Bus Advertising And Sales

The City of Oshkosh, Wisconsin is seeking a qualified contractor through a Request for Proposals (RFP) to manage bus advertising services for GO Transit, a public transportation system operating 16 full-size transit buses. The primary objectives are to sell, install, display, and maintain advertising space across the transit fleet, with the goal of generating advertising revenue. The available advertising options include full and partial bus wraps, exterior direct application displays ranging from 21" x 72" to 30" x 144", and interior card insert advertisements measuring 11" x 28". GO Transit operates Monday through Saturday from 6:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., serving the City of Oshkosh with a fleet of hybrid-electric and conventional diesel buses that carried 564,372 passenger trips in 2022. The proposal deadline is set for 10:00 a.m. on March 21, 2023, with an anticipated contract award and start date in April 2023. Contractors must propose both a monthly guaranteed minimum revenue amount and a monthly percentage of gross sales, with GO Transit receiving the higher amount. Evaluation will likely focus on the proposed revenue structure, ability to maximize advertising space, and compliance with Federal Transit Administration requirements.

While no specific set-aside designations are mandated, the RFP encourages DBE-certified vendors to indicate their certification. The contract term is three years with two optional one-year renewal periods, and the contractor will assume full responsibility for advertising material procurement, installation, removal, maintenance, and bus restoration. The contractor may utilize 100% of available advertising space while reserving some areas for GO Transit operational and public service advertising. Optional future advertising opportunities may include the downtown transit center, 31 shelters, and 7 benches throughout the city, though these are not guaranteed. Specific financial requirements include providing a certificate of liability insurance, maintaining comprehensive financial records subject to audit, and paying subcontractors within 30 days of receipt of payment. Any advertising contracts generated will automatically transfer to GO Transit upon contract termination. While no specific contract value is explicitly stated, the revenue potential will be determined by the contractor's ability to sell advertising across the 16-bus fleet, which operates 471,658 revenue miles annually.