The Southern Forest Products Association is seeking proposals for an individual or agency to use social media to promote U.S. Southern Pine lumber (SYP) products in Egypt over the course of five years (2025-29). Click here to download the complete request for proposals.
SFPA, founded in 1914, is a nonprofit trade association representing the Southern Pine lumber industry. SFPA is recognized as one of the foremost trade organizations in the forest products industry and represents Southern Pine lumber manufacturers from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Member mills produce half of the Southern Pine lumber in the United States.
SFPA is headquartered in the metro New Orleans area, with staff directing marketing programs to serve the entire U.S., and international market consultants serving markets in Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, the Caribbean, China, and India.
Please submit your proposal by October 31, 2024, and include the following:
- A brief description of your firm.
- At least three references, including the names of individual contacts and their contact information.
- A detailed description of the project team, including experience, education, and representative clients in the past five years.
Proposal Objective
To educate consumers on the positive attributes and benefits of including U.S. Southern Pine lumber in their projects by reach of social media to influence trade contacts who otherwise would not have been exposed to SFPA messaging and provide information in a convenient and accessible fashion.
This initiative will take place on an ongoing basis during the period of performance for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Services’ Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) and resources will be used continually post throughout the year.
The social media strategy will be modest at first and will be further upscaled once the market assessment is complete and the insights from that report to further tailor and customize the messaging. It is anticipated the level of effort for this initiative will be relatively consistent across the program year; however, there may be periods when more frequent posting is employed depending on the nature of wood demand.
Project Scope of Work
Specific tasks of the individual or agency include:
- Develop a social media strategy (consumer trends and strategy will be fully researched and published in an in-depth market assessment as a separate activity and will be provided).
- Set up and maintain a social media strategy for SYP lumber in various social media networks (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.). Manage and monitor posts and adapt content if needed.
- Monitor key performing indicators on each social network to determine the most effective content and modify future content to bolster promotion and follower growth/engagement.
- Evaluate prior year surveys from seminars and coordinate with in-region consultant to determine the best strategy and means of creating educational content in regularly scheduled posts, ranging from 2-4 per week, every week.
Selection Criteria
The selection of the individual or agency will be based upon the following:
- Knowledge of the wood, building materials, and construction industry in the target markets.
- Experience in organizing similar events in the target countries.
- Relevant background of staff to be assigned to this project.
- Experience with USDA/FAS cooperator promotion programs.
- Experience with the U.S. Agricultural Trade Offices, Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. cooperators, and the American embassy staff.
- Suggested fee schedule.
- Statement that working with the SFPA construes no conflict of interest with the Agency’s other clients or affiliates.
- Completeness and thoroughness of the proposal.
Selection will be made by November 19, 2024. Only those firms meeting the criteria above will be considered. All proposals must be received by October 31, 2024, and addressed to:
Eric Gee
Executive Director, Southern Forest Products Association
egee@sfpa.org
504-443-4464
Alaina Hanson
Director of Administration, Southern Forest Products Association
ahanson@sfpa.org
504-443-4464
Questions regarding this RFP or your proposal submission may be addressed to:
Alaina Hanson
Director of Administration, Southern Forest Products Association
ahanson@sfpa.org
504-443-4464
SFPA is an equal-opportunity employer and provider.
SFPA is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws. SFPA is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998.
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It is the policy of the SFPA not to discriminate against any person who is limited in English proficiency (LEP). In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166, the Association will take reasonable steps to provide LEP persons meaningful access to its programs and activities. This commitment applies to all of the Association’s federally conducted programs and activities.