RFP-020-25 website redesign services

The Regional Transportation Agency (RTA) of Central Maryland has issued RFP-020-25 for comprehensive website redesign services, seeking a qualified firm to completely overhaul their current website (www.transitrta.com). The project requires a modern, mobile-first website with enhanced functionality, focusing on user experience, accessibility compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards, and integration of critical transportation features. Key deliverables include a redesigned website with sections for routes, schedules, fares, trip planning, service alerts, and a careers portal, along with content migration of approximately 15-25 PDFs, 30-50 images, and integration of real-time bus data via Swiftly API and Paylocity for careers. The preferred platform is WordPress, though other open-source CMS platforms meeting accessibility standards will be considered. The proposal submission deadline was extended to December 5, 2025, at 4:00 P.M., with an anticipated project timeline of 120-150 calendar days. Evaluation criteria will include technical methodology (25 points), with pricing assessed on a total aggregate basis, and the contract will be awarded to a single vendor.

No specific Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals were established for this contract, and out-of-state firms are eligible provided they register to do business in Maryland prior to award. The RTA will continue using GoDaddy hosting and will directly manage third-party subscription costs for APIs and integrations like Swiftly, Paylocity, Google Translate, and Token Transit. Post-launch, the selected vendor must provide 60 days of support with defined response time service level agreements (24 hours for critical issues, 48 hours for non-critical issues) and conduct two 2-hour training sessions for three staff members on content management. While no specific budget was disclosed, the RTA emphasized a project-based pricing model and will not permit contract piggybacking. The current website operates on WordPress with limited digital capabilities, including minimal social media presence and no established website traffic tracking, suggesting significant room for digital transformation through this redesign effort.