Request for Proposal: Redesign & Maintenance of NSLI-Y Website

American Councils for International Education (American Councils) seeks a vendor to redesign and assist in maintenance of the NSLI-Y program’s website at https://www.nsliforyouth.org/. 

Vendors responding to this request for proposals (RFP) should have experience in designing and creating high-quality websites with visual appeal for educational or other not-for-profit institutions

View NSLI-Y Request for Proposal

Background

American Councils is a not-for-profit, non-governmental corporation exempt from taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. American Councils strengthens international ties and mutual understanding through excellence in academic, professional and cultural exchange, language acquisition, educational development, and research. With 50 years of experience, American Councils operates in 130 countries, facilitating over 250 programs in 40 languages with 650 employees.

American Councils is the lead organization in the administration and implementation of the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). The U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with American Councils, awards and administers merit-based scholarships to high school students to study critical languages. NSLI-Y immerses participants in the cultural life of the host community, giving them formal and informal language practice and sparking a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures. Participants receive intensive language instruction and participate in a variety of cultural activities. Its goals include providing a tangible incentive for the learning and use of foreign language by creating overseas language study opportunities for U.S. high school students. In addition to the traditional overseas programs, American Councils implements a virtual version of the scholarship called Virtual NSLI-Y which is also represented on the NSLI-Y website. 

Overview

NSLI-Y’s current website requires upgrades and enhancements to improve its functionality, user experience, and overall appeal to audiences interested in learning about and applying for the NSLI-Y scholarship. Further, the website requires updates to be more in line with current industry standards. 

The NSLI-Y website must be in line with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Communication Guidelines.

NSLI-Y staff will need to be able to make in-house edits to the content. NSLI-Y will need tracking and monitoring capabilities built into the website to measure effectiveness and outreach campaign success. 

GOALS

• Enhance the NSLI-Y website’s user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. 
• Ensure mobile responsiveness and accessibility compliance. 
• Ensure satisfactory website performance and security.
• Foster better engagement with target audiences (students, parents, educators).

OBJECTIVES 

• Develop a modern, clean, and user-friendly website design meeting current industry standards.
• Implement an intuitive navigation structure.
• Provide access to a content management system (CMS) for NSLI-Y staff to make simple updates. 
• Ensure compatibility with all major browsers and devices. 
• Optimize website for speed and SEO best practices

Submission Guidelines

Proposals must be submitted by August 1, 2024. 

Please send proposals electronically by attachment to nsliy@americancouncils.org. 

For any questions or clarifications, contact Angela MacDougall, Senior Program Officer.