Acknowledgement of Addendum 1 Issued August 28, 2018, by and posted to the website.

Transcription

1 Acknowledgement of Addendum 1 Issued August 28, 2018, by and posted to the website. Addendum 1 The written questions submitted on or before August 20, Firm Name: Date: Signature: Title: Typed/Printed Name:

2 The COMET reserves the right to make modifications or amendments to this RFP, either at the request of an Offeror or upon The COMET s own initiative. If The COMET determines it is appropriate to revise any portion of this RFP, it will issue a written amendment to the RFP. Offerors are required to submit a signed copy of the Receipt of Amendments for each amendment issued with their proposals. This Amendment 1 Is hereby issued to answer the following questions and makes amendments to the RFP as identified in the answers to questions as follows: Questions: 1. What is the annual budget for agency services? $ 27,083,733 combined operating and capital. 2. What is the annual budget for hard costs such as printing and paid media placements? $10,000 for printing and $80,000 for advertising in general. It is anticipated that this budget amount could increase Part 2: Scope of Services, Section 2 Graphic Design) 3. What is the anticipated monthly volume of graphic design projects At least 4 to 5 4. History of Transit We read the recent history of The COMET on the website; is there any other historical information about the agency that could be helpful in our RFP response? Attached The following questions all relate to Part 2: Scope of Services, Section 3 -Internet Presence 5. Website Does the transit authority align its transit data with the Google Transit Data Specification (GTFS) and, if so, feed it to transit organizations such as Trillium (for broader publishing and availability of the transit data)? The GTFS data feed is currently uploaded to Google Transit as needed. 6. Website Is the transit authority part of the Google Transit Partner Program ( Yes. 7. Website For real-time bus tracking, is the transit authority locked into a contract with TansLoc or is there an opportunity to implement another real-time bus tracking solution? We are currently in the final year of the Transloc contract. We expect a new RFP to be released within the next ninety (90) days. 8. Website Does the transit authority partner with any real-time transit data services besides TransLoc, such as Swiftly ( No. At this time, we only partner with Transloc.

3 9. Website Are there other features and functionality for the website that the transit authority would like to have implemented as part of the redesign (e.g., real-time service alerts, online purchase of passes, live chat for customer service, etc.)? Yes online pass sales, live chat for customer service, integration with TransLoc, interactive system map with bus stops, trip planner, accommodation for video from Board meetings, ADA accessibility and compliance, language translation, Google Analytics, easy to read, easy to print, easy to manage, easy to update are some examples. 10. Website Perhaps tied to the previous question, but can the transit authority elaborate on this add elements of this statement from the RFP? Contractor will work with The COMET to add elements to the website to portray a positive image. See above. 11. Website Based on what is seen with the real-time map and the PDF schedules, is it accurate that the Broad River Road route is the only route that has more than one bus servicing a route at any single time (i.e., all other routes have only one bus en route at any given time)? There are several routes that have more than one vehicle servicing it at any single time. An example would be all of the three digit routes and many more during peak periods of the day. Please see below: X 2 53X L / X 1 83L / / Website What is the percentage of mobile device traffic to the current website? Unknown Page 12, Paragraph 3: Internet Presence: Does the COMET have an anticipated timeline for launching the new COMET website? By January 2019 Will the COMET require website content to be in any language in addition to English? Translation to Spanish

4 Will the consultant be responsible for website hosting costs and related services? No. This will be hosted on the State s server. Page 12, Paragraph 3: Internet Presence and Appendix E: Cost Proposal: Does the COMET want an additional line item on the Cost Proposal for the development of the new COMET website, because those costs will be a one-time only cost as compared to the monthly costs to manage, maintain, and optimize the COMET s internet presence on a goforward and continual basis? Or alternatively, does the COMET prefer proposers to include those costs in the monthly Internet Presence costs for a set period of time (for example, the first year of the contract)? A separate line item would be appropriate for the development and then a rate for on-going maintenance. Page 12, Paragraph 4: Social Media: Will the consultant s regular social media management responsibilities include customer service-related tasks, such as responding to passenger/follower inquiries, service questions and concerns, private messages, etc.? Assistance and guidance on social media management. It is expected that the social media will be managed by in-house staff. Page 12, Paragraph 5: Does the COMET have an estimate of the number of events and/or shows that the consultant will be required to prepare for and participate in each year? Also, can you provide a few examples of recent events that would apply to this new contract? Some events could include Soda City Market, events hosted by local government officials, back to school events, college events and events with the local housing authority. Page 13, Paragraph VI: New Advertisement Production: Can the COMET offer a few more details about the expectations for the quality and length of the radio and television advertisements to be produced (such as, will the advertisements require significant graphic design overlays, hiring talent to serve as actors, capturing footage from multiple shooting locations, etc.)? This can be determined by the consultant with recommendations to The COMET. Also, will these advertisements need to be produced in any languages in addition to English? Some advertisements will need to be done in Spanish and advertised to the Spanish community.

5 Page 13, Paragraph A. GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: Does the COMET desire to see a portfolio of our team s transit marketing services projects, and if so can it be supplied via a link to an online portfolio, to avoid additional printing costs and paper usage in a physical appendix? That will be fine as long as the link will be good for atleast six (6) months. To allow time for the evaluation committee to review it. Any information contained in the link, should be included in the company s electronic submission also. Page 15, Paragraph C: Price Proposal: Does the COMET have a transit marketing services budget for the current fiscal year, inclusive of advertising media purchases, and if so what is that budget? Refer to Questions 1 and 2. Appendix E: Cost Proposal: Does the Community Events line item hourly rate include hours spent both preparing for and participating in the local events? Yes Do you know the budget of the RFP? None is planned. The COMET is looking for the best value consultant to assist in managing The COMET s marketing activities and will adjust budget as necessary to accommodate. What is the length of the contract? The length of the contract is listed on page 6 of the RFP. Please remember all questions need to be submitted in writing and addressed to Virginia Goodson at Virginia.goodson@catchTheCOMET.org or Virginia Goodson, 3613 Lucius Road, Columbia, SC