Request for Proposals Illinois High School Association Ball Adoption Program The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is requesting proposals from ball manufacturers for the following tournament: boys water polo and girls water polo. Tournament details and equipment specifications are included. The IHSA will compare proposals and choose one company to supply balls for all of the water polo state series tournaments referenced in this Request for Proposals. The company selected will receive official status designation and an exclusive package of marketing benefits. These benefits offer a number of attractive opportunities to promote your company and products to those who make the buying decisions at schools principals, coaches, and athletics directors. This Request for Proposal is for the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school terms. To participate in the program, companies must agree to bid for the five-year period. Companies are required to use the enclosed Official Bid Form to formulate their proposal. The deadline for proposals is September 1, 2014, and each proposal must include a sample ball. All balls supplied for use at IHSA state series events must comply with the National Federation of State High School Associations rule book ball specifications and be branded with the IHSA logo and the NFHS authenticating mark. The IHSA staff will review the proposals received from interested manufacturers, and make a recommendation to the IHSA Board of Directors not later than October 1, 2014. It should be noted that neither the staff nor IHSA Board of Directors will accept any gift or other benefits as a part of the Request for Proposal consideration. In awarding the contract, the IHSA will: 1) take into consideration the quality of the product you propose to furnish and the period of time within which the product is to be furnished and delivered; 2) consider the company s experience and previous work history; 3) the financial and product commitment to the IHSA; and, 4) the cost of product to IHSA member schools. 1
Facts About the Illinois High School Association 1. Member Schools... 820 2. Sports... 29 Different Sports 3. Activities... 9 Activities 4. Officials... Total: 13,694 5. Championship Events... 42 6. Televised Championships (live)... 3 Events 7. 2014 Number of Boys Water Polo teams competing in IHSA State Series... 79 teams 8. 2014 Number of Girls Water Polo teams competing in IHSA State Series... 70 teams 2
Exclusive Marketing Benefits o Exclusive use of the selected company s product(s) during each state series tournament on the required list. o Official status designation. This designation may be used by the manufacturer in all advertising and promotions. However, review and approval from the IHSA is required before such marketing is undertaken. o Digital/electronic signage (where available) at each championship tournament for which the manufacturer is providing equipment. Both parties will determine specific locations and forms of signage in advance of each tournament. Signage production costs, if any, shall be borne by the manufacturer. Banners shall be hung if digital/electronic signage is unavailable. o Full-page ad in the event program of each championship tournament for which the manufacturer is providing equipment. o Exposure/acknowledgement at IHSA Rule Interpretation meetings at which coaches and contest officials are required to attend annually. o Four tickets to each championship tournament for which the manufacturer is providing equipment. o Recognition on the public address system and scoreboard (where available) at all championship tournaments for which the manufacturer is providing equipment. o Direct mail opportunities. o Web site advertisement. Required Balls Sport No. of Game Balls Required Delivery Deadline to IHSA Boys Water Polo 35 March 1 Girls Water Polo 35 March 1 3
PLEASE USE THIS FORM OR A PHOTOCOPY TO SUBMIT YOUR BID. NO OTHER FORM OR CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE ACCEPTED. KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR FILES. ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OFFICIAL BID FORM Ball Adoption Program (Page One of Five Pages) Company Name Street Address City State Zip Phone ( ) Contact Person & Title 1. Are you licensed to do business in the State of Illinois? Yes No 2. Number of years your company has been in business: years 3. General type of product you manufacture and/or sell: 4. You are a: Corporation Partnership 5. If you are a corporation or partnership, please indicate the state under whose laws you are incorporated: 6. If you are a partnership, please list the names and state residence of ALL partners: 4
OFFICIAL BID FORM (Page 2 of 5) Company Name BELOW, FOR EACH REQUIRED SPORT: o Indicate the model of equipment you propose to furnish and deliver. o o o Under value indicate how much the IHSA would have had to pay you for this equipment if it were buying it, keeping in mind the size of the order and any preferred customer status that you may have granted to a buyer. Include applicable taxes and delivery charges. Please indicate how much you propose to pay on an annual basis for your cash sponsorship. Indicate the current team price of each ball for which you have submitted a bid. REQUIRED SPORTS EQUIPMENT QUANTITY PROPOSED MODEL VALUE OF EQUIPMENT TO IHSA CURRENT TEAM BALL PRICE TOTAL FIVE YEAR AMOUNT Boys Water Polo Girls Water Polo Water Polo Balls Water Polo Balls $ $ $ $ $ $ TOTAL AMOUNTS FOR REQUIRED BALLS: ------ ------ ------- $ $ $ TOTAL ANNUAL CASH SPONSORSHIP: $ 5
OFFICIAL BID FORM (Page 3 of 5) Company Name Are you willing to maintain the current team price of each ball for which you have submitted during the life of this contract? If not, how much of an increased do you anticipate over a five year period? How many dealers do you have in Illinois who will handle orders from IHSA member schools, and where are these dealers located? Please reference any current ball adoptions that you have with other high school state associations, colleges/universities, conferences or governing sports organizations. 6
OFFICIAL BID FORM (Page 4 of 5) Company Name Please provide information with regard to support and/or incentives your company is willing to provide the IHSA in each sport you are bidding on (i.e. autograph balls, etc.). Provide us with any other information you would like for us to consider when reviewing your proposal. 7
OFFICIAL BID FORM (Page 5 of 5) Company Name NOTE: IHSA staff will respond to questions you may have regarding this Request for Proposal via email only. Questions should be forwarded to Marty Hickman, Executive Director, at mhickman@ihsa.org, or Kurt Gibson, Associate Executive Director, at kgibson@ihsa.org. Please return this Request for Proposal on or before September 1, 2014, to: Marty Hickman IHSA 2715 McGraw Dr. Bloomington, IL 61704 mhickman@ihsa.org I submit the following proposal in response to the IHSA s Request for Proposal dated. I affirm that I am a representative of and that my company agrees with the submitted information. Company Address City, State, Zip Representative s Name Telephone Number Email Address Signature Ball AdoptionsProposalForm 8
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