Media Buying Services

Agency for Community Transit (ACT) is soliciting bids under RFQ 26-2-13304 for recruitment media buying services for calendar year 2027, with questions due November 11, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central and bids due November 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central. The selected vendor will plan, purchase, manage, and evaluate recruitment advertising to increase applications for ACT employment opportunities and strengthen ACT's employer brand. No pre-bid meeting or teleconference will be held.

Eligibility carries two preferences. The State of Illinois Provisions establish a preference for domestically produced goods, and the Owner's General Terms establish a preference for recycled and energy-efficient products. Bidders must comply with the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act and the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, and must submit all bids electronically through the Bonfire portal at mct-act.bonfirehub.com, where registration is free.

The scope covers media strategy and planning, media buying and placement across digital, social media, job platforms, audio, and video channels, campaign monitoring and optimization, billing reconciliation, and account management. ACT supplies primary messaging, graphics, photography, and creative assets. The contractor may recommend professional video or audio production, subject to ACT approval and budget. Deliverables include monthly itemized invoices, quarterly performance reports due within 15 calendar days of quarter-end, and a final campaign report due within 30 calendar days of contract expiration. Bidders must provide at least three client references with measurable campaign results and must meet cybersecurity requirements that include a $500,000 minimum cyber liability policy and 48-hour breach notification. Subcontractors must be identified with proposed scope and percentage of effort.

The contract is a not-to-exceed firm fixed unit price agreement capped at $90,000, inclusive of media placements, contractor labor, and approved production. Media placements are billed at actual cost with no commissions or markups, and labor is billed at approved all-inclusive hourly rates. The service period runs from contract execution through December 31, 2027, with closeout permitted through January 31, 2028 at no additional cost. Funding is through IDOT Operating Assistance, and the contract is subject to IDOT terms. Bid prices must remain firm for 90 calendar days from the final bid due date.

Evaluation uses best value across three weighted criteria totaling 100 points: technical approach (recruitment goals, media planning, placement and optimization, reporting, and account management), experience, personnel, and capabilities, and bid price based on total labor costs. The lowest total labor price receives full cost points, and media placement costs are excluded from evaluation. Award is anticipated December 15, 2026, subject to ACT Board approval, and Steven J. Morrison, Executive Director of ACT, will make the award.