Request for Proposals (RFP): Video Production Services for the Youth Resilience Project

 

Issued By: Bozeman Public Schools (BSD7) 

Date Issued: October 2, 2026 

Submission Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM MDT 

Primary Contact: Patrick McClellan, Director of Student Programs (patrick.mcclellan@bsd7.org)

1. Introduction & Project Overview

Bozeman Public Schools (BSD7), in partnership with the Bozeman Schools Foundation, is seeking proposals from qualified video production companies to professionally produce the inaugural training modules for the Youth Resilience Project (YRP).

With an anticipated launch date of January 2027, the YRP is an online learning platform focused on youth mental health, resilience, and caregiver self-care. We are seeking a creative partner who can provide directing and production expertise to cast a compelling vision of this work. The selected partner will use impactful video storytelling to make research- and evidence-based tools accessible, digestible, and emotionally engaging for our community.

2. Project Funding & Community Context

It is important for our community and prospective partners to note that the Youth Resilience Project is a community-driven initiative and is not being funded with District taxpayer dollars.

The District's key fundraising partner, the Bozeman Schools Foundation, has secured private funding—including a significant financial investment from Bozeman Health—to provide for the production costs of the YRP online training platform. Furthermore, Bozeman Public Schools is the proud recipient of a non-profit grant from Wisetail, which makes their online learning platform available to the District for three years at no cost.

3. Background & Research Foundation

The overarching goals of the Youth Resilience Project are to reduce mental health stigma, normalize self-care, and increase emotional regulation and help-seeking. We aim to achieve this by embedding evidence-based practices into the activities, communities, and homes that are already central to our children’s lives.

The theoretical framework for this project is rooted in our partnership with The Montana Institute. The content relies heavily on research surrounding:

• Positive Community Norms (PCNs)
• Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)
• Adult Positive Experiences (APEs)

These frameworks will shape the vision and approach for connecting the dots between BSD7 staff, student well-being goals, and the community at large.

4. Target Audience

The completed training modules will be hosted on the District’s Wisetail online training platform. The primary audiences include:

• Parents and caregivers of BSD7 students.
• Bozeman Public Schools (BSD7) staff.
• Staff and volunteers of youth-focused organizations across the Bozeman community.

5. Scope of Work & Deliverables

The focus of this initial phase is the production of the Year-One Training Module(s). The selected production partner will be responsible for:

• Total Video Runtime: Producing 60 to 90 minutes of total finished video content that will be strategically packaged within shorter bite-sized modules.
• Format Mix: Blending high-quality, live-action video storytelling (interviews, b-roll, narrative sequences) with instructional content sharing (voice-over, animated visuals, and slide integration).
• Creative Direction: Collaborating with District leaders to storyboard and direct a visually engaging and moving product that accomplishes the training goals while captivating the community.
• Post-Production & Delivery: Full editing, audio mixing, color correction, and final rendering of video files optimized for seamless upload into the Wisetail learning management system.

6. Timeline

• RFP Issued: October 2, 2026
• Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM MDT
• Contract Awarded: Late October 2026
• Production & Post-Production Window: November & December 2026
• Final Deliverables Due (Wisetail Upload Ready): Early January 2027

7. Budget & In-Kind Sponsorship Opportunity

Respondents must provide a comprehensive, itemized budget detailing the total estimated cost of the project (including pre-production, filming, equipment, post-production, and travel if applicable).

In-Kind Sponsorship: While this project is backed by generous private investments, Bozeman Public Schools highly encourages proposals that offer a combination of paid services and in-kind donations to maximize the impact of these funds. In exchange for donated (in-kind) production services, the District will provide high-visibility advertising and acknowledgment on the District's official YRP Wisetail site, which will be accessed by thousands of parents, staff, and community members.

Respondents should clearly delineate in their budget which specific line items or dollar amounts they are willing to provide in-kind in exchange for this advertising partnership.

8. Submission Requirements

All proposals must include the following typical RFP elements:

1. Cover Letter: A brief introduction to your company and your interest in the Youth Resilience Project.
2. Company Profile & Qualifications: Overview of your team, capabilities, and directing/production expertise, specifically highlighting experience with educational, non-profit, or mental health storytelling.
3. Portfolio/Examples of Recent Work: Links to 3–5 relevant video projects that demonstrate your ability to blend emotional storytelling with educational/instructional content.
4. Proposed Approach: A brief summary of how your company would approach the creative direction and project management within the tight November/December production window.
5. Cost & Sponsorship Proposal: The itemized budget, clearly highlighting the total cost and the proposed in-kind/advertising exchange breakdown.
6. References: Contact information for three past clients for whom you have completed similar work.

9. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Quality and relevance of past work/portfolio (30%)
• Demonstrated ability to convey emotional and educational narratives (25%)
• Overall cost and value of the proposed in-kind sponsorship exchange (25%)
• Capacity to meet the November/December production timeline (20%)
• Preference may be given to BSD7 student video production companies

10. Inquiries & Submission Instructions

Interested parties are highly encouraged to reach out to ask clarifying questions prior to submitting their proposal.

All proposals, as well as requests for clarifying conversations or questions, must be emailed directly to: Patrick McClellan Director of Student Programs, Bozeman Public Schools Email: patrick.mcclellan@bsd7.org

Proposals must be received via email no later than 5:00 PM MDT on Friday, October 23, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.