U.S. Army RFI Flags Full-Service Marketing Scope With National Recruiting Reach
At a Glance Buyer: U.S. Department of the Army, Mission and Installation Contracting Command – Fort Knox, on behalf of the Army Enterprise Marketing Office Industry: Government/Military Recruiting Marketing Location/markets: United States; all regions of the country Primary scope: Marketing and advertising services supporting Army personnel acquisition and retention programs Key deliverables/channels: Strategic and operational planning, creative and content development, production, media strategy/planning/buying, digital marketing, website management, direct response, public relations, social media, events, sponsorships, market research, lead management, and contact center operations Budget: Not specified Contract type/term: RFI/Sources Sought; future contract structure not finalized; Government is evaluating single-prime, hybrid/modular, and alternative media structure models Key dates: Response deadline Mar 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET; possible solicitation release in late Spring 2027 with 30 days for proposal response Eligibility/must-haves: NAICS 541810; businesses of all sizes encouraged to respond; must identify business size; ability for contractor employees to obtain CACs; capability statement limited to 15 pages; experience with similar large-scale work requested Why This Could Be Interesting The U.S. Army, through its Army Enterprise Marketing Office, is testing the market for a future marketing and advertising engagement tied to recruiting, retention, and civilian hiring. This is an RFI, not an RFP, but it points to a serious upcoming opportunity. The scope is broad and enterprise-level. In plain English, the Army is looking at everything from strategy, creative, and production to media, digital, PR, social, website management, analytics, CRM, lead operations, and contact center support. What makes this worth a look is the scale and complexity. The document describes a national mission, diverse target audiences, and a need for integrated omni-channel work backed by measurement, optimization, governance, and risk management. This is not lightweight project work. There is also a meaningful signal in the procurement structure. The Army is still deciding whether to use one integrated prime, a modular setup, or split certain media functions. That creates an opening for both large lead agencies and specialized partners that can make a strong case for how the work should be organized. Best suited for larger integrated agencies, major government contractors, or specialist partners with deep media, analytics, martech, and stakeholder-management capabilities. Response deadline: March 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET Sign up for the RFI here.
Jefferson County Attorney Website Redesign RFP With Broad Public-Service UX Scope
At a Glance Buyer: Jefferson County Attorney’s Office Industry: Public sector legal services Location/markets: Louisville, Kentucky Primary scope: Complete website redesign, build, and installation for the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office Key deliverables/channels: Cloud-based website, nonproprietary CMS, responsive UX/UI redesign, onboarding, staff training, accessibility compliance, multilingual support, analytics access, forms, social and video integration, internal sea… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
City Of Bisbee Tourism Marketing Opportunity Includes Branding, PR, and Digital Campaigns
At a Glance Buyer: City of Bisbee Industry: Tourism/destination marketing/public sector Location/markets: Bisbee, Arizona; regional, national, and international audiences Primary scope: Serve as the City’s Destination Marketing Organization and develop a comprehensive year-round tourism marketing program Key deliverables/channels: Annual marketing plan, branding, advertising, digital campaigns, website management and updates, SEO, social media, email, public relations, perfo… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Port of Portland Creative Services RFP Covers Five On-Call Categories Across PDX Brand Work
At a Glance Buyer: Port of Portland Industry: Public sector transportation and economic development Location/markets: Portland, Oregon; Pacific Northwest Primary scope: On-call creative consultant services across one or more service categories Key deliverables/channels: Illustration, videography, social/content creation, copywriting and narrative content, communications, and creative campaign strategy Budget: Not specified Contract type/term: On-call, task order-based, nonex… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Ivy Tech Community College Launches AOR RFP Covering 19 Campuses and Systemwide Brand
At a Glance Buyer: Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Industry: Higher education Location/markets: Indiana; statewide across 19 campuses, 26 satellite locations, and Systems Office Primary scope: Marketing Agency of Record, Public Relations & Communications, and Website Hosting, Design, and Development Key deliverables/channels: Statewide marketing strategy, media planning and buying, creative, PR and crisis communications, brand management, reporting, website hosting… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
George Mason University Seeks Creative & Marketing Partners for a Multi-Award, 7-Year Opportunity
At a Glance Buyer: George Mason University Industry: Public higher education Location/markets: Fairfax, Virginia; university-wide departments and related audiences Primary scope: Ongoing, as-needed creative and marketing services across multiple service areas Key deliverables/channels: Creative concepting and design, websites and landing pages, copywriting/editing, video and animation, market research, media buying, experiential/event marketing, and limited staff augmentation Budget: Not specified (history of high six-figure annual spends across multiple agencies) Contract type/term: Multiple-award contract pool; 1-year initial term with six 1-year renewal options Key dates: Questions due Mar 11, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET; answers posted by Mar 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET; proposal deadline Apr 2, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET; negotiations week of May 25, 2026; anticipated start Jun 2026 Eligibility/must-haves: Proposals must be submitted via Bonfire; Attachment A is required; offerors may bid on one or more service areas, but not staff augmentation only; 3 references, 3–5 case studies, hourly rates, and a sample invoice are required; work must follow George Mason branding, accessibility, security/privacy, and AI policies; eVA registration required before award Why This Could Be Interesting George Mason University is a major public research university in Virginia looking to build a pool of outside partners for ongoing creative and marketing support. This is not framed as a one-off campaign. It is set up as an as-needed resource for multiple departments across the institution. The scope is broad enough to catch the attention of agencies with integrated capabilities. George Mason is buying across creative, web, copy, video, market research, media buying, experiential marketing, and related support, which creates room for both specialists and fuller-service firms. What makes this worth a look is the structure. The university expects multiple awards, which lowers the barrier to entry versus a winner-take-all AOR, and the contract carries one base year plus six renewal options. That creates meaningful long-tail potential even though no budget or minimum volume is guaranteed. Best suited for agencies that can work within public-sector rules, show strong process discipline, and deliver across one or more stated service lines without relying solely on staffing support. Proposal deadline: April 2, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET Download the full RFP here.
Where Figma’s Enterprise Shift Creates Agency Opportunity
At a Glance Interviewee: Sheila Joglekar Vashee, Chief Marketing Officer Company: Figma Estimated Revenue: $1.056B Location: San Francisco, California Website: figma.com Industry: Collaborative design software and product development Company Notes: Figma is a public software company expanding from design into broader product, developer, and marketing workflows Best-Fit Agencies: Product marketing, brand strategy, enterprise ABM, customer marketing, community, content, and th… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Ruby Tuesday’s Reconsideration Push and Media Reset Priorities
An analysis of the executive conversation and our research, surfacing the priorities and opportunity lanes agencies can leverage to win new business. At a Glance Interviewee: Edithann Ramey, Chief Marketing Officer Company: Ruby Tuesday Location: Maryville, TN Website: www.rubytuesday.com Industry: Casual dining restaurants Company Notes: A legacy casual-dining brand rebuilding consideration with a sharper value story, led by Garden Bar equity and a renewed loyalty push Bes… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Radar Report #001 – Week of March 9, 2026
7 Accounts Showing Buying Signals Each week, the Radar Report highlights companies showing signals of potential marketing investment. These moments often lead organizations to reassess agency relationships and growth initiatives. For agencies looking for new business opportunities, Radar Report surfaces companies likely preparing to invest in marketing and brand. 7. UpGuard UpGuard’s $75M Series C signals aggressive global expansion of its AI-powered cyber risk platform and a scaling of enterprise go-to-market operations. Trigger UpGuard raised $75 million in a Series C round led by Springcoast Partners to accelerate product development, expand global go-to-market efforts, and pursue strategic M&A opportunities in the cybersecurity risk management market. Why This Matters Growth capital at this stage typically signals a shift from product validation toward market expansion. UpGuard is positioning its AI-powered Cyber Risk Posture Management platform to serve enterprise and mid-market security teams globally. The promotion of long-tenured executive Spiro Spiroski into a field and partner marketing leadership role suggests a stronger focus on partner ecosystems, field enablement, and scaling demand in enterprise channels. Agency Opportunity Enterprise cybersecurity brand positioning Global demand generation programs Partner marketing strategy Sales enablement and field marketing Analyst relations & cybersecurity PR Smart Outreach Angle Agencies could offer insights on how cybersecurity companies translate complex AI risk platforms into clear enterprise narratives—especially for CISOs and procurement leaders evaluating vendor risk solutions. Company Context UpGuard provides AI-driven cyber risk posture management software used by organizations to monitor vendor risk, breach exposure, and security threats across complex digital ecosystems. The company serves over 50,000 organizations globally. 6. EPAM Systems EPAM Systems’ appointment of veteran B2B technology marketer Phil Walsh as Chief Marketing Officer signals a push to strengthen global demand generation and brand positioning for its AI and digital engineering services. Trigger EPAM Systems appointed Phil Walsh as Chief Marketing Officer in March 2026. Walsh joins as an external hire after serving as CMO at Turing and previously leading global marketing roles at Cognizant and AKASA. Why This Matters External CMO hires at large technology services firms often signal renewed focus on growth strategy, brand differentiation, and global demand generation. Walsh brings more than two decades of experience scaling enterprise technology brands and building global marketing teams across IT services, AI, and healthcare technology sectors. Agency Opportunity Enterprise technology brand positioning Global demand generation and ABM programs AI and digital engineering thought leadership Analyst relations and technology PR Executive visibility and content platforms Smart Outreach Angle Agencies could offer insights on how global technology services firms are repositioning around AI and digital engineering as enterprise buyers increasingly prioritize partners capable of delivering both consulting and advanced technology implementation. Company Context EPAM Systems is a global digital engineering and IT services firm that helps enterprises design, build, and scale software platforms, digital products, and AI-driven solutions.
How Edithann Ramey Learned to Lead Through Outcomes
Executive: Edithann Ramey, Chief Marketing OfficerCompany: Ruby TuesdayIndustry: Casual dining restaurantsCompany Snapshot: A legacy casual-dining brand focused on earning “reconsideration” and reconnecting with guests through what people already love about itFormat: CMO Journeys Interview Why It Matters Edithann Ramey planned to be a lawyer, not a marketer. But her career pulled her toward a harder question: how do you communicate in a way that makes people act? She has led businesses where success is simple to judge—you drive traffic, or you don’t. For agencies, her perspective is useful because she has lived the agency side and the client side, and she is clear about what partnership really means. Their Path, in Short Edithann grew up in San Juan, then went to school in Michigan and Boston. She studied political science and wanted to become a First Amendment lawyer. Then her aunt, who worked in public relations, opened her eyes to a different kind of influence. Edithann was drawn to PR work, especially crisis. She switched paths, earned a graduate degree in communications in Boston with a focus on crisis, and started at an agency. Her clients were marketers. That taught her that PR is only one piece of a bigger marketing strategy. Edithann realized she wanted to be responsible for outcomes—“big results,” whether that meant sales, traffic, or profit. So she pivoted into local restaurant marketing at Pizza Hut, and she says she fell in love with the business. When I asked what chapter shaped how she leads today, she pointed to her experiences at Chili’s: a more senior role, a team to lead, and pressure to deliver efficiently while still being creative. She learned what kind of leader she wanted to be and how to deliver results. Big Themes From the Conversation Edithann keeps returning to how the metric changes the job. Messaging has one type of result. Traffic has another. She said you can be “very efficient at communicating,” but if you do not drive people in, you are not successful. Moving into growth roles meant “unlearning what success looks like” and rebuilding her work around outcomes. She also described leadership as adaptation. She listens to what people need in order to succeed, then adjusts her style to match. She summed it up simply: “being the boss that they want me to be versus the boss that I wish I had.” And she has a sharp view of focus. She told a story about a boss giving her a tough review: her execution was flawless, but the goals were missed. The lesson was direct—activity is not the same as the right result. A mentor gave her the phrase she still uses: stick to the “big rocks.” Watch CMO Journeys Interview How They Choose the Right Agency Partners Edithann’s agency perspective starts with experience. She began her career in an agency, and she says that shaped her appreciation for what agencies do. Today, she describes her corporate team as “small and mighty,” and she relies on outside partners to help bring the work to life. In her words, any agency that works with her is part of the team. When I asked what makes a great agency-client relationship, she started with availability. Because the brands she works on operate “24 seven,” she values partners who can help when the business demands it. She has worked with agencies that are nine-to-five, and she respects that, but she appreciates agencies that can engage outside normal hours when urgent changes hit. Next is nimbleness. She has seen agency systems so complicated that changing media requires “10 steps” and too much lead time. For her, that does not work. She needs processes that move quickly and teams that can pivot and brainstorm as messages change. Then she described true partnership in a way that is easy to recognize. The best agencies, she said, get her sales reports and call her before she has even had time to look, asking, “What happened today and how can we help you make it better?” On structure, she said she has historically had more success with specialized agencies than with full-service. She has also seen specialized partners collaborate directly, so work moves forward without the client having to referee every detail. If there is one thing she fears most when hiring a new agency, it is transition. She described the “gap of the early days,” when the celebration ends and the real learning begins. Creative partners need more than brand guidelines; they need to learn how the brand thinks. Media transitions can be stressful, too, because switching systems and platforms can create disruption. She appreciates agencies that come with a clear transition process and acknowledge the handoff is not easy. She also offered a grounded take on AI: she prefers a hybrid model. Agencies create the core assets, and AI helps her move faster by refreshing elements like copy, messaging, and offer details. Finally, her advice to agencies trying to break through was blunt: respect the time. “We have very little time,” she said. She pays attention when an agency sends something quick and easy to absorb—a short case study and clear information about what they do—instead of pushing long meeting chains. She also encouraged agencies to show up where marketers already gather, because a real conversation builds trust. What Stood Out What stood out to me was how Edithann pairs warmth with accountability. She talks about leadership as a chance to positively influence people’s lives. And she also holds a firm standard: flawless execution does not matter if the goals are missed. That blend explains what she values—in herself, in her team, and in the agency partners she chooses. Inside Scoop This article focuses on the journey, the leadership philosophy, and how this CMO works with agency partners. To access the exclusive analysis, including priorities, initiatives, and opportunities, become a NextBigWin Pro member.
