After an extensive RFP process led by Penn Procurement Services for providers of Website Design, Upgrade and Maintenance Services, seven (7) suppliers have been awarded 3-year Preferred Contracts effective June 20, 2023. The RFP process included input from seventeen (17) individuals from the marketing, communications and technical areas of Business Services, Communications, FRES, ISC, Law, SAS, Undergrad Admissions, Wharton and WXPN. These best-in-class suppliers were chosen from fifteen (15) bidders for their ability to deliver excellent service and value to the Penn community.
- Brooklyn Digital Foundry, LLC (Philly), #636204, Brian Lemond, 347-380-6939
- Large-Size Full-Service Agency
- WordPress and Drupal
- Works well with a matrix of options or project requirements including ones that are complex
- Website design services are done in-house – website maintenance services are subcontracted
- eCity Interactive, Inc. dba Electric Kite (Philly), #432174, Louis Miller and Sez Giulian, 215-557-0767
- Full-Service Agency
- WordPress and Drupal
- Has extensive Penn and other higher ed experience - familiar with Penn’s workflow and branding
- Large enough to handle complex projects and able to take on small projects
- 4x3 LLC, #452721, Amy Siano 610-246-0937, and Stephen Siano 610-389-4474
- Full-Service Agency
- Drupal-focused, and WordPress
- Has extensive Penn experience
- Cost-Effective solutions, Experience with mid- to large-scale website design projects and website maintenance services
- New Media Solutions, LLC, #483533, Sam Cohen, 215-868-1281
- Full-Service Agency
- WordPress and Drupal
- Has extensive Penn experience and is client-focused
- Recommended for small design and development projects and website maintenance services
- Opus Design, LLC, #629279, Julia Frenkle, 617-939-9210
- Full-Service Agency
- WordPress and Drupal
- Has extensive higher ed experience
- Focused on training the clients’ users of the websites they built
- Untuck, LLC, #398553, Amy Saal and John Saal, 610-355-2330
- Full-Service Agency
- WordPress
- Has extensive Penn experience
- Recommended for small design projects
- WDG dba Dialog Concepts, #321102, Ab Emam, 202-997-2678
- Large-Size Full-Service Agency
- WordPress and Drupal
- Works well with a matrix of options or project requirements including ones that are complex
- Full-Service company with an impressive portfolio of clients
If you're planning to design or redesign the website for your school, center or department, we encourage you to reach out to one of our preferred suppliers listed above for further information, seek competitive bids or request a Statement of Work (SOW). When making your decision to select a supplier, please consider the following factors:
- Relevant Experience and Portfolio of Work: Look at their previous work for Penn and for other educational institutions. Seek feedback of their work from their Penn clients.
- Understanding of Your Target Audience and Business Goals: Ensure they align with your mission, business goals and objectives.
- University Brand Standards: Their understanding and compliance to University Brand Standards for treatment for logos and for color and font recommendations.
- Design Capabilities: Evaluate their creativity and the quality of their design work.
- Technical Expertise: Ensure familiarity with relevant Content Management Systems (CMS), WCAG Accessibility Adherence and SEO best practices.
- Pricing Structure: Compare pricing and length of hours to perform the Scope of Work (SOW).
- Communication and Project Management Skills: Ensure clear and timely communication with you throughout the project and confirm their ability to adhere to timeline and deadlines.
- Revision Process: Ensure flexibility and a clear process for handling revisions, and the number of revisions provided in the SOW at no additional cost.
- Consider a Website Maintenance and Security Retainer: Evaluate the scope of your website maintenance and security needs post-launch to ensure long-term functionality and performance. Be sure to allocate retainer funds in your master SOW budget.
If you have any questions regarding the suppliers or need assistance, please feel free to contact Lucy Casalena, Manager, Strategic Sourcing, 215-898-7796.