the sole property of the St. Louis County Library.
Description
Create a flexible, informative web site using the Drupal platform that is easy to maintain via page templates and a content management system. We must develop a friendly site that can deliver large amounts of constantly changing information to our key audiences. In addition to designing a user-friendly site with an intuitive interface, we must also develop a web-based, database-driven administration tool that allows staff to easily update content without directly accessing source code, and that allows for an approval process before staff-created pages go live.
The St. Louis County Library will maintain ultimate editorial control of content, while at the same time allowing library staff the opportunity to contribute content.. The Communications Department will manage web publishing processes, preferably by using a system with a browser-based user interface. Administration of web content will be based on roles to control access and work flow (e.g. author, reviewer/editor, publisher).
To be effective, our web site must be:
Easy and intuitive
Visually pleasing
Informative
Safe and secure
Quick to load and operate
Objective
Our primary Internet objective is to continue to build brand identity, awareness, and interest in the library system and the services it provides. We want our customers to be able to interact with our web site and we also want our web site to act as a delivery vehicle for programming, not simply a resource to find information about our programs
Our Vision
Maximize Web 2.0 technologies
Allow customers and library staff to interact in conversations about our materials, programs and services.
Provide a delivery vehicle for innovating programming, including streaming video
Provide a web site that customers can use intuitively and can find information with the minimum number of clicks.
Specific Strategies
Recreate the library's web site on the Drupal platform.
Use the Drupal platform as a content management system to allow staff-created content.
Port the library's infocenter (intranet) web site to the Drupal platform.
In short we must tell our story through the use of compelling visuals, intuitive navigation, and concise messaging.
Make it easy
Redesign the site to deliver intuitive navigation, an improved graphical user interface, and easy-to-find content organization.
Make it interactive
Develop tools to assist staff to create and deliver timely, relevant content about the library's materials and programs.
Make it happen
Reinforce the St. Louis County Library’s brand and presence as the intellectual and artistic heart of the communities it serves.
5. TIMELINE
This RFP is dated October 28, 2010. Any questions or requests may be directed to Tim Wadham at [email protected].
Proposals are due no later than 12:00pm/noon CST, Wednesday, November 24, 2011.
Proposals will be evaluated immediately thereafter. During this time we may require interviews at our office with our evaluation team on or about January, 2011. You will be notified if this is requested.
The name of the candidate firm who has been selected will be decided on or about December 17, 2010.
Negotiations will begin immediately with the successful candidate and should conclude no later than January 31, 2011.
All other candidates will be notified on or about December 23, 2010.
Consulting work and taking the web site live will occur by June 30, 2011.
6. BUDGET
Please provide a cost proposal to accomplish the scope outlined below. The budget must encompass all necessary work to facilitate ongoing staff maintenance and content management of the web site.
Hosting will be addressed separately and costs for hosting are not included in the budget for this project.
List pricing for: Consulting services, theme and module development vs. use of existing theme, CMS setup and template development, testing and deployment
Hosting: We will be hosting our web site on the Morenet server located in Columbia, Missouri.
The St. Louis County Library has a budget of $30,000 for this project. However, we will entertain responses for greater than $30,000 if they show an incremental project plan. Hosting costs are part of our existing agreement with Morenet.
7. BACKGROUND OF ORGANIZATION
Our Mission
The mission of the St. Louis County Library District is to provide the resources and services to enrich individual minds, enhance lives and expand perspectives.
Additional information regarding the Library including annual reports, financial statements, strategic plan and master facilities plan can be found on our current web site at www.slcl.org.
In Summer 2010 we surveyed our customers regarding the design of our web site. To request the results of that survey please email Tim Wadham at [email protected].
8. AUDIENCE
Stakeholders and audience groups:
Primary:
All residents of St. Louis County, both current card holders and non-users.
Secondary:
Residents of St. Louis City and St. Charles County and municipalities in St. Louis County that are not part of the Library District. All of these entities have reciprocal agreements with St. Louis County Library for borrowing materials.
Non-resident users, including users of our Local History and Genealogical collections.
St. Louis County Library staff.
9. SCOPE & GUIDELINES
The scope of this project is to update the existing St. Louis County Library web site. The site must include a technology solution that allows the in-house staff to easily and cost-effectively update content and modify site design after the initial launch.
Design:
web site information architecture will be based on an existing or customized Drupal theme with the possibility of some minor modifications, graphic look and feel, user navigation, home page and main navigation templates for each of the main navigation links.
Development Guidelines:
The web site designed by the successful candidate must meet the following criteria:
Create a content management system that will permit non-technical St. Louis County Library staff to instantly update web site content on specific pages.
Easily Updated – Once the site has been completed and accepted by the St. Louis County Library, the site will be maintained by the St. Louis County Library web editor using Drupal.
Convert substantial amounts of existing content to new web site.
Visually Appealing – The site must have an attractive mix of text and graphics.
Common Theme – Each section of the site should have a common look and feel. The St. Louis County Library logo should be prominently displayed on every page as a common header.
Consistent Design – As stated above, each section of the site should have a common look and feel. The use of photographs, fonts and layouts should be consistent throughout the site.
Easy to Navigate – The site should be easy to navigate. Information should be grouped and presented in a logical manner and require no more than three levels of “drill down” for the user to find the desired information.
Site should be optimized for streaming video.
Development of web pages to accommodate the proposed navigation scheme.
Provide search capabilities using key words or phrasing that will identify content from throughout the site.
Site should have RSS capability for customers to subscribe to twitter feeds, etc.
Branch locater feature (by zip code search).
Once the web site has been completed and accepted by the St. Louis County Library, the web site design and all of its contents, software and architecture become property of the St. Louis County Library.
Site Specifications:
The St. Louis County Library encourages creativity in the proposals submitted; however there are certain requirements for the web site project. Your proposal must account for all of these requirements.
Site must be compatible with both previous and current versions of all major web browsers including IE, Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc.
Web site must not require plug-ins as a default.
Meets ADA Requirements – The site should be developed to meet all Federally-mandated access requirements adopted by the Federal Access Board under section 508 subsection 1194.22 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Site must be built in accordance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, provided by the W3C and should also be easily accessible to the novice as well as the experienced Internet user.
Fast Loading Pages – The web site must be designed with a balance of text and graphics such that each page loads in 8 seconds or less on the average computer.
Testing:
Testing of site on all applicable platforms to ensure web site works as promised. Explain testing plan through development process (i.e. focus groups, etc.).
Delivery:
Completion of work on new site on Morenet server, site goes live.
10. QUALIFICATIONS
List several Drupal-based web sites that you have created or produced that best reflect your work and relevancy to this project. Public library sites are preferrred. Briefly list the role you played in each project. The URL should be submitted. Only sites that are live will qualify during evaluation.
Describe your experience in developing Drupal-based sites for public libraries.
Describe your CSS skills and experience in working with existing themes and developing new themes.
Describe your experience with PHP and your ability to learn and code to a well-defined set of API's
Describe your knowledge of existing contributed Drupal modules and how they might be utilized in the library's web site to meet the goals in this RFP.
Time frame for completion. The time frame for completion of the project will be as stated in this RFP. Please indicate your willingness to work within this time-frame.
Describe how you have contributed to the Drupal community, and how you will help us ensure the sustainability of this project.
Provide current reference information for three former or current clients.
11. EVALUATION CRITERIA
The following criteria will form the basis upon which the St. Louis County Library will evaluate proposals. The mandatory criteria must be met and include:
Ten (10) copies of your proposal must be received no later than 12:00pm/noon CST, Wednesday, November 24, 2011.
Your proposal must include a cost proposal as described above. All costs associated with the delivery of the project should be presented in a flat rate, fee for service format.
Deliver proposals to the attention of:
Tim Wadham
St. Louis County Library
1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63131
Proposals that meet the mandatory requirements, as stated above, will be evaluated with the following criteria:
Suitability of the Proposal – the proposed solution meets the needs and criteria set forth in the RFP.
Expertise in recommending and communicating appropriate technical and aesthetic solutions as evidenced by the proposal and references.
Aesthetic Capabilities – Prior work demonstrates artistic and innovative use of Drupal themes, user friendly interfaces that engage communities and viewers.
Candidate Experience – Candidate has successfully completed similar projects and has the qualifications necessary to undertake this project.
Proposal Presentation – The information is presented in a clear, logical manner and is well organized.
12. FORMAT FOR PROPOSALS
Please use the following as a guideline to format your proposal:
Length and Font Size:
Please use fonts no smaller than 10 point. Maximum proposal length including title page, cover letter, proposal, qualifications and budget should not exceed 35 pages .
Title Page:
St. Louis County Library, Web Site Development Proposal, your company name, address, web site address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and primary contact person.
Cover Letter:
Signed by the consultant who will directly provide the services.
Proposal:
Discuss your proposed solution, including the features, benefits and uniqueness of your solution. You should also touch on your ability to deliver the project in the time frame noted in Section 5.
Qualifications:
Provide the information requested in Section 10.
Budget and Fees:
List budgets as requested above. Identify hourly rates for work that may be needed.
