4-Bus Advertising RFP 2026.pdf

To: Qualified Advertising Firms

From: Greg Downing, Executive Director

Subject: EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR BUS ADVERTISING

AND BUS SHELTER ADVERTISING

Date: October 2, 2026

The South Central Transit Authority (SCTA), Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority

(SRTA), Lebanon Transit (LT) and Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) are public transit operators and are requesting proposals from qualified advertising firms for the sale of exterior and interior advertising space on its buses and shared ride vehicles in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Transit Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of

Transportation. As part of this solicitation, SCTA and SRTA are requesting proposals for the sale of advertising on transit bus shelters. Proposals are requested for a five (5) year contract; the first two (2) years will be the base contract and the remaining three (3) years will be annual option years.

The contract will commence January 1, 2027.

Proposals will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. prevailing time, Thursday, November 5, 2026.

To Submit a proposal on this project, Click on “Open Public Opportunities”, and “View

Opportunity” for the subject project. All contractors interested in receiving the documents can download via PennBid and will be requested to register with Pennbid

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

SALE OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR BUS ADVERTISING

AND BUS SHELTER ADVERTISING

For The

SOUTH CENTRAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

LUZERNE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

SUSQUEHANNA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

and

LEBANON TRANSIT

PROJECT #17-2026

October 2, 2026

South Central Transit Authority

45 Erick Road

Lancaster, PA 17601

O - (717) 397-5613

F – (717)397-2317

SALE OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR BUS ADVERTISING AND BUS SHELTER

ADVERTISING

The South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) on behalf of itself and Susquehanna Regional

Transportation Authority (SRTA), Lebanon Transit (LT) and Luzerne County Transportation

Authority (LCTA) are seeking proposals from qualified advertising firms to act as a representative for each Authority for the sale of exterior and interior advertising space on its buses and shared ride vehicles for each of the Authority’s service areas. SCTA and SRTA are also seeking proposals for the sale of advertising space on bus shelters. Hereinafter a reference to “Authority” refers to the above-listed transit authorities.

Request for Proposals will be received electronically via Penn Bid at https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com/ until 2:00 p.m. prevailing time, Thursday, November 5, 2026.

All proposals and agreements are subject to all applicable state and federal laws and to a financial assistance contract between the Authority’s and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal

Transit Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Contractors and subcontractors will be required to comply with all applicable Non-Discrimination, Non-Collusion, Contractor Integrity, Lobbying and Debarment laws and regulations and to certify they are not on the Comptroller General's list of ineligible contractors.

Disadvantaged business enterprise participation is encouraged. DBE's shall be afforded full consideration of their response and will not be subject to discrimination. However, a DBE goal has not been established for this Contract.

SCTA on behalf of SRTA, LT and LCTA reserves the right to postpone, to accept or reject any and all proposals, in whole or in part, or to waive informalities as it deems to be in its best interest.

All documents, specifications and solicitation details are available at no cost electronically at

PennBid – https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com Proposers will be requested to register with PennBid.

For information, contact Keith Boatman, Director of Capital Projects & Planning at (717) 947-7286 or kboatman@sctapa.com

Greg Downing

Executive Director

SCTA

https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com/ mailto:kboatman@sctapa.com

AdvertisingRFP#17-2026

SALE OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR BUS ADVERTISING AND

BUS SHELTER ADVERTISING

(Project #17-2026)

I. INTRODUCTION

The South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) is responsible for operating the public transportation service in

Lancaster County under the name of the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA). SCTA is also responsible for operating the public transportation service in Berks County under the name of the Berks Area Regional

Transportation Authority (BARTA).

The Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority is responsible for operating fixed route and shared ride transportation service in Dauphin, Cumberland, Adams and York Counties. In addition, SRTA operates shared ride service in Columbia, Cumberland, Franklin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder and Union

Counties in Pennsylvania.

The County of Lebanon Transit (LT) is responsible for operating fixed route and shared ride transportation service in Lebanon County.

The County of Luzerne (LCTA) is responsible for operating fixed route and shared ride transportation service in Luzerne County.

For this RFP, hereinafter a reference to Authority includes SCTA, SRTA, LCTA and LT.

A breakout of population (Census 2020 population for counties served by transit authority), combined ridership for the fixed route and shared ride system, and the number of fixed route and shared ride vehicles for each system is presented in the table below.

No. of Shared

2025 No. of Buses Ride Vehicles

System Population (As of 7/1/26) (As of 7/1/26)

SCTA/Berks 440,072 50 52

SCTA/Lancaster 563,159 43 66

SRTA 3,096,556 105 126 (1)

LCTA 332,126 40 47

LT 146,380 18 16

TOTAL 4,578,293 240 378

Notes: (1) Combined population for Adams, Columbia, Franklin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York Counties.

A summary of the revenue received from the current contractor by the authorities is provided below for the last three fiscal years ending June 30th. The terms of the current contract provide for an Authority to receive a guarantee per bus and for bus shelter advertising or a percentage of the net sales collected, whichever is greater.

Lebanon Transit (LT) has been handling the sale of advertising space on its buses on their own. LT reported the ad revenue they have been able to generate from their sales.

This RFP includes advertising on SRTA bus shelters. However, no past revenue figures are available

Exterior and Interior Bus Advertising

System FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025

SCTA/BARTA $ 93,906 $ 45,937 $214,530

SCTA/RRTA $ 81,680 $ 38,198 $156,922

LCTA $129,996 $129,996 $129,996

SRTA $866,830 $654,603 $561,060

Lebanon Transit $ 35,090 $ 30,136 $ 16,238

Bus Shelter Advertising

System FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025

SCTA/BARTA $ 31,302 $ 15,312 $ 71,510

SCTA/RRTA $ 61,618 $ 28,816 $118,380

SRTA $12,366 $ 8,274 $ 4,312

LCTA $20,000 $20,000 $20,000

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Project Overview

The South Central Transit Authority (“SCTA”), on behalf of itself and the participating transit agencies identified in this solicitation, is soliciting proposals from qualified advertising firms (“Contractor” or “Concessionaire”) for the marketing, sale, production, installation, maintenance, removal, and administration of advertising displayed on exterior and interior advertising spaces throughout the participating transit systems.

The participating transit agencies include:

• South Central Transit Authority (SCTA), including its Lancaster and Reading operations;

• Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority (SRTA);

• Lebanon Transit (LT); and

• Luzern County Transportation Authority (LCTA).

The participating agencies collectively operate fixed-route buses, shared-ride/paratransit vehicles, and other transit vehicles as identified in Exhibit A. A current active vehicle fleet listing for each participating agency is provided in Exhibit A.

The fleet quantities and vehicle types identified in Exhibit A are provided for informational and planning purposes only. Neither SCTA nor any participating agency guarantees that the number, type, configuration, active fleet, peak fleet, or availability of vehicles will remain constant throughout the term of the Agreement. Fleet quantities may change as a result of vehicle replacement programs, funding availability, service modifications, changes in ridership or service demand, fleet utilization, vehicle retirement, or other operational requirements.

The successful Contractor shall be responsible for developing and implementing an effective advertising program designed to maximize advertising revenue while complying with all applicable agency advertising policies, operational requirements, safety requirements, and the terms and conditions of the resulting Agreement.

As part of this solicitation, SCTA, SRTA, LT, and LCTA are also requesting proposals for the marketing and sale of advertising space on transit bus shelters and other designated transit facilities, where applicable. Additional requirements for transit shelter advertising are provided in Section C – Bus Shelter Advertising Services.

The current Advertising Policies applicable to SCTA and the participating agencies are included in Attachment B. The Contractor shall comply with the applicable Advertising Policy of each participating agency throughout the term of the Agreement. Each participating agency reserves the right to amend or update its Advertising Policy during the term of the Agreement, subject to the provisions of the resulting Agreement and applicable law.

For purposes of this Scope of Services and the resulting Agreement, SCTA, SRTA, LT, and LCTA may individually be referred to as an “Authority” or “Agency” and collectively as the “Participating Agencies” or “Authorities,” as applicable.

B. Exterior and Interior Bus Advertising Services

1. General Advertising Services

The Contractor shall be responsible for all aspects of the advertising program, including, but not limited to:

• Developing and implementing an advertising sales and marketing program;

• Soliciting and securing advertisers;

• Preparing and administering advertising contracts;

• Coordinating artwork and production;

• Producing advertising materials;

• Collecting and accounting for advertising revenues;

• Installing advertising materials;

• Inspecting advertising installations;

• Maintaining advertising materials while installed;

• Removing advertising materials at the expiration or termination of an advertising contract;

• Repairing or correcting damage resulting from improper installation or removal;

• Maintaining appropriate records of advertisers, contracts, revenues, installations, and removals;

• Providing required reports to the applicable Participating Agency; and

• Performing all other activities reasonably necessary to administer the advertising program.

Each Participating Agency will designate a representative to serve as the primary point of contact for operational coordination. The Agency representative will primarily coordinate vehicle availability, facility access, and other operational matters. The Contractor shall remain solely responsible for the management and administration of its advertising program.

The Contractor shall ensure that all advertising displays, graphics, materials, installation methods, and workmanship meet or exceed generally accepted industry standards and the requirements established by the applicable Participating Agency.

All advertising content shall be subject to the applicable Advertising Policy and any review and approval requirements established by the respective Participating Agency. Each Participating Agency reserves the right to reject advertising that does not comply with its Advertising Policy, the resulting Agreement, applicable law, or other applicable requirements.

Advertising for firearms, alcohol, tobacco products, or other products, services, or subject matter prohibited by the applicable Advertising Policy shall not be displayed.

Political advertising, if permitted under an individual Participating Agency's Advertising Policy, shall be administered in accordance with that policy and all applicable legal requirements.

The Contractor shall not display any advertising until all required approvals have been obtained from the applicable Participating Agency.

2. Existing Advertising Contracts and Transition

To facilitate an orderly transition between advertising contractors, the successful proposer shall agree to accept assignment, if applicable, from SCTA or an individual Participating Agency, or its designated nominee, of advertising contracts that are in effect immediately prior to the commencement date of the resulting Agreement.

For advertising contracts assigned to the Contractor, the Contractor shall pay the applicable Participating Agency or its designated nominee a commission equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the advertising revenues generated from such assigned contracts, unless otherwise established in the resulting Agreement.

The Contractor shall cooperate fully with SCTA, the Participating Agencies, and any outgoing advertising contractor to ensure an orderly transition of existing advertising accounts, contracts, artwork, advertising schedules, and other information necessary to continue the advertising program without unnecessary disruption.

Upon expiration or termination of the Agreement, if the Agreement is not renewed or extended and the incumbent Contractor is not awarded a successor agreement, the outgoing

Contractor may be entitled to compensation equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the value of advertising contracts in force as of the termination date, for a period not to exceed twelve

(12) months, subject to the terms and conditions of the resulting Agreement.

The Contractor shall provide SCTA and/or the applicable Participating Agency with a current listing of all active advertising contracts upon request and, at a minimum, upon expiration or termination of the Agreement.

3. Vehicle Access, Installation, Removal, and Maintenance

All installation, removal, maintenance, inspection, and other Contractor activities shall be performed in a manner that does not interfere with the normal operations of SCTA or any Participating Agency.

The Contractor shall coordinate all vehicle access and work activities with the applicable Agency representative.

Each Participating Agency will provide reasonable access to its vehicles and facilities at times determined by that Agency based upon operational requirements. No Participating Agency shall be required to remove a vehicle from revenue service solely for the purpose of installing, maintaining, repairing, or removing advertising.

The Contractor shall provide the applicable Participating Agency with at least seventy-two

(72) hours' advance notice before entering Agency property to perform advertising-related work. The notice shall identify:

• The date and anticipated time of the work;

• The location where the work will be performed;

• The nature of the work;

• The number of vehicles involved; and

• The specific vehicle numbers, if known or required.

If the Contractor requires access to a specific vehicle or group of vehicles, the Contractor shall submit a request to the applicable Participating Agency for vehicle availability. The Agency will advise the Contractor whether the requested vehicle(s) can be made available based upon operational requirements.

Contractor personnel shall comply with all applicable Agency safety, security, access-control, environmental, and facility requirements.

4. Advertising Work and Storage Areas

Each Participating Agency may provide up to 200 square feet of work and/or storage space at a designated bus storage or operating facility, subject to availability and the operational requirements of that Agency.

Any space provided to the Contractor shall be used solely for purposes related to the performance of the resulting Agreement unless otherwise authorized in writing by the applicable Participating Agency.

The Contractor shall maintain all Agency-provided work and storage areas in a clean, orderly, safe, and presentable condition.

The Contractor shall promptly remove obsolete, damaged, expired, or unusable advertising materials and shall remove all Contractor-owned materials, equipment, and property upon expiration or termination of the Agreement.

5. Illustrated, Full-Wrap, and Specialty Advertising

Each Participating Agency may permit the use of illustrated buses, partial wraps, full wraps, or other specialty advertising treatments, subject to the prior written approval of the applicable Agency.

Each Participating Agency retains sole discretion regarding whether a particular vehicle may be used for specialty advertising and whether a proposed advertising concept, design, material, or installation method is acceptable.

Prior to production or installation, the Contractor shall submit the proposed advertising artwork, design, installation specifications, materials, and other information requested by the applicable Participating Agency for review and approval.

Unless otherwise approved in writing by the applicable Agency:

• The front or nose of the bus shall not be covered;

• The first curbside passenger window adjacent to the front entrance door shall remain uncovered;

• Emergency exits, safety equipment, lights, mirrors, cameras, destination signs, identification numbers, accessibility equipment, doors, ventilation systems, or other required vehicle components shall not be obstructed; and

• Required vehicle markings and regulatory information shall remain visible.

The Contractor acknowledges that SCTA and the Participating Agencies cannot guarantee that an illustrated or wrapped bus will operate on a particular route or remain assigned to a particular route or service.

The Contractor shall be responsible for any damage to a vehicle resulting from the installation, maintenance, or removal of advertising materials.

Prior to installation of any full or partial wrap or other specialty advertising treatment, the Contractor shall provide a $10,000 bond, letter of credit, insurance-backed guarantee, escrow, or other financial guarantee acceptable to the applicable Participating Agency for each proposed wrapped vehicle.

The Contractor shall restore the vehicle to the condition existing immediately prior to installation, ordinary wear and tear excepted, upon removal of the advertising.

Alternative proposals for protecting SCTA and the Participating Agencies against damage caused by specialty advertising installation or removal will be considered, provided that the proposed alternative provides an equivalent or greater level of protection.

6. Agency and Partnership Advertising

Each Participating Agency reserves the right to designate and reserve advertising space on its vehicles for Agency-sponsored advertising, public information campaigns, governmental programs, community partnerships, public service announcements, emergency communications, or other purposes approved by the applicable Agency.

Unless otherwise identified in the Proposal Form or resulting Agreement, each Participating Agency may reserve up to five (5) exterior advertising spaces on its vehicles for such purposes.

Reserved advertising spaces shall not be included in the Contractor's available advertising inventory or revenue calculations unless otherwise authorized in writing by the applicable Participating Agency.

SCTA, SRTA, LT, and LCTA each reserve the right to modify the number or location of reserved advertising spaces based upon their individual operational, communications, or partnership needs.

The Contractor shall coordinate the use of reserved advertising spaces with the applicable Agency representative and shall install, maintain, and remove Agency-provided materials when requested, provided such work is included within the scope of the resulting Agreement.

7. Advertising Inventory and Vehicle Availability

The Contractor shall maintain an accurate inventory of all advertising positions available on the fleets and facilities of SCTA and the Participating Agencies.

Advertising inventory may include, as applicable:

• Exterior advertising panels;

• Interior advertising panels;

• King-size or equivalent exterior advertising positions;

• Full-side advertising;

• Rear advertising;

• Interior cards and panels;

• Specialty advertising;

• Full or partial vehicle wraps;

• Transit shelter advertising; and

• Other advertising opportunities approved by the applicable Participating Agency.

Neither SCTA nor any Participating Agency guarantees any minimum number of advertising spaces, vehicles, routes, facilities, impressions, ridership levels, advertising contracts, or advertising revenues.

Advertising inventory may change throughout the term of the Agreement due to fleet changes, vehicle downtime, maintenance requirements, service changes, vehicle replacement or retirement, safety requirements, or other operational considerations.

8. Advertising Materials and Vehicle Condition

All advertising materials shall be of professional quality and suitable for the intended application.

The Contractor shall use materials and installation methods that are appropriate for transit vehicle use and compatible with the applicable vehicle surfaces.

The Contractor shall ensure that all advertising materials can be removed without unreasonable damage to Agency vehicles or facilities.

The Contractor shall inspect advertising installations periodically and shall promptly correct or remove advertising that is damaged, peeling, detached, faded, improperly installed, or otherwise presents an unacceptable appearance or safety concern.

The applicable Participating Agency may require the Contractor to remove or correct an advertising display that creates a safety concern, violates the applicable Advertising Policy, damages Agency property, or otherwise fails to meet the requirements of the resulting Agreement.

9. Advertising Revenue and Reporting

The Contractor shall be responsible for the collection and accounting of all advertising revenues generated under the resulting Agreement.

The Contractor shall maintain complete and accurate records for each SCTA operation and each Participating Agency, including:

• Advertiser name;

• Advertising contract;

• Contract term;

• Advertising location and vehicle or facility;

• Advertising rate;

• Gross advertising revenue;

• Applicable commissions or revenue-sharing amounts;

• Installation and removal dates;

• Amounts collected; and

• Other information reasonably requested by SCTA or the applicable Participating Agency.

Revenue reporting shall clearly identify advertising activity and revenues attributable to each participating transit system.

The Contractor shall provide periodic revenue and activity reports in the format and frequency established in the resulting Agreement.

Each Participating Agency shall have the right, upon reasonable notice, to review and audit records relating to advertising activities and revenues generated on its vehicles, shelters, and facilities.

10. Compliance with Agency Policies

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable Advertising Policies, operating rules, safety requirements, insurance requirements, and other provisions of the resulting Agreement for SCTA, SRTA, LT, and LCTA.

Where a conflict exists between the Contractor's advertising practices and the policy or operational requirements of an individual Participating Agency, the applicable Agency's Advertising Policy and the terms of the resulting Agreement shall govern with respect to advertising displayed on that Agency's vehicles, shelters, or facilities.

The Contractor shall ensure that all advertisers understand that acceptance of an advertising contract does not guarantee final approval of advertising content or continued display of the advertisement if the advertising is subsequently determined to violate the applicable Advertising Policy, the resulting Agreement, or applicable law.

11. Direct Agency Advertising Agreements

Notwithstanding any other provision of this RFP or resulting Contract, the Transit Agency reserves the right to independently negotiate and enter into advertising, sponsorship, or promotional agreements with private entities for advertising on one (1) or more Agency-owned transit buses.

Such agreements may include, but are not limited to, full-bus wraps, partial wraps, exterior advertising, interior advertising, vehicle sponsorships, promotional campaigns, or other forms of advertising approved by the Transit Agency.

Advertising agreements entered into directly by the Transit Agency shall not be subject to the

Contractor's standard advertising commission, revenue-sharing arrangement, or minimum revenue requirements unless specifically agreed to in writing by the Transit Agency.

The Contractor shall reasonably cooperate with the Transit Agency and any Agency-approved advertiser in implementing such advertising agreements, including coordination of artwork, installation, removal, maintenance, and restoration of the vehicle.

The Transit Agency retains sole authority to determine whether a proposed advertiser, advertising campaign, sponsorship, or promotional agreement is acceptable under the Transit Agency's applicable advertising policy and governing requirements.

C. BUS SHELTER ADVERTISING SERVICES

1. Identification and Management of Existing Bus Shelters

The Participating Agencies currently have bus shelters with advertising display panels located throughout their respective service areas. The Contractor shall be responsible for the marketing, sale, installation, removal, management, and cleaning of advertising displayed at participating bus shelters, subject to the terms of the Agreement and each applicable Agency’s Advertising Policy.

a. South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) – SCTA currently has approximately 64 bus shelters with advertising display panels, consisting of approximately 36 shelters in Berks County and 28 shelters in Lancaster County. A listing of the existing shelters is provided in Exhibits B and C. The Contractor shall be responsible for the sale, installation, removal, management, and cleaning of advertising displayed at these shelters. Compensation and treatment of existing advertising contracts shall be addressed in accordance with the Agreement.

b. Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority (SRTA) – SRTA currently has approximately 30 bus shelters with advertising display panels located within its service area, as identified in Exhibit D.

c. LCTA – LCTA currently has approximately 20 bus shelters with advertising display panels located within its service area, as identified in Exhibit E.

The quantities identified above are provided for informational and planning purposes only and are not a guarantee of a minimum number of shelters, advertising locations, advertising impressions, or revenue opportunities. Shelter locations and quantities may change during the term of the Agreement due to construction, replacement, relocation, service changes, municipal requirements, property availability, funding, maintenance considerations, or other operational needs.

The Participating Agencies and Contractor may jointly identify potential locations for future bus shelters and advertising opportunities. Future locations shall be evaluated in coordination with the applicable Agency, Contractor, municipality, property owner, and other governmental entities as appropriate. Consideration may include, but shall not be limited to, ridership, site suitability, pedestrian and ADA accessibility, traffic and roadway conditions, safety, visibility, utility availability, property ownership, municipal and PennDOT requirements, permitting, maintenance responsibilities, revenue potential, and Title VI/environmental justice considerations.

2. Shelter Design and Procurement

The Participating Agencies may replace, modify, relocate, or add bus shelters during the term of the Agreement. The applicable Agency shall determine the appropriate shelter design based on operational requirements, site conditions, availability, procurement requirements, cost, maintenance considerations, accessibility, aesthetics, and other Agency needs.

New or replacement shelters may include advertising display panels, lighting or solar lighting, seating, trash receptacles, accessible boarding and pedestrian areas, and other amenities determined appropriate by the applicable Agency.

Each Agency shall be responsible for procuring new or replacement shelters in accordance with its applicable procurement requirements. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, the applicable Agency shall retain ownership of the shelter structures, advertising display cases, foundations, pads, seating, trash receptacles, electrical or solar infrastructure, and other Agency-owned shelter components.

3. Installation of Shelters with Advertising Display Panels

a. Shelter Installation

The applicable Participating Agency will generally be responsible for arranging the installation of new transit shelters at locations jointly evaluated and approved by the Agency and Contractor.

The applicable Participating Agency will coordinate the acquisition of necessary property rights and obtain required approvals from property owners, municipalities, PennDOT, and other governmental or regulatory entities, as applicable.

The Contractor shall provide information and reasonable assistance requested by the applicable Participating Agency in connection with municipal, PennDOT, property-owner, or other approval processes, particularly information relating to advertising display requirements, dimensions, visibility, lighting, electrical requirements, and advertising-related components.

The Contractor shall not independently install a transit shelter or advertising display structure without the prior written authorization of the applicable Participating Agency.

b. Electrical Service and Advertising Display Lighting

The applicable Participating Agency will generally be responsible for coordinating the installation of required electrical service from the local utility when electrical service is required for the advertising display or shelter.

The applicable Participating Agency will be responsible for installation costs associated with providing electrical service to the shelter unless otherwise specified in the resulting Agreement.

Illumination of an advertising display shall be subject to the availability of electrical service or an approved alternative power source, including solar power where applicable.

Unless otherwise provided in the resulting Agreement, the applicable Participating Agency shall be responsible for the ongoing utility costs associated with electricity used to illuminate advertising displays.

The Contractor shall be responsible for the proper operation, maintenance, and replacement of advertising display components for which the Contractor is specifically assigned responsibility under the resulting Agreement.

4. Maintenance of Shelters and Advertising Display Panels

Unless otherwise specifically assigned to the Contractor in the resulting Agreement, the applicable Participating Agency shall be responsible for the general maintenance of the transit shelter structure and surrounding area.

Agency maintenance responsibilities may include:

• Periodic cleaning of the shelter;

• Maintenance of the shelter structure;

• Cleaning of the immediate surrounding area;

• Emptying of trash receptacles owned or maintained by the Agency;

• Repair or replacement of damaged shelter panels;

• Repair of vandalism to the shelter structure;

• Maintenance of shelter seating; and

• Maintenance of electrical or lighting systems owned and operated by the Agency.

The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining the advertising display areas associated with advertisements sold by the Contractor.

Contractor responsibilities shall include, as applicable:

• Cleaning advertising display cases;

• Replacing damaged advertising materials;

• Removing obsolete or expired advertisements;

• Repairing or replacing Contractor-provided advertising display components;

• Maintaining the appearance of advertising displays; and

• Promptly reporting damage, vandalism, or maintenance issues to the applicable Participating Agency.

The Contractor shall promptly notify the applicable Participating Agency of any condition involving the shelter that may create a safety hazard or require Agency maintenance.

5. Advertising Displays

a. Advertising Content

All advertising displays shall comply with the Advertising Policy of the applicable Participating Agency and shall be subject to any required Agency review and approval.

Advertising shall be of professional quality and shall not be displayed if it violates applicable law, the resulting Agreement, or the applicable Advertising Policy.

Advertising for firearms, alcohol, tobacco products, or other products or services prohibited under the applicable Advertising Policy shall not be permitted.

Political advertising, if permitted by the applicable Participating Agency's Advertising Policy, shall be administered in a fair, impartial, and viewpoint-neutral manner and in accordance with applicable law.

Any advertising display determined by the applicable Participating Agency to violate the Advertising Policy or the resulting Agreement shall be removed or corrected by the Contractor promptly upon notification.

b. Appearance and Compatibility with Surroundings

The Contractor shall demonstrate an understanding of the importance of maintaining the aesthetic appearance of transit shelters and their surrounding environments.

Advertising displays shall be professionally designed, produced, and installed and shall be appropriate for the physical characteristics and general character of the location in which they are displayed.

The Contractor shall take reasonable care to ensure that advertising displays do not detract from the appearance, accessibility, safety, or functionality of the transit shelter.

The applicable Participating Agency may request that a specific product, service, advertisement, or advertising campaign not be displayed at a particular shelter when reasonably necessary because of the shelter's location, surrounding land use, community considerations, safety concerns, applicable policy, or other legitimate operational considerations.

c. Expiration and Removal of Advertising

Advertising containing date-sensitive information shall be removed within ten (10) calendar days following the expiration of the advertised event, promotion, offer, or other date-sensitive message.

The Contractor shall promptly replace expired, damaged, vandalized, faded, or otherwise unacceptable advertising materials.

The Contractor shall not allow vacant advertising display cases to remain in an unprofessional or unsightly condition for an unreasonable period.

d. Advertising Terms and Conditions

The Contractor shall comply with Paragraph 7 of the Sample Agreement, as well as all other applicable advertising terms and conditions contained in the RFP, and resulting Agreement.

D. REVENUE, PAYMENTS AND REPORTS

1. Revenue Proposal

The successful Contractor shall compensate each Participating Agency for the right to market and sell advertising on its vehicles, transit shelters, and other approved advertising locations in accordance with the financial terms contained in the Contractor's proposal and the resulting Agreement.

The proposal shall clearly identify the proposed financial arrangement for each Participating Agency:

• SCTA;

• SRTA;

• LT; and

• LCTA.

Depending upon the requirements identified in the Proposal Form, the Participating Agencies may consider:

• A percentage of gross advertising revenues;

• A guaranteed minimum annual payment;

• A combination of a guaranteed minimum payment and a percentage of revenues above the guaranteed amount;

• A fixed rental or concession payment; or

• Another clearly defined revenue arrangement proposed by the Contractor and acceptable to the applicable Participating Agency.

For purposes of calculating revenue sharing, any consideration received by the Contractor in lieu of cash payment for advertising space, including barter or in-kind consideration, shall be accounted for at its fair retail market value unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the applicable Participating Agency.

The Contractor shall clearly identify in its revenue proposal:

• Projected annual gross advertising sales;

• Proposed percentage of gross advertising revenues payable to each Participating Agency;

• Proposed minimum guaranteed payment, if applicable;

• Proposed payment methodology;

• Proposed payment schedule;

• Any exclusions or deductions proposed by the Contractor;

• Proposed revenue-sharing arrangement for illustrated, full-wrap, or specialty buses;

and

• Any separate revenue arrangement proposed for transit shelter advertising.

The financial proposal shall be presented separately for each Participating Agency.

2. Payment Schedule

The Contractor shall include a proposed payment schedule in its proposal.

The Participating Agencies prefer monthly payments based upon actual advertising revenues, although quarterly payments may be considered if clearly identified in the Contractor's proposal and accepted by the applicable Agency.

If quarterly payments are proposed, the payment periods shall correspond with calendar-year quarters unless otherwise approved by the applicable Participating Agency.

All payments shall be accompanied by a revenue statement identifying the advertising activity and revenues upon which the payment is based.

3. Accounting and Reports

Each Participating Agency shall receive an individual accounting of advertising sold on its vehicles, transit shelters, and other advertising locations on at least a monthly basis.

Monthly reports shall, at a minimum, identify:

• Advertiser;

• Advertising location;

• Vehicle or shelter identification number, where applicable;

• Type of advertising;

• Contract start and expiration dates;

• Gross advertising revenue;

• Applicable commissions or revenue share;

• Amount payable to the Agency; and

• Other information reasonably requested by the applicable Participating Agency.

Upon request, the Contractor shall provide copies of advertising contracts, insertion orders, invoices, or other documentation supporting reported advertising revenues.

The Contractor shall maintain complete and accurate records relating to advertising sales and revenues for the duration of the Agreement and for the period required by applicable law and the resulting Agreement.

Each Participating Agency shall have the right to audit records relating to advertising sold on its vehicles, shelters, and facilities upon reasonable notice.

E. LENGTH OF CONTRACT

1. Contract Term

The resulting Agreement for exterior and interior bus advertising and transit shelter advertising shall have a base term of two (2) years, with the option for three (3) additional one-year extensions, subject to mutual written agreement between the applicable parties and the continued availability of funding and satisfactory Contractor performance.

The maximum potential contract term shall therefore be five (5) years.

The actual commencement date shall be established in the final Agreement and shall be based upon completion of the procurement process, contract execution, required approvals, and the transition schedule established by SCTA and the Participating Agencies.

The Authorities make no guarantee that all available extension options will be exercised.

III. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

A. SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Request for Proposals will be received electronically via Penn Bid at https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com/ until 2:00 p.m. prevailing time, Thursday, November 5, 2026.

Any proposal received after the stated deadline will be rejected in accordance with the applicable procurement requirements.

B. OVERVIEW OF PROPOSAL

Proposers shall provide all information requested in the RFP.

Proposers may submit additional supporting material as exhibits when necessary to clarify or enhance their proposal. Proposals should provide complete, concise, well-organized documentation. All exhibits and attachments shall be clearly identified and referenced within the proposal.

SCTA and the Participating Agencies are concerned with the quality, completeness, and relevance of the response rather than the quantity of material submitted.

Proposers are responsible for carefully reviewing the entire RFP and addressing each applicable requirement completely.

Proposers should identify any proprietary or confidential information in accordance with applicable Pennsylvania law and the procedures established in the RFP. Designation of information as confidential or proprietary does not guarantee that the information will be exempt from disclosure under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law or other applicable law.

Upon submission, proposals become the property of SCTA and/or the applicable Participating Agencies and will not be returned, regardless of the disposition of the RFP, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Proposals shall remain valid for the period specified in the RFP. Unless otherwise stated, proposals are expected to remain valid for at least ninety (90) days following the proposal submission deadline.

C. PROPOSAL CONTENT

Proposals shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

1. Firm Information

Firm name, business address, primary contact person, telephone number, email address, and other identifying information requested by the RFP.

2. Project Understanding

A written summary demonstrating the proposer's understanding of the project, including the nature and scope of the advertising services requested by SCTA, SRTA, LT, and LCTA.

The proposer shall describe its proposed approach to managing a multi-agency transit advertising program and coordinating advertising activities across multiple service areas.

3. Firm Qualifications and Financial Capacity

A description of the firm, including:

• Company history;

• Ownership;

• Size and organizational structure;

• Areas of specialty;

• Experience in transit advertising;

• Financial capacity to perform the services;

• Relevant licenses and registrations; and

• Evidence of required insurance or ability to obtain the required insurance.

4. Experience and Qualifications

A statement describing the firm's qualifications and ability to perform the requested services.

The proposer shall describe its philosophy and approach to transit advertising sales and provide information regarding its experience maximizing advertising revenue while complying with public transit agency advertising policies.

The proposer shall identify any legal actions, claims, defaults, or judgments against the firm within the past five (5) years involving failure to make payments, failure to perform required services, breach of an advertising concession agreement, or other materially similar matters.

5. Organization and Personnel

An organization chart and biographies and/or resumes of the principal individuals assigned to perform services under the Agreement.

The proposer shall identify:

• Staff assigned to the project;

• Positions held within the firm;

• Relevant advertising sales experience;

• Local sales representation;

• Account management personnel;

• Production and installation personnel; and

• Any subcontractors proposed for use.

The proposer shall identify and describe the role of any subcontractors, including any proposed DBE subcontractors.

6. Financial Proposal

The financial terms of the proposed Agreement shall be clearly stated.

The proposal shall include:

• Proposed revenue percentage payable to each Participating Agency;

• Proposed minimum guaranteed payment, if applicable;

• Proposed payment methodology;

• Proposed payment schedule;

• Proposed revenue split for illustrated, full-wrap, and specialty buses;

• Proposed financial arrangement for transit shelter advertising; and

• Any other proposed financial terms.

Financial terms shall be presented individually for SCTA, SRTA, LT, and LCTA.

7. References and Similar Contracts

A list of current and past contracts within the previous five (5) years involving similar advertising concession or transit advertising services.

For each contract, provide:

• Name of contracting entity;

• Type and scope of service;

• Address;

• Contact person;

• Telephone number;

• Email address;

• Contract term;

• Size of the transit system or advertising program; and

• Approximate annual advertising revenue, if permitted to disclose.

8. Local Sales Representation

A statement describing the availability of local sales representation and the proposer's ability to provide timely in-person service to the participating transit agencies and their respective service areas.

9. Proposed Contract Revisions

Proposers may identify proposed revisions to the terms and conditions contained in the Sample Agreement.

Any proposed revision shall be clearly identified, explained, and submitted in sufficient detail for SCTA and the Participating Agencies to evaluate.

10. FTA and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Requirements

The proposer shall review Attachment A – FTA and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Third Party Contract Provisions and shall include all certificates and certifications specifically identified in the RFP as required to be submitted with the proposal.

All required certifications shall be properly completed and signed by an authorized representative of the proposer.

The successful Contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and other applicable federal, state, and local requirements incorporated into the resulting Agreement.

• Certificate 1 — Non-Collusion Statement (Required).

• Certificate 2 — Commonwealth Non-Discrimination/Sexual Harassment Clause (Required).

• Certificate 3 — Lobbying Certificate (Include if contract/subcontract exceeds $100,000).

• Certificate 4-1 — Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification (Required).

• Certificate 4-2 — Affidavit of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.

• Certificate 5 — Debarment, Suspension, and Other Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion (Required for contracts/subcontracts over $25,000).

• Certificate 6 — Contractor Integrity (Required).

• Certificate 7 — Federal Changes Acknowledgement (Required).

• Certificate 8 — Access to Records Certification (Required).

• Certificate 9 — Certification of Lower-Tier Participants Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion (Required).

• Certificate 10 — Prohibited Telecommunications Equipment or Services Certification (Required).

11. The proposal shall be signed by an official authorized to bind the offer.

D. SCHEDULE

The following is the expected schedule of activities associated with this RFP:

1. Request for Proposals Advertised October 2, 2026

2. Deadline for Receipt of Questions October 15, 2026

3. Release of Last Addendum October 21, 2026

4. Proposals Due November 5, 2026

(2:00 PM prevailing time)

5. Interviews with Selected Firms (if needed) November 11-12, 2026

6. Award of Contract (scheduled) November/December 2026

No pre-proposal meeting is scheduled.

IV. GENERAL CONDITIONS

A. CONTRACT: Following the selection of a qualified firm to perform the bus advertising services, a contract for advertising services will be negotiated with each transit authority listed in this RFP. Once the negotiated contract is accepted by the parties, the selected firm shall within ten (10) days deliver to Authority in the form negotiated the Contract duly executed and its execution duly proved.

A sample of the Contract to be signed between the Authority and Contractor is included in the RFP. The sample Contract included is based on the executed contract between the previous contractor and SCTA.

Among other mutually agreed upon terms and conditions, the proposal should address and the contract include the following:

1. AUTHORITY shall be provided at no cost a minimum of 120 linear inches of interior space for use by each transit authority for authority purposes and shall be given the right to utilize any exterior space which is vacant and/or not under contract.

2. AUTHORITY shall have the right to remove or refuse any advertising that is objectionable to AUTHORITY or the community it serves if it deems the refusal or removal to be in AUTHORITY’s best interest.

3. The proposal shall include a provision to address the expansion of AUTHORITY’s fleet and services it provides.

4. Upon request, the Contractor shall provide to each Authority a monthly statement of advertisers showing the amounts invoiced and revenues received for their Authority, plus a listing by bus of advertisers posted. The Authority reserves the option of requesting the Contractor to provide a report of the advertising revenue received on a vehicle basis in order to comply with the reporting requirements established by the federal government.

B. LATE PROPOSALS: No late proposals will be accepted or considered. SCTA will not be responsible for late postal delivery service nor will postmark dates be considered in honoring proposals. Late proposals will be returned unopened and unread.

C. QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS: Any questions concerning the RFP shall be directed to:

D. ADDENDA: Any interpretations of this RFP and any supplemental instructions will be in the form of a written Addendum which will be forwarded to all prospective firms or agencies on record no later than the close of business on Thursday, October 21, 2026. No interpretation of the meaning of the specifications or other contract documents will be made to proposers orally. Every request for such interpretation, including questions, clarifications or requests for changes, shall be submitted in PennBid All addenda shall become part of the contract documents and must be reflected in the proposal submitted. All addenda will be issued to proposers of record. It is likely SCTA will compile and respond to all the questions or requests received over a short period of time. This approach means more than one addenda may be issued with the last addendum issued in accordance with the timeline described above. PROPOSERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH AND

USE THE ADDENDA PROCESS FOR RECEIVING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AND

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE RFP.

E. DISCLAIMER: SCTA shall not assume any costs for the preparation of the proposal.