DCKA-2026-A-0066_Att1.pdf

Question Number

Industry Question District Response

1 Please consider delaying the due date of the proposals to September 30, 2026, in order to permit proposers adequate time to prepare a comprehensive and thoughtful response to this important RFP.

See Item #2 of this Amendment.

2 Please provide current franchisee’s revenue history for 2025 and six months ended 2026.

See item # 3 of this Amendment.

3 Will the District permit art installations as filler for unsold space? Art may be displayed only with District approval and in accordance with Sections C.7.17.3 and C.7.18. Unsold space may be used for District-approved public service announcements, community, art, cultural, educational, or similar content, but may not be used for unapproved art installations.

4 Please describe the areas which are designated “Sensitive Locations” and not permitted Commercial Advertising as noted in Section C.7.1.4.

Sensitive Locations include the Old Georgetown Historic District and other historic or sensitive locations designated by DDOT, including locations identified in Attachment J.4, Item 13, and locations subject to applicable historic-area guidelines. Under Section C.7.1.4, up to 10% of the active shelter inventory may be designated Non-Commercial.

5 Can shelters in “Sensitive Locations” display public messaging or art? Yes, subject to prior District approval and all applicable historic-area or Sensitive Location guidelines. Non-Commercial Shelters may not display information, unless prior aproval is obtained from the Old Georgetown Board of Commission of Fine Arts. Advertising of any kind is prohibited at those Shelters.

6 In connection with Section C.7.1.6 “Distance from Other Advertising”, please indicate what advertising contracts will predate the agreement to be signed under this RFP and please provide the material terms of such programs.

The pre-existing advertising program identified by the District is the Capital Bikeshare Program. The current Capital Bikeshare contract is available at https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/details?id=Q1c5NzIxM8KmQmFzZS BQZXJpb2Q%3D&hash=r9rep87pnvw4me4u.

7 In Section C.7.1.6 the RFP notes that no third party may “place advertising larger than 18 square feet on any free-standing structure on the Public Rights-of-Way except buildings of at least 250 square feet of floor area.” Please provide more details regarding the exception for advertising on buildings.

The parenthetical exception means that the 18-square-foot/60-foot restriction in Section C.7.1.6 does not apply to advertising on a building having at least 250 square feet of floor area. Such advertising remains subject to all other applicable laws, permits, and restrictions.

8 Under Section C.7.1.5 revenue generation is the priority, however, under Section C.7.2.6 equitable and fair distribution among the geographic areas must be ensured. Can this be reconciled by installing additional non-advertising locations that would provide service but include a panel for communication (either static or digital).

Yes, subject to District approval and the other Agreement requirements. The shelter distribution plan must balance equitable service across all eight Wards with revenue opportunities, and the active inventory must remain at least 90% Commercial and no more than 10% Non-Commercial under Sections C.7.3.1 and C.7.4.4. Any communications panel must comply with Sections C.7.17 and C.7.18.

9 Section C.7.2.1. notes that the existing shelter inventory will be transferred to the District, does the District intend to transfer them to the awardee of this RFP or maintain ownership?

The District will retain ownership. Under Section C.7.2.1, the incumbent's qualifying Structures become District property at expiration of the preceding agreement. The new Franchisee will receive access and possession necessary to operate, maintain, and advertise on the Shelters, but title will not be transferred to the Franchisee.

10 In connection with locations that are deemed “unsuitable or economically infeasible”, as referenced in Section C.7.3.1, would the District find a non-advertising, service-only shelter acceptable if the site cannot be abandoned?

A non-advertising, service-only Shelter may be allowed after review of the location and approval by DDOT on a case-by-case basis. The District retains final authority over site abandonment and the commercial or non-commercial designation under Sections C.7.3.1 and C.7.4.4.

11 Please confirm the transition period review referenced in Sections C7.3.3.2 and F.1.1.1:

a) will not be included in the initial 10 year term; and

b. will be the period of the program during which the (i) review of the condition of 735 shelters, (ii) eight community meetings and (iii) new designs to be commissioned for this program, will occur.

In accordance with Section F.1.1.1, the transition period will be negotiated and determined at award. Also note that the transition in activities (See also § C.8.1) are designed to be those that will not interfere with the incumbent vendor.

Attachment 1 – DCKA-2026-A-0066_Question & Answer Log

12 Section C.7.4.3 notes that Existing Shelters are not required to be replaced under this Agreement. However, Section C.7.3.3.2.5 notes that structures rated Level 1 (Unacceptable Condition) will require a full replacement. If the Franchisee must replace a Level 1 structure, will it count against the 100 New Shelter quotas referenced in Section 7.4.2? Likewise, if a Franchisee chooses to replace a Level 2 (Poor Condition) shelter in order to align with its standards, will such replacement count against the requirement to install shelters?

No in both cases. Replacing an Existing Shelter does not increase the active Shelter population. The New Shelter quantities in Section C.7.4.2 are intended to add active Shelter locations; replacement of a Level 1 or Level 2 Existing Shelter does not count toward those additions.

13 What proportion of the current inventory is connected to electricity? All Existing Shelters, with a few exceptions, are connected to a power source through either the electrical grid (approximately 69%) or solar power (approximately 31%). To the District's knowledge, the Existing Shelters are not connected to District-owned streetlights.

See also Attachment J.4 (“12. Inventory of Existing Shelters, Associated Equipment, and Condition Assessments”).

14 If the awardee has pre-existing shelter designs that meet the functionality, sustainability and revenue requirements of the New Shelter Designs, can they be used in the District even if they are already being used in other markets? And if not, what if there is a geographic distance of over 2,000 miles?

Yes. The solicitation does not prohibit use of a pre-existing design if it meets all requirements in Section C and receives all required approvals. The final New Shelter Design must also incorporate the District-specific Design Elements required by Section C.7.6.2.

15 Under Section C.7.6.4 six conception shelter designs must be created - as the new shelter design must be similar to the existing design, does the District require 6 separate concepts – is that intended to be six different styles or six different sizes of the same style?

Section C.7.6.4 requires six distinct conceptual design alternatives, not merely six sizes of one concept. Each concept should show the overall aesthetic treatment in standard and narrow configurations and in multiple-bay length scenarios. The concepts will inform DDOT's selection of one New Shelter Design for development into ready-for-construction plans.

16 As the bus shelter seating is required to prevent reclining pursuant to Section 7.6.9.7, would the District approve a design that does not include seating but includes a leaning structure instead?

A leaning structure alone would not satisfy the current requirements.

Sections C.7.6.9.7 and C.7.6.9.16 require seating that prevents reclining and accommodates the stated minimum number of people. A leaning feature may be proposed as an additional feature or as part of a design alternative, subject to District approval, but the proposal must otherwise comply with the seating requirements.

17 Under Section C.7.6.9.8 the District reserves the right to name bus stops, may they be commercially sponsored?

No commercial sponsorship right is granted by Section C.7.6.9.8. The District reserves the exclusive right to name Bus Stops. Any commercial sponsorship would require separate express written authorization from the District and compliance with the Agreement's advertising requirements.

18 Under Section C.7.6.9.18 the Franchisee shall provide audio information for up to 5% of the new shelter locations each year, what is the District’s intention with the existing assets regarding audio information?

The specific requirement in Section C.7.6.9.18 applies to up to 5% of New Bus Shelter locations in each Agreement Year at locations specified by the District. The Agreement does not establish a separate mandatory retrofit percentage for Existing Shelters. Any retrofit of an Existing Shelter would be coordinated with and approved by the District.

19 Under Section C.7.9 the Franchisee shall coordinate the installation of real time bus information on the LED Equipment prep the DDOT/WMATA e-ink program – will this program have an audio component for visually impaired transit riders? And if so, is that intended to sync up with the audio components required in Section C.7.6.9.18?

The District does not have additional information confirming whether the DDOT/WMATA e-Paper program will include an audio component or synchronize with the audible-message systems required by Section C.7.6.9.18. The Franchisee must satisfy Section C.7.6.9.18 independently and coordinate any interface with DDOT and WMATA.

20 What process is in place with to ensure that cleared snow from shelters under Section C.7.13.3 is not plowed back into the shelters by the Department of Public Works/Department of Transportation as they clear the streets after the Franchisee has cleared that shelter/shelter area?

DPW is responsible for clearing the right of way. Depending on the duration and type of snow event, the Franchisee may be required to service stops more than one time during an event. The Franchisee remains responsible for snow removal as defined in Section C.7.13.

21 What is the definition of prolonged snowfall referenced in Section 7.13.3? The requirements for snow removal are located in § C.7.13. Offerors shall be capable of meeting the requirements across a variety of snowfall event types in terms of duration and magnitude.

22 C.7.17.6 notes that commercial advertising is permitted only on the downstream panel which seems to contradict the terms of C.7.17.1 which authorizes two panels?

There is a multitude of shelter configurations curently in operation, and the implementation of the referenced sections depends on the shelter configuration, location, and electricifcation. Any different placement requires advance written District authorization.

23 As there are a number of double-sided digital ad panels already in existence, is commercial advertising permitted on both panels?

See answer to question 22

24 Under Section 7.19.2 advertising copy must be submitted to the District for review prior to posting, without even addressing political and constitutional implications of the District as a government reviewing content, the digital reality of bookings which occur in very short timeframes combined with the interest of the District to maximize revenue, would the District consider permitting its Franchisee-agent/advertising expert to comply independently with the advertising guidelines agreed between these two parties and forgo the requirement to vet all advertising with the District prior to posting?

No. The District will retain the advertising review and approval requirement in Section C.7.19.2. The Franchisee must submit advertisements immediately upon receipt and before display and may not display an advertisement rejected by the District.

25 In connection with Section C.8.4, how is fair market value of future bookings calculated as part of gross revenues in the transition over to the awardee of the current concessionaire?

Generally, the fair market value determination for existing advertising agreements will be made between the incumbant and future franchisee.

26 In connection with the carryover contracts referenced in Section L.22.1, if it is an annual booking would the 15% apply for the full term?

Carryover contracts shall be negotiated in accordance with § L.22 and between the incumbant and the Franchisee.

27 Please clarify whether animation is permitted on the digital screens. Yes. Animation, including full-motion content, is permitted subject to the advertising policy and the District review and approval requirements in Section C.7.19.

28 Please specify the locations/areas that are designated as “Heat Sensitive”, as referenced in Section C.7.3.1. which itself references Attachment J.4, which does not appear to include “Heat Sensitive” locations.

All locations identified in Attachment J.4, Item 18 are the current Heat Sensitive lcoations.

29 Please provide the volume of passenger boardings from each Existing Shelter for 2025.

See the available WMATA bus-stop usage data issued with this Q&A. The data is maintained by bus stop and may require matching to the Shelter inventory; the District does not have a separate additional 2025 boarding dataset organized by Existing Shelter.

30 Please provide examples of the current applicable rates for electrical service charged to the current franchisee.

The District does not have this information. Section C.7.15.11 provides that the Franchisee is responsible for electrical-service costs and that applicable PEPCO service will use then-current commercial rates approved by the District of Columbia Public Service Commission.

31 Please confirm in the event of a termination referenced in Section I.19, that upon presenting the District with a Settlement Proposal as referenced in Section I.19.5 with the valuation detailed as per Section I.19.4, the District will be required to pay such amount to the franchisee.

A termination for convenience will be handled under Section I.19. The Contracting Officer will review the proposal and determine the amount, if any, due based on presented evidence, the documented costs and liabilities, allowed by Section I.19.5.

32 In the initial Bus Shelter Pre-Proposal presentation, there were suggested Gross Advertising Revenue - Annual GAM payments, with a starting GAM of $10,500,000, and increasing annually thereafter. Will the District consider bids with lower annual GAM payments, or is the District seeking bids at or above the proposed levels as outlined in the Bus Shelter Pre-Proposal presentation?

The proposed GAM payments shown in the pre-proposal presentation for this solicitation, DCKA-2026-A-0066, were for illustration purposes.

Offerors are required to propose a value for all green cells in Attachment 1, including the Proposed GAM Payments. Note that in accordance with Section G.2.3.1, the first GAM Payment in Agreement Year 1 shall be paid as a single lump sum in the amount of $3,000,000 to the District no later than 30 January 2027.

33 What type/configuration of bus shelters are required by the District as part of the additional bus shelters being proposed, to get up to the total number of 1,500 bus shelters, as outlined in the Bus Shelter Pre-Porposal presentation? Can the new bus shelters be all non-ad bus shelters, or are there requirements for a set number of printed advertising and/or digital advertising bus shelters?

All offerors shall include this information as part of the plans that are required by Section L.7. See also Section C for the requirements.

34 Can DDOT please provide the quarterly and annual revenue reports showing gross advertising revenue generated by the current operator between January 1, 2022, and July 31, 2026?

See the revenue history attachment issued with this Q&A for the available quarterly and annual gross advertising revenue information. The District does not have additional detail beyond the data provided.

35 Can DDOT please provide the quarterly and annual revenues paid to DDOT by the current operator over that same period?

See the revenue history attachment issued with this Q&A for the available quarterly and annual payments to the District. The District does not have additional detail beyond the data provided.

36 Can you provide revenues broken down by static/digital or location over the past six

(6) years?

The District does not have this information.

37 Please provide a comprehensive list of current District advertising contracts (e.g., Capital Bikeshare, kiosks) that may affect the exclusivity of ad rights granted under this Agreement.

Any current or future contract related to the Capital Bikeshare program. Link to current contract:

https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/details?id=Q1c5NzIxM8KmQmFzZS BQZXJpb2Q%3D&hash=r9rep87pnvw4me4u

Interactive Smart Kiosks that the District may determine to procure during the term are addressed separately in Section C.7.10.

38 C.7.1.6 (“Distance from other Advertising”) still limits third-party advertising to 18 square feet within a 60-foot radius of any Shelter, with an exception for pre-existing contracts such as Capital Bikeshare. This is likely to reduce this program’s ad revenue potential for the following reasons: the 60-foot radius is not restrictive enough, the 18-square-foot restriction still allows digital ad screens up to 75″, and existing programs like Capital Bikeshare are planning to add digital ad screens to their program. Given this assessment, would DDOT be willing to increase the restricted area, reduce the permitted size of third-party advertising, and/or restrict existing programs from advertising using digital media?

No. The District understands the concern but does not intend to increase the restricted radius, reduce the 18-square-foot threshold, or restrict the Capital Bikeshare Program's use of digital media through this Agreement.

39 Does the Franchisee's right under C.7.10 extend to Interactive Smart Kiosks (or any digital or interactive advertising kiosk) authorized in the Public Rights-of-Way by any means during the term — including by another District agency, by private permittee, or pursuant to Council legislation such as the Interactive Wayfinding Kiosk Act — or only to kiosks the District itself elects to procure?

The right of first refusal in Section C.7.10 applies when the District determines to procure Interactive Smart Kiosks under that Section and provides the required written notice. Advertising rights not specifically granted remain reserved to the District under Section C.7.1.7.

40 Is a digital or electronic advertising kiosk 18 square feet or smaller considered an "Interactive Smart Kiosk" under C.3? If not, will the District confirm whether such kiosks may carry commercial advertising in the ROW, and whether they are subject to any spacing or exclusivity protection relative to the Franchisee's Shelters?

A digital monitor is a Smart Kiosk if it meets the definition in Section C.3. At this time, Interactive Smart Kiosks are not included in this solicitation.

41 Will the District commit that, during the term, it will not grant, permit, or authorize any third party to place commercial advertising on any digital, electronic, or interactive kiosk located within a defined radius of a Shelter?

No. The District will not make an additional commitment beyond Sections C.7.1.6, C.7.1.7, and C.7.10. Section C.7.1.6 applies only to the stated third-party advertising larger than 18 square feet and includes exceptions for pre-existing structures and existing District contractual obligations.

42 If the District (or another authority) permits competing advertising kiosks that are not offered to the Franchisee under C.7.10, will the Guaranteed Annual Minimum be equitably adjusted to reflect the resulting loss of advertising inventory or revenue, notwithstanding C.7.1.9?

In accordance with Section G.2, the Guaranteed Annual Minimum payments shall be fixed.

43 Will the District (a) extend the 30-day response window in C.7.10.1.1 to at least 60 days; (b) convert the right of refusal to a right of first offer permitting the Franchisee to propose its own scope and terms; and (c) tie the 3-year installation deadline in C.7.10.1.2 to confirmed scope and any required District funding or permitting?

No, at this time the District is not entertaining changes to Section C.7.10.

44 The right-of-first-refusal mechanism for Interactive Smart Kiosks is new to this Agreement. Can DDOT provide an estimated timeline and expected scope/number of Smart Kiosk locations the District anticipates procuring during the base period, to help Offerors account for this in their proposals?

Interactive Smart Kiosks should not be included in the proposal response to this solicitation. The right of first refusal in Section C.7.10 applies when the District determines to procure Interactive Smart Kiosks under that Section and provides the required written notice.

45 Please confirm how the 18-sq-ft / 60-ft distance rule in C.7.1.6 is intended to interact with C.7.10 for digital and interactive kiosks, and whether digital displays are counted by physical size, screen size, or otherwise.

The 18-square-foot threshold in Section C.7.1.6 refers to the area of the advertising display or advertising face, not the total footprint of the kiosk or structure. Kiosks furnished by the Franchisee under Section C.7.10 are not competing third-party advertising subject to that spacing restriction; their revenue is governed by Section C.7.10.1.3.

46 Can DDOT please provide a list of the location of each individual advertising panel, including a notation of format (static, digital, etc.) and dimensions? Please include latitude and longitude.

See response to question #13. The District does not have additional information beyond the information provided in this Q&A.

47 The inventory lists provided within Attachment J.4 (“12. Inventory of Existing Shelters, Associated Equipment…”) appear to conflict across sheets — for example, differing counts of digital vs. static installations between tabs.

How should we interpret these conflicting lists and counts?

How should we interpret the various ‘status’ designations listed in the inventory file?

Attachment J.4 #12 is the most recent shelter inventory. The source files reflect different reporting dates and purposes, so their counts may differ as shelters are installed, relocated, removed, or reclassified. The District does not have additional information beyond the data provided in this Q&A.

48 Can DDOT please provide a list of all current WMATA bus stops that do not have bus shelters, including latitude and longitude?

A consolidated list is not currently available because of recent and ongoing changes to the WMATA bus network. See the available WMATA Better Bus Network Redesign routes and stops GIS files issued with this Q&A; those files contain the GIS elements for the current stops and routes.

49 C.7.13.3 requires that “the Franchisee shall remove all snow and ice from designated areas within 24 hours of the cessation of a snow event,” which remains unchanged from the prior agreement and is difficult to guarantee in practice. Would DDOT consider amending this to one of the following?

The Franchisee shall make all efforts to remove all snow and ice from designated areas within 24 hours of the cessation of a snow event, with the exception of unprecedented snow event(s).”

The Franchisee shall remove all snow and ice from key designated areas within 24 hours, and all designated areas within 72 hours of the cessation of a snow event, with the exception of unprecedented snow event(s). The District of Columbia and Franchisee shall mutually determine the quantity and locations of said ‘key’ designated areas.”

No. Snow removal within 24-hours of cessation is required in C.7.13.3.

However, a forecasted and verified event of eight inches or more triggers the planning process in Section C.7.13.3.1, which may require additional time to service the shelter locations based on the type of event.

50 Given the new partnership language in C.7.3.1, can DDOT describe the process and expected timeline for the District and Franchisee to jointly evaluate and finalize site selections, and the standard that will be applied when a Franchisee appeals a site as unsuitable or economically infeasible?

Site selection will occur through coordination between DDOT and the Franchisee as installation planning proceeds. A Franchisee that considers a site unsuitable or economically infeasible may submit a supported appeal for abandonment under Section C.7.3.1. DDOT will consider feasibility, equitable distribution among all eight Wards, Heat Sensitive Locations, transit needs, and high-traffic advertising opportunities. Unresolved disagreements will be escalated to the Contracting Officer for final determination. The timing will depend on the site and the information submitted.

51 Given that frequent removals or relocations are often tied to city development or unforeseen infrastructure work, has the District considered offering more flexibility in how these costs are recovered or amortized?

The allocation of relocation and removal costs is stated in Section C.7.5.

Third-party-requested work may be paid by the third party; the Franchisee bears costs up to the annual 2% threshold; and qualifying District-paid work above that threshold is handled through a separate contract under Section C.7.5.3.

52 Please provide the total number of static and digital ad screens deployed by year, starting with 2018.

The District does not have this information.

53 To help a respondent properly budget for replacing digital screens that are beyond their useful life, what is the current age of each installed digital screen?

The District does not have the installation date or current age of each digital screen. Digital-screen installations began in 2019, with replacements occurring as needed.

54 Can you provide the results of the most recent Condition Assessment for the existing shelters, as well as the results of completed condition assessments over the past six (6) years?

All condition-assessment information currently available to the District is included in Attachment J.4.

55 Can you provide an example of the current monthly narrative summary of inspection and cleanup operations referenced in C.7.11.10?

The District does not have this information.

56 Can you provide the past six (6) years of quarterly shelter parts inventory reports? The District does not have this information.

57 Can you provide the past six (6) years of procurement requests related to shelter parts?

The District does not have this information.

58 Can you provide a record of spare parts replaced historically over the past six (6) years?

The District does not have this information.

59 Will DDOT provide a standardized format or template for condition assessments and IMCDS entries?

No, the Franchisee will prepare these documents in its own format and meeting the requirements in Section C.

60 C.7.2.4 references an “Inventory of Existing Warehoused Parts and Supplies maintained by the incumbent vendor,” but this document does not appear to be included in the current attachments. Can DDOT provide this list?

The District does not have this information, but will provide the information outlined in § C.7.2.4 upon receipt.

61 Please provide existing shelter and spare part costs. The District does not have this information.

62 What is the estimated timeline for receiving final approvals from the Arts Commission and other District departments for shelter designs?

Approval timing varies by reviewing agency and by the completeness and complexity of the design submission, and the District cannot guarantee a fixed period. For planning context, the last design approval from the Commission of Fine Arts took approximately 30 days after being scheduled for review.

63 Are substitutions or deviations from the prescribed materials/designs allowed if equal or superior performance is demonstrated?

Any substitution or design deviation must be supported by sufficient descriptive information, comply with Sections C.7.6 and C.7.8, and receive all required approvals before use.

64 Can DDOT confirm the specific duration of the transition-in period, and will the incumbent vendor be contractually required to cooperate with the new Franchisee during that period?

See answer to Question 11

65 Can DDOT ensure that existing inventory activity data — including when, quantity, and what was replaced and/or repaired — over at least the past six (6) years is made available upon transition, per C.8?

No, the District does not have access to this data.

66 Will the warehoused assets be inspected and verified by DDOT before transfer, and will their condition be certified?

No.

67 Can you provide the address of the current storage facility for the warehoused parts?

The District does not have this information.

68 Per C.8.5, can DDOT list all software licenses and other DDOT-owned property that will and will not be made available upon transition?

The Franchisee will be required to integrate with CityWorks, use TOPS and various other District owned software in the performance of the requirements. The Franchisee will be given access to these systems.

69 Is there an established technical specification or support process for integrating with the District’s IMCDS and Cityworks API?

The Franchisee will provide the IMCDS (See § C.7.20). During the transition period, the Franchisee may assess its IMCDS system to determine the structure of the CityWorks API and work with the DDOT OCIO to establish the API.

70 Can DDOT please provide a different file format for “18. RESERVED (Priority Locations Listings).txt,” as this file has no content in DTAP?

The current solicitation Attachment J.4 item 18 is an excel spreadsheet entitled 18. Priority_Bus_Stops.

71 Can DDOT please provide a copy of the “Inventory of Existing Warehoused Parts and Supplies” document referenced in C.7.2.4?

The District does not have this information, but will provide the information outlined in § C.7.2.4 upon receipt.

72 Given that M.3.2 (Payments to District) is scored objectively using the TEA formula, can DDOT clarify how Factor 1 (Advertising and Revenue Narrative) under M.3.1 is evaluated independently, so that the same revenue and GAM assumptions are not effectively credited twice across both factors?

In general, Factor 1 evaluates the plans, data, assumptions, calculations, etc. behind the revenue sharing figures. Whereas, the Schedule of District Payments places a weighted value of the revenue sharing figures.

73 The Schedule of District Payments references a “District Required Minimum GAM” and “District Required Minimum Annual Revenue Sharing Rate.” Will respondents who propose GAM and/or revenue share percentages below these District-required minimums be deemed non-responsive?

Attachment J.1, Schedule of District Payments, does not list minimum amounts or percentages.

74 The Agreement requires a lump-sum first GAM payment of $3,000,000 due no later than January 30, 2027. Can DDOT confirm the anticipated Effective Date/Notice to Proceed date, and whether any adjustment to this due date would be considered if the Agreement is executed later than currently anticipated?

The District anticipates the base period of performance to begin on January 1, 2027.

75 The Agreement requires a $2,000,000 performance bond, $1,000,000 payment bond, and a substantial insurance program (including $5,000,000 umbrella and $2,000,000 environmental liability coverage) to be maintained from the outset.

Given that shelter deployment is phased over the term, would DDOT consider allowing bond/insurance limits to scale with the number of active/deployed shelters rather than requiring full limits from Day 1?

No. The District is not entertaining changes to the bond/insurance limits.

76 To support a compliant and competitive CBE Work Plan, can DDOT provide a list of currently certified CBEs with relevant experience in the trades likely required for this Program (e.g., concrete, glass/glazing, electrical, structural fabrication)?

Offerors are responsible for identifying and verifying eligible firms through the Department of Small and Local Business Development's public CBE search at: https://dcdslbd.my.salesforce-sites.com/public/.

Certifications must be current when proposals are submitted, and the CBE Work Plan must include the information required by Section M.4.3.2.

77 Given that the District makes no payments to the Franchisee at any point under this Agreement, and the Franchisee bears the full cost of design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance for the life of the Program, has DDOT considered any mechanism for sharing risk on costs driven by District-directed changes (e.g., design changes, relocation directives) outside the Franchisee's control?

The Agreement includes specific cost allocation for relocations and removals in Section C.7.5, including third-party payment and a separate District contract for qualifying work above the Franchisee's 2% annual threshold.

78 Each Bus Shelter is limited to no more than two (2) Advertising Digital Displays. Is this a fixed maximum, or would DDOT consider proposals that include a higher digital display count at a subset of high-traffic locations as part of a revenue-maximization strategy?

It is a fixed maximum. Sections C.7.1.2 and C.7.17.1 limit each Bus Shelter to no more than two Advertising Digital Displays. A different advertising panel configuration may be proposed for District consideration and approval, but it does not create authority to exceed the two-display limit.

79 Can the district share the attendee list from the July 27th Preproposal Conference the slides that were presented during the meeting?

Yes, see the attachments to this amendment.

80 If Proposers have any exceptions to specifics in the contract language, will there be an opportunity to negotiate or do these need to be provided at the time of proposal submission? If so, in what format would the District like to see exceptions?

It depends on exception, but please note § L.14 Disqualification, "Submittals which are qualified with conditional clauses, or alterations, or items not called for in the RFP documents, or irregularities of any kind are subject to disqualification at the sole discretion of the Contracting Officer."

81 Can the District please confirm the intended start date for the contract?

Recognizing the solicitation lists a due date of January 30, 2027 for the lump sum $3M payment, does that mean the contract is expected to commence on January 1, 2027?

The District anticipates the base period of performance to begin on January 1, 2027.

82 Historic advertising revenue is a critical component all bidders use when estimating revenue for a public street furniture advertising program like the one in this solicitation. It is also information that the incumbent already possesses. Despite attempts to FOIA this information from DDOT, it has not been provided to date. The quarterly average, high and low data that was provided in the previous solicitation is not a sufficient level of detail. In order to ensure fairness to all bidders, can the District please provide a historical breakdown of monthly revenue generated by the current advertising concessionaire by year for the system from January 2019 to July 2026, broken down by media format (static vs digital)?

See item # 3 of this Amendment. The District does not have further information beyond what is provided in this Amendment.

83 Can the District provide a list of the top 20 advertisers on the transit shelters for the past 5 years?

The District does not have this information.

84 What is the sales breakdown (ideally the specific amount or a specific percentage, but if not possible, an estimate) between national and local sales?

The District does not have a national-versus-local sales breakdown beyond the revenue information provided with this Q&A.

85 Have the digital shelters been sold via OOH programmatic exchanges (e.g. Vistar, Place Exchange, etc)? If so, how much revenue has historically come from programmatic advertising?

The District does not have this information.

86 Can the District provide the current rate card for existing advertising amenities? The District does not have this information.

87 L.22 Carryover Contracts: Are there currently advertising contracts that are scheduled into the anticipated new contract year? What is the value (i.e. amount of revenue) that these contracts currently represent?

The District currently does not have this information.

88 Attachment 12 Inventory of Shelters:

In order for bidders to more accurately assess the state of the current plant, can the District provide a timestamp for when each of the Photos in column H was taken? If this information is not available for each site, can the District provide a range of time for when these photos were taken?

Can the District update this list to note which of these locations are digital?

The District does not have additional information beyond Attachment J.4 (“12. Inventory of Existing Shelters, Associated Equipment, and Condition Assessments”).

89 Are there any union labor requirements associated with the installation or maintenance activities in this contract?

The Franchisee must comply with Section H.1 and all applicable labor laws and wage determinations. The District does have additional information beyond Section H.1.

90 In order for bidders to accurately assess the level of effort and costs for assuming operations of the existing digital displays, can the District please provide detailed technical specifications for existing digital shelters screens?

a. Screen size

b. Processor manufacturer

c. Processor type

d. Processor speed

e. Memory capacity

f. Operating systems and version

g. Hard drive/storage capacity

h. Display input(s) (eg HDMI)

i. Content management system

j. Remote diagnostic and management capabilities

k. Connectivity (e.g. LTE, modem, Wi-Fi, hardwired, etc.)

l. Installation date(s)

m. How many of the existing shelters are digital?

The District does not have the technical specifications for the digital screens. The available information is that the digital displays are approximately 75 inches high by 53 inches wide, with a live area of 1920 pixels high by 1080 pixels wide.

91 Can the District share what the typical per site monthly electrical costs are for the static shelters and for the digital shelters?

The District does not have this information.

92 Section C.7.16 Bus Map Program: do all existing shelters have a map case for this program? If so, can you please provide the sizing/specifications?

The District anticipates all shelters will have a map case by the start of the base period.

The standard bus shelter map window is 36”x42".

93 Please confirm whether offerors may submit proposed exceptions or requested revisions to the Franchise Agreement with their proposals. If contract exceptions may not be submitted with proposals, please confirm whether contract negotiations with the successful offeror will occur before award.

It depends on exception, but please note § L.14 Disqualification, "Submittals which are qualified with conditional clauses, or alterations, or items not called for in the RFP documents, or irregularities of any kind are subject to disqualification at the sole discretion of the Contracting Officer."

94 Attachment 12 provides panel-level location, shelter type, illumination status, DDOT ID, photographs and limited notes, and Attachment 13 identifies certain historic-area noncommercial shelters. Please provide a corrected and authoritative commencement inventory that reconciles these materials to the 735-shelter baseline and identifies, for each active shelter:

commercial or noncommercial status;

the number, type and dimensions of authorized advertising displays;

static or digital capability;

current operability and condition rating;

power configuration; and any site-specific advertising, zoning, historic or easement restrictions.

The source files provided reflect different reporting dates and purposes, so their counts may differ as shelters are installed, relocated, removed, or reclassified. In addition, in accordance with Sections C.7.3.2 and C.7.3.3, the Franchisee must independently verify the inventory and condition during transition. Any disagreement will be decided by the Contracting Officer.

95 Please clarify the number of independently sellable advertising displays permitted on each shelter type, including whether:

A shelter may contain two advertising displays;

Both sides of a display may be sold separately;

Static and digital displays may coexist; and Existing shelters may be converted to digital, subject to approval.

A different advertising panel configuration may be proposed for District consideration and approval, but it does not create authority to exceed the two-display limit.

96 Please clarify whether the District may redesignate shelters as noncommercial or otherwise restrict advertising during the term and, if so, whether such changes would result in an adjustment to the GAM.

In accordance with Section C.7.3.1, the District retains discretion over Shelter locations and which sites are available for advertising. However, the District’s goal is to partner with the Franchisee in the selection of specific Structures at specific sites to balance equitable distribution of Shelters throughout all eight (8) Wards of the District, advertising opportunities, and community needs.

GAM payments remain fixed and may not be reduced in accordance with Sections G.2.2 and G.2.3.

97 Please clarify the definition of Annual Gross Advertising Revenue. For purposes of this Agreement, Annual Gross Advertising Revenue means the total gross advertising revenue collected pursuant to the Agreement during an Agreement Year, before deduction of operating expenses, GAM payments, or other costs. It will also include revenue generated by Interactive Smart Kiosks furnished under Section C.7.10, should the District determine to procure Interactive Smart Kiosks.

98 Regarding the District’s 10% public-service advertising allocation, please clarify how the allocation will be measured (e.g., annually or monthly) and whether it applies separately to static and digital inventory.

The allocation will be measured in accordance with Section C.7.17.4, which requires the Franchisee to calculate the amount each month based on total display hours and to seek even geographic distribution. This applies to all advertising mediums.

99 Please provide available historical operating data for the past three years, in the aggregate and by shelter or display and by month, including:

Gross advertising revenue;

Occupancy or utilization;

Average realized rates;

Static and digital revenue;

Production and installation revenue;

PSA and District usage; and Periods during which displays were unavailable.

The District does not have this information.

100 Please provide an inventory of existing and planned District advertising programs excluded from the franchise, including Capital Bikeshare, kiosks, street furniture, wayfinding units and similar installations located near bus shelters.

Any current or future contract related to the Capital Bikeshare program. Link to current contract:

https://contracts.ocp.dc.gov/contracts/details?id=Q1c5NzIxM8KmQmFzZS BQZXJpb2Q%3D&hash=r9rep87pnvw4me4u The District does not have an additional comprehensive inventory of all existing and planned advertising programs available for this Q&A. Potential District procurement of Interactive Smart Kiosks during the term is governed by Section C.7.10.

101 Regarding the 60-foot restriction in C.7.1.6, please clarify whether multiple smaller advertising units may be installed within that area and the District’s plans with respect to advertising smaller than 18 square feet.

It depends on the location, but it would be subject to the District's review and approval.

102 Please provide the available Cityworks and IMCDS technical requirements, including API and data specifications and required integrations.

DDOT currently uses Cityworks v15.8 as its system of record; integration uses a RESTful API with HTTP methods and JSON; and the Franchisee's IMCDS must meet the database, GIS, reporting, security, availability, and data-sharing requirements in Section C.7.20. DDOT will provide details on specific API calls and generalized integration assistance in accordance with Section C.7.20.2.4.

103 Please provide the current specifications, annual quantities and historical replacement frequency for maps and other District-provided materials.

In accordance with Section C.7.16.2, the Franchisee shall print, install and maintain bus maps for the Bus Map Program once every 12 months. The number of maps is based on the number of installed shelters.

104 Please provide the historical annual number and cost of shelter relocations and removals.

Installation and removal of bus shelters generally include site preparation, coordination with utilities and stakeholders, assembly or disassembly of shelter components, any required electrical or solar illumination work, and restoring the site to a safe, compliant condition.

Shelter installation and removal costs can vary from an estimated $9,000 to $30,000 depending on the level of work that may be needed. The lower-end usually only reflects removal without any civil work. The higher-end usually includes connection to the grid with the elctrical planning, connection, site prep, cicvil work, and installation. No further information is available at this time.

105 Please provide available historical work-order and cost data for cleaning, inspections, graffiti, broken glass, lighting failures, vandalism, unattended-property cleanups, snow removal, structural damage, 311 complaints and shelter replacement.

The District does not have this information.

106 Section C.7.11.5 requires the Franchisee to adhere to the District’s Protocol for the removal of private property occupying Bus Shelters. Please clarify the Franchisee’s expected role, including whether it is responsible for physically removing, transporting, storing or disposing of property.

The Franchisee is not expected to independently remove people or seize, transport, store, or dispose of private property. The Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services oversees the District's established encampment protocol. The Franchisee must report and coordinate conditions, follow the protocol and District direction, avoid interfering with outreach or authorized removal, and perform the Shelter cleaning and repair work for which it is responsible after the site is cleared.

107 Regarding the Settlement Proposal and termination costs in connection with a termination for convenience, please clarify what costs are included in “the actual costs of Bus Shelters” and the depreciation methodology that will be used.

The District does not intend to provide any additional information other than what is in § I.19 at this time.

108 Can the District share their plans for the bike share dock advertising program and how it might impact this solicitation?

This procurement is getting bundled under the Capital Bikeshare Operation & Maintenance Co-Op