We have a shortlist

JIBC has identified a shortlist of web vendors to be considered for our project. They were chosen from vendors that submitted a response to our RFP for web development services that will include:

• Implementing a web content management system (CMS) that will be used by JIBC staff to maintain our new website
• Building the site’s core structure with the CMS

The JIBC Web Working Group is now focusing on a selection process involving the shortlisted vendors. The following elements will factor in to our decision:

• Quality of proposals submitted by vendors
• Demos of CMS solutions proposed by vendors
• Interviews with vendors
• JIBC testing of proposed CMS solutions
• Reference checks

Stay tuned for updates on the process.

Where we’re at with the web project

June has arrived, and it’s a good time to take stock of where we’re at with the JIBC web redesign project.

RFP submissions
Yesterday was the deadline for submissions to our request for proposal (RFP) for web vendors to work on our project. There was a very good response to the RFP – a number of submissions were received before the deadline. The Web Working Group, a sub-committee of the Web Steering Committee, is now launching the selection process to choose a web vendor and content management system (CMS) for JIBC. Our goal is to choose a vendor and a CMS by July.

Content planning
Web Editor Krista Lambert is wrapping up the first round of meetings with JIBC departments on content. By the end of this week, Krista will have met with the following: Student Services/Registration, School of Community & Social Justice, School of Health Sciences, Emergency Management Division, Police Academy, Sheriff Academy, Fire & Safety Division, Corrections & Community Justice Division, Pacific Traffic Education Centre, JIBC Foundation, Office of Applied Research, JIBC Library, JIBC Store, Human Resources, Facilities and Academic Services. While the first round revolved around conducting a content audit, the second round will focus on developing a navigational structure and content templates. Krista and other members of the Communications & Marketing Department will start the second round of meetings with area reps by the second week of June.

Post Secondary Web Conference
Last week Chris Wong, Senior Manager, Web Communications & Corporate Marketing, attended the first Canadian Post Secondary Web Conference. Held at Brock University in St. Catharines, the conference was an opportunity for people working in communications/marketing, student services, IT and other areas of Canadian post-secondary institutions to learn about best practices in web and social media. It was an excellent conference that provided many insights and tips that can be applied to our web redesign project. It was especially good to meet with people who manage websites and social media at other institutions, and to talk about strategies for meeting the similar challenges that we face.

Here are links to slides for two of the best sessions at the conference:

• Canadian Style: The good, bad and easily improved of Canadian Higher-Ed Websites
• Content Strategy: The Key to Effective Web Content

Plus two posts from other blogs about the conference:

• PSE Web Conference
• Canada’s 1st highered web conference a success: a foreigner’s perspective

JIBC issues RFP for web vendors

The JIBC has reached a significant milestone in our project: last week we issued a request for proposal (RFP) for web vendors. The RFP is for web development services, including:

• Implementing a web content management system (CMS) for a new JIBC website
• Building the site’s core structure

The RFP has been posted on BC Bid. To view the RFP, go to the BC Bid website, click on “Browse for Bid Opportunities or Bid Results” on the right side of the homepage, click on “Browse opportunities by organization”, and click on “Justice Institute of BC”.