State $3 million marketing plan called for website by March 14. Where is it?
The Dunleavy administration signed a $3 million marketing contract early this year with Six-7 Strategies, owned by longtime political operative Kevin Sweeney.
Among other things, the contract calls for getting a website up and running by March 14 promoting the advantages of doing business in Alaska to the world.
I have asked Sweeney and Julie Sande, the commissioner of the commerce department, about the website and what vendors have been hired, but have yet to get a reply. If anyone has seen the missing website, please let me know.
“The website will support economic development by attracting investors and others looking to develop a new business or grow an existing business in Alaska. This site is a key component of the department’s marketing initiative. This site will be branded unrestricted by state standards and geared towards attracting investment and business to the State,” the contract says.
“The website design must be highly functional using modern design techniques. The design must be mobile responsive and intuitive to navigate,” according to the contract.
“Website must go live on or before March 14, 2025.”
The Sweeney marketing contract starts at up to $3 million until June 2026, and could include renewals that would push the total to $9 million through 2030.
Brilliant Media Strategies, Thompson & Co., and Angry Apples were among the seven companies that sought this contract the first time it was offered last August.
Six-7 Strategies did not seek the contract in response to the August 15 RFP.
In cancelling that first request for proposals in late October, the state claimed the RFP produced by the state in August was deficient and the process had to start over again. Sweeney’s company applied the second time.
The state failed to mention any specific deficiencies when it said on October 25 that it wanted new applications.
“Specifically, (1) an offeror’s capabilities in identifying and cultivating relevant industry decision makers and influencers outside of Alaska, both domestically and internationally, and (2) an offeror’s capabilities in creating new and leveraging existing opportunities to promote the department’s interests,” the state said.
There was nothing in the evaluation process for the new RFP that directly dealt with those alleged deficiencies.
The scoring sheet from the procurement office listed Six-7 Strategies at 953 points, followed by Brilliant Media Strategies Alaska at 808, Thompson & Co. Public Relations at 768 and Angry Apples Marketing at 310.
The Dunleavy plan is to sell Alaska as imagined on the colorful pages of this 32-page pamphlet titled the “Alaska Standard,” a document created under a previous state contract. The Alaska Standard, created by Bridge House Advisors of Chicago, promotes development of oil, gas, minerals, renewable energy, etc. in Alaska.
The state hired Sweeney to “develop and execute integrated communication campaigns” and various other things:
“Research and develop the most effective way to tell the story of potential for economic growth and diversification in Alaska.”
“Leverage marketing and education materials created by industries to amplify messaging about Alaska’s safe and sustainable approach to development and growth.”
“Dynamically respond to emergent issues to support economic development in Alaska.”
“Establish measurable and transparent criteria and timelines for success and regularly brief key stakeholders on progress and project refinement.”
Sweeney will “pursue cooperative promotional opportunities with other government and nongovernment agencies at a state and community level.”
This effort is similar to the so-called “Alaska Development Team,” the venture that Dunleavy chose to place under the tutelage of Clark Penney, the grandson of Dunleavy mega-donor Bob Penney.
Under his no-bid contract, Clark Penney began working on a website to promote Alaska in 2019.
While the Dunleavy administration tried to keep operational details about the development team quiet—the money for Penney’s contract was laundered through a state agency—the governor said that among his first-year accomplishments he “Established the Alaska Development Team to attract new investment and opportunity.”
There is no sign that a real website was ever created. What the state lists today as the Alaska Development Team is contained this.
The only member of the so-called “team” is Sande.
The “vision” of the one-person team is “To enable a flourishing private sector economy that brings job opportunities to the state and increase prosperity and self-sufficiency for Alaskan families.”
There were several team members in the past, but they are gone and have not been replaced.
The page includes a quote from Dunleavy that says “The Alaska Development Team is ready to assist as you come North to Opportunity.”
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This is all the state website has about the Alaska Development Team, which consists of team member Julie Sande.