RFQ – B4b Web Design project

Please ref:        B4b / Web design project

Re:                    Invitation to quote for the design & development of a new website

Title:                B4b website design

Closing date for applications: 12.00 Friday 10th February 2023

The Ballymun4 business network (B4b) invites suitably qualified professionals to submit proposals for the design, development and maintenance of a new website. We are seeking an overhaul of the current website www.b4b.ie  to help us improve how we manage our events, manage subscriptions, support our members and reach out to our target audience.

About B4b

Ballymun4business is a dynamic business network aimed at connecting local businesses and organisations in Ballymun.  The network is governed by a steering committee with a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer and other key members and is supported by a network manager who will have responsibility for maintaining and updating the website.

The network has over 50 members and meets up to 5 times per year in different locations around Ballymun.  The profile of our members are small to medium sized businesses from Ballymun and the surrounding areas. B4b is here to ensure that all our members maximise the business opportunities that are open to them and hence is guided by three main pillars;

• To increase footfall in Ballymun
• Get business referrals
• Engage with and support key community initiatives.

In addition, B4b offers its members the chance to get involved in community initiatives, have an input into local area plans and stay informed about what is happening in the area. B4b social media platforms include Facebook @Ballymun 4 business and Twitter @ballymun4biz, LinkedIn and Youtube.

About the project

We require a modern, robust WordPress website with the infrastructure that builds on our success to date. The website must be easy to navigate for our members and, general visitors to the site interested in business networking and finding our more about what we do.

Core Goals

The website must project the ethos of B4b as “Welcoming” “Friendly” “Professional” and our 3 pillars. We wish for the website to become an integrated function that allows us to sustain and grow the network helping us target our audience of businesses, funder’s, partners, community organisation and local educational institutions

Functionality requirements:

Key to this project will be reducing the number of clicks, easily accessible information and putting the user-experience at the fore-front of the design.  Visitors should be able to easily find the information they need and understand what we do. We require a website that is:

• Simple to update and maintain for non-technical people
• Simplifies the creation of our network events and manages bookings – integration of Eventbrite
• Integrates our social media platforms
• Simplifies the creation and posting of blogs
• Easily uploads images, shares video content.
• Simplifies the collection and management of annual subscriptions – integration of a CRM will be considered depending on cost / added value
• Simplifies the self-management of member profiles
• Will adapt easily to future technological advances and updates
• Integrates and supports our email info@b4b.ie (currently Office 365)

The current website

The current website www.b4b.ie was created in 2017 using the Jupiter theme.  At the moment events are created on Eventbrite and then linked to a separate events page created on the website.  This then needs to be replicated for the homepage. The website also collects annual subscription fees and circulates notifications to members in advance of the due date.  The fees are set to be collected in December for the calendar year i.e. membership is for the calendar year. Currently Stripe is used to manage the transactions.  Each member has a username and login where they can update their profile and make payments.  The member profiles form a ‘Members Directory’ which has a keyword search function.  The back-end of the site is used to export members which provides the contact details for email distribution lists.

The website is now dated and not the most user-friendly.  The new website should deliver all of the above and at the same time be easy to train non-technical people on the functionality.

Resources

We have a significant bank of quality images that can be used for the new website. Passwords for cPanel and login details to the current website are available.  B4b does not have any brand guidelines that need to be adhered to.   A website sub-committee will be on-hand to support you through the redevelopment process.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Submissions should provide clear technical detail outlining what themes they would use and why. You should provide a breakdown of costs including web design, hosting and as a separate cost you should quote for SEO optimization and training (if required).  We are also interested in revamping our logo and you should provide a separate cost for this too.  A clear understanding of the brief

• Service delivery method
• Technical merit
• Value for money
• Include at least two references and three examples of previous work

The technical evaluation panel will carry out an evaluation of responses using a pre-determined scoring mechanism under the following criteria:

Budget

The budget allocated for the website design is €5,000 with a further contingency if required.  CRM tools, SEO optimization and training can all be costed separately.

If you wish to tender for this role, please do so by submitting proposals in writing by email to info@b4b.ie by Friday 10^th February 2023 @ 12.00

If you have any queries in relation to any of the above please send an email with contact details to info@b4b.ie and we will come back to you.