Professional Marketing and Communication-Services

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP 269-2025-1842) for Professional Marketing and Communication Services covering Mecklenburg County and Cleveland Town in North Carolina. The procurement seeks a full-service marketing and public relations firm to supplement CATS' internal resources with specialized expertise in general marketing, public relations, digital communications, community engagement, event planning, and crisis communications. The primary objectives include promoting CATS' services, enhancing public perception of public transit, and improving community engagement in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Key deliverables are expected to encompass comprehensive marketing strategies, digital communication plans, community outreach programs, and communication support across multiple channels. The solicitation requires proposing firms to demonstrate extensive experience in public transit marketing, strong communication capabilities, and proven track records in similar municipal communication projects. The proposal submission deadline is August 12, 2025, with a pre-proposal meeting recorded on July 17, 2025, providing potential bidders an opportunity to review detailed requirements. Evaluation criteria will likely include the firm's demonstrated expertise, proposed methodology, team qualifications, and understanding of CATS' communication objectives.

The RFP includes provisions for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation, as evidenced by the DBE List of Subcontractors and Suppliers document. Firms responding to the solicitation must complete various federal certification forms, including the Byrd Anti-Lobbying Certification and Debarment Certification, indicating compliance with federal procurement regulations. The procurement appears to encourage participation from small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses, with specific forms dedicated to demonstrating good faith efforts in achieving diversity in contracting. While the exact budget range is not explicitly stated in the provided documents, the comprehensive nature of the requested services suggests a substantial contract value commensurate with the breadth of marketing and communication support required. The sample services contract and multiple addenda indicate a structured procurement process with potential for a multi-year engagement. Interested firms must thoroughly review all provided documents, including Addendum 1, 2, and 3, to ensure full compliance with the solicitation requirements and to understand the complete scope of the marketing and communications services sought by CATS.