Advertising Services

METRO Regional Transit Authority in Summit County, Ohio, is seeking an outside advertising firm to sell and maintain digital and print signage across its fleet of 225 revenue vehicles, including 133 standard transit buses and 92 paratransit vehicles. The procurement involves comprehensive advertising services for both interior and exterior vehicle spaces, with options including printed overhead signage, interior digital displays, and full vehicle wraps. Key objectives include maximizing revenue generation and developing a high-quality advertising program that accommodates both small businesses and larger commercial clients. The solicitation requires vendors to propose a detailed sales and market plan, with evaluation criteria spanning experience (25 points), project approach (25 points), market strategy (25 points), and proposal quality (25 points), with an additional 10 points allocated to the compensation proposal. Important dates for this Request for Proposal include a question submission deadline of February 9, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., with responses provided on February 11, 2026, and final proposals due February 19, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. through METRO's OpenGov portal. The contract term is set for four years from May 1, 2026, through May 1, 2030, with a potential optional renewal year.

The procurement includes Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation requirements and is subject to Federal Transit Administration regulations. Vendors must be prepared to assume all costs associated with advertising material printing, installation, maintenance, and removal, including vehicle preparation and repair work. The contractor will be required to provide insurance coverage or a performance bond to protect against potential damages during advertising installation and removal. METRO's historical advertising sales data indicates annual revenues ranging from approximately $208,483 to $263,398 over the past five years. No minimum guarantee amounts are specified in the Request for Proposal, suggesting flexibility in revenue-sharing arrangements. The selected vendor must collaborate closely with METRO's in-house advertising sales manager to transition existing accounts and manage space allocation and billing logistics. The transit agency serves a population of 538,370 in Summit County, operating 24 fixed routes and an express commuter service between Akron and Cleveland, which provides significant potential exposure for advertising opportunities.