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    Request for Proposal: Brand Redesign

    Request for Proposal: Brand Redesign

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    You can also download a copy of this RFP as a Microsoft Word document.

    Introduction

    Cooperative Computer Services (CCS) has issued this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify a vendor who can provide design services for company branding and related assets to be used on a new CCS website, which CCS plans to build internally using a static site generator or commercial CMS solution. 

    About CCS 

    Cooperative Computer Services (CCS) is a group of 34 public libraries in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago that share an integrated library system. CCS, headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, has a reputation for excellence as a reliable integrated library system service provider focusing on new opportunities presented by exciting emerging technologies. The CCS Executive Director reports to the CCS Governing Board and its Executive Committee, recommending and supporting best practices and trends in centralized library services related to technology and innovation. CCS is a member-driven organization which has built a strong and effective team to provide services to our member libraries. 

    Contact Information 

    All questions about this RFP should be directed to Molly Sum, Manager of Analytics and Technology: msum@ccslib.org. CCS recommends submitting questions no later than Friday, December 4th to ensure adequate time for finalizing your proposal. Questions will be addressed as they are received and relevant answers will also be shared on the CCS website. 

    Timeline

    Activity  Date
    RFP Issued Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 
    Questions Due Friday, December 4th, 2026 
    Proposals Due Friday, December 18th, 2026 
    Evaluation and Vendor Selection Friday, January 15th, 2027 
    Anticipated Project Start Date Monday, February 1st, 2027 
    Anticipated Project Completion Date Friday, May 28th, 2027 

    Anticipated project end date represents the latest desirable completion date and is subject to change based on vendor proposals. 

    Scope of Work 

    Deliverables 

    The vendor will deliver the following to CCS: 

    • Updated company style guide, which may include: 
      • Logo and guidelines for use 
      • Color palette 
      • Typography 
      • Guidelines for use of images and iconography 
    • Assets for company website, which may include: 
      • Static mockups or responsive and accessible HTML templates and CSS stylesheet for select site pages: 
        • Homepage (https://www.ccslib.org/) 
        • Training index page (https://www.ccslib.org/training/list/15) 
        • Documentation page (https://www.ccslib.org/training/guidelines-ccs-stat-code-usage) 
        • Directory Page (https://www.ccslib.org/contact-ccs) 
        • Tool Page (https://www.ccslib.org/member-tools-a-z) 
      • Favicon 
      • Recommendations for interaction styles 
      • Recommendations for common components, which may include: 
        • Table 
        • Button 
        • Link 
        • Header 
    • Assets for company documents and communication, which may include: 
      • Document template 
      • Presentation template 
      • Newsletter template 
      • Email signature template 

    Optionally, the vendor may also include pricing for: 

    • Information architecture review 
    • Consulting on clarity of messaging (establishing best practices for explaining our services to library staff and patrons) 

    Proposal Requirements 

    Vendors must include the following information for proposals to be considered: 

    1. Executive Summary 
      • Summarize on one page or less the key products and services you are proposing. 
    2. Corporate Profile 
      • Provide a brief overview of your firm’s history and philosophy. 
      • Where is the vendor company’s headquarters located? 
    3. Client Examples 
      • Provide three examples of redesign projects your firm has completed. Clearly explain the design objectives and outcome. 
      • Provide three client references in your proposal, including a current contact name, organization name, phone number, and email. References from customers with documentation-heavy sites or in nonprofits, libraries, or related fields are preferred. 
    4. Project Team and Processes 
      • Define and describe the team members that would execute a project for CCS. Identify their experience, roles, and length of time with your organization. Specify the primary point of contact. 
      • Summarize your overall strategy and approach for delivering design projects, particularly with remote clients. Define the opportunities for feedback throughout the project, including how your process manages or mitigates client changes throughout the life of a project. 
      • If applicable, specify a preference for delivering static mockups or HTML/CSS deliverables for this project. 
      • Specify your proposed project timeline. 
    5. Pricing 
      • Provide detailed pricing information for the scope of work included in this RFP.
      • Specify any non-profit pricing as applicable. 

    Target Audience 

    The CCS website primarily serves: 

    • Member library staff looking for CCS governance documentation as well as instructional materials to support their use of the integrated library system  
    • Libraries operating in the Chicagoland area looking to join CCS   

    CCS also occasionally produces materials directed at library patrons. 

    Supporting Materials 

    CCS can provide the selected vendor with additional supporting materials, including: current CCS style guide, access to password-protected website pages, results of a recent member engagement survey including website feedback, and other applicable and available materials as requested by the vendor. 

    Proposal Submission 

    Proposals must be submitted via email to msum@ccslib.org by 6:00pm Central Time on Friday, December 18th, 2026.  

    By submitting a proposal, vendor certifies that they have carefully examined all the documents for the project and have carefully and thoroughly reviewed this RFP, and understands the nature and scope of the work to be done and the terms and conditions thereof. The vendor represents and warrants to CCS that the information in its proposal is accurate and complete. The vendor further agrees that the performance time specified is a reasonable time. 

    A proposal submitted in response to this RFP is irrevocable for 90 days from the date of submission. CCS reserves the right to withdraw a bid acceptance at any time if in the opinion of CCS the vendor is unwilling or unable to enter into a form of contract satisfactory to CCS.  

    The vendor shall at all times observe and comply with all laws, ordinances and regulations of the Federal, State, county and local government, which may in any manner affect the preparation and submittal of the RFP, the contract with CCS and the performance of the services. 

    CCS assumes no financial responsibility for the cost of preparation of proposals by respondents nor does it make any commitment to enter into a contract for service based on responses to this RFP. 

    Evaluation of Proposals 

    CCS intends to conduct a comprehensive, fair, and impartial evaluation of proposals received in response to this RFP. All proposals that are properly submitted will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria listed below. All proposals that are properly submitted will be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee that will make recommendations for the award.   

    A contract will be awarded to the vendor that best satisfies the overall requirements of the RFP. Each proposal will be evaluated based on:   

    • Relevant experience partnering with similar clients/on similar projects 
    • Samples of previous design work 
    • Client List and References 
    • Pricing 

    Proposals will be distributed to the members of the Evaluation Committee for evaluation utilizing the criteria set forth above.   

    CCS may choose to schedule in-person or web-based interviews with any number of qualified companies based the evaluation criteria above. 

    CCS reserves the right to make an award, not to make an award, or to cancel this RFP either before or after the date of the RFP response deadline. 

    Notice of Award 

    All vendors submitting a response to this RFP will be notified in writing of the award of a contract if and when an award is made. If no award is made, all vendors will be notified accordingly. For the purposes of this RFP, an award shall be deemed to have been made upon the completion of contract negotiations. 

    Proprietary Information 

    Although CCS does not guarantee that information contained in any proposal will remain confidential, if vendor considers that any part of its proposal is proprietary, including by reason of its being copyright, the proposal must clearly identify those portions of it that are considered proprietary.

    FAQ

    Any relevant questions and their responses will be posted here as they are received for the benefit of all interested vendors.