RFP - Content and Community site

I need a developer to put together, on a Drupal platform, a next generation community and content site. I intend to use the technical platform developed as the base for a series of similar sites in specific vertical niches. The initial site will be a place for sailboat sailors to find news, community and other resources.

I have funds set aside in the six figures for launch of the initial sites (not just for site development, but for development, hiring of editorial staff, ongoing technical maintenance, marketing, etc.). Subsequent to that, if early results justify further development, I have a line on sources of expanded funding.

I need someone to develop the initial site and the underlying technical package that will be used for all sites. After noodling around with Drupal for about a year, I believe that Drupal is an ideal platform for the project, but I will listen to those more technically astute if they have better ideas.

The core modules seem to exist in some form already in the Drupal and MySpace communities. If a necessary feature is missing, and if development is cost effective, I can fund completion or development of the missing modules, with the code, of course, to be donated back to the appropriate open source community. I am hoping, of course, to minimize up front development cost by using what has already been developed, while helping others minimize their costs by my contributing back what is developed for this project.

Part of the development must include development of the site templates. I’m not a believer in the theory that pretty sites succeed over ugly sites; I believe instead that functional sites succeed where non-functional and hard to use sites fail. In terms of template development, I will want to work from wire frames to a completed design. SEO readiness and user friendliness are paramount. Flash is not needed, and you will have to justify its use if you think it fits in anywhere.

After initial development and launch, I would hope to maintain an ongoing consulting relationship with the group that designed the site. As we all know, internet sites are never really finished, and at least for the midrange future I will prefer to outsource the technical tasks.

Any tasks that fall outside your skill sets can be outsourced to subcontractors. I will look for the main developer to maintain control over the subcontractors.

I do not intend to specify which Drupal modules should be included, or which should be included only after further development. I leave that up to you.

If you are interested, please contact me to get the full RFP. I can be reached via email and MSN messenger at verticalcities@hotmail.com or via Skype at raywcampbell.

Thank you.