City_of_Boston_Advertising_Content_Policy.pdf

This is an Advertising Content Policy document for the City of Boston related to its Coordinated Street Furniture Program (CSFP). The City of Boston is seeking a qualified contractor to manage, maintain, expand, and modernize an advertising-supported street furniture program comprising bus shelters, public toilets, information panels, digital displays, benches, and trash receptacles across the city's streetscapes. The existing inventory includes 281 bus shelters, 106 city information panels, 47 digital urban panels, 42 telephone pillars, 6 automated public toilets, and approximately 480 trash and recycling receptacles. The contractor must refurbish existing shelters, convert approximately 100 shelters to digital advertising, and expand bus shelter coverage to approximately 50% of Boston's 2,000+ bus stops by adding 500 new shelters over the contract term. Baseline program elements specify targets of 200 refurbished shelters, 100 new standard shelters, 200 new digital-display shelters, and 100 micro-shelters. A pre-proposal Q&A conference call is scheduled for September 23, 2026, with proposals due November 4, 2026. The contract term is ten years with a seamless transition required following the current contract's expiration on May 1, 2027.

The contractor bears all capital and operating costs repaid through CSFP advertising revenue under a revenue-sharing arrangement. Liquidated damages of $200 to $500 per incident apply for maintenance non-compliance. Massachusetts prevailing wage requirements apply, with wage schedules effective August 28, 2026. The contractor must comply with advertising content policies that prohibit political, religious, tobacco, cannabis, and specified other content categories, with 24-hour removal required for non-compliant material. Bidders must submit separate technical and price proposals with sealed pricing evaluated only after technical review. The City encourages participation from small, local, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses (SMWVBE). The City retains ownership of all inventory at contract end. Compliance with ADA and PROWAG standards, utility coordination, permitting, and comprehensive financial and operational reporting are required. The primary contact is Sheila McCarthy at sheila.mccarthy@boston.gov.