Madison County Transit (MCT) is seeking media buying services through a Request for Quotation (RFQ No. 25-2-13303) to enhance public awareness of its transit services, including fixed-route transit, paratransit, and the MCT Trails network. The solicitation calls for a comprehensive media campaign with a not-to-exceed budget of $90,000, requiring a vendor to provide strategy and planning, media placement, analytics and reporting, account management, and potentially video production services. Deliverables will include a campaign calendar, media placement plan, quarterly performance reports with metrics like impressions and click-through rates, monthly check-in summaries, and budget summaries. The procurement will follow a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology, evaluating proposals on technical acceptability across four criteria: Project Strategy and Approach, Qualifications and Experience, Reporting and Analytics, and Account Management and Customer Service. Key dates include a January 23, 2026 deadline for written questions, an anticipated addendum by January 28, 2026, and a final bid submission deadline of February 4, 2026, with an expected contract award on March 19, 2026.
The contract has a 0% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal and is open to all qualified vendors who can demonstrate technical capabilities and meet the solicitation requirements. Bidders must provide proof of insurance, including comprehensive general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident, workers compensation at statutory limits, and professional liability of $500,000. The contract is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and/or the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which means contractors must comply with applicable state and federal laws and grant agreement terms. Vendors are required to submit detailed information including their Sam.gov Unique Entity ID, DUNS number, annual gross receipts, number of employees, and years in business. The contract will be a firm fixed unit price agreement with a term from execution through December 31, 2026, or until all obligations are met. MCT will provide primary creative assets, and the vendor will be responsible for adapting materials to meet platform specifications, with the total project budget capped at $90,000 for the full contract term.