County bids range from $35K to $170K

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Delaware County will apparently spend at least $35,000 on its new campaign to re-brand the county’s identity.

County officials on Wednesday revealed the cost range of 25 design bids made by firms for the county’s branding campaign.

“The highest bid received was for $169,825,” said county communication manager Jane Hawes, who is in charge of the project. “The lowest bid was for $35,500. The mean is $60,579.27.”

The county will not necessarily go with the lowest bid, however. Hawes said in an email Tuesday afternoon: “Please keep in mind … that this is a ‘best and lowest’ determination process. … It is not an ‘open bid’ process where the lowest bid is the winner. Cost is only one component in the decision-making process.”

Hawes told The Gazette Tuesday morning the county had received 25 bids that will now go to a “selection committee” that “is aiming” to choose the contract recipient by the end of August. Hawes wants to roll out the new county “brand” in February 2017.

The county has looked at the recent branding campaign of the city of Delaware, using it as a template for its own.

“We are definitely benefiting from the fact that the city of Delaware just went through a similar process,” Hawes said in a prepared statement in late June.

The city spent $49,850 for branding and “way-finding,” according to Lee Yoakum, city spokesman.

Hawes said in her initial statement in late June that “the project’s ultimate goal is a ‘style guide’ that is used to create images, signs and other visual and verbal elements that represent an organization.

County commissioners on July 5 authorized Hawes to administer and direct the branding campaign for Delaware County.

Commissioner Gary Merrell led the charge for a branding campaign when the county earned its new AAA credit rating.

The time seems appropriate to start looking at “branding our county and really putting our name out there,” he said in the May 25 commission meeting.

Commissioners said they are looking to set the county apart from the city of Delaware.

‘Branding’ project moves ahead

By D. Anthony Botkin

[email protected]

D. Anthony Botkin may be reached at 740-413-0902 or on Twitter @dabotkin.

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