The Monroe County Transportation Authority is seeking quotes to print and install vinyl graphics on our five new compressed natural gas (CNG) 35' Gillig buses AND remove and replace graphics on seven older CNG 35’ Gillig buses. Each bus has a unique paint color. There are two different graphic packages. One new bus only will get an “AMERICA 250” theme package, the other four new buses and the older seven buses will get the “FRESH” package (for a total of eleven buses).

PLEASE NOTE - THERE ARE NO FULL BUS WRAPS. There is vinyl printing and application, however it does not cover the entire vehicle. The America 250 bus requires blue and red vinyl. Measurements must be made by winning bidder for excact size. The red vinyl must cover the whole backside and front side of the bus. The blue vinyl must cover the sides of the bus, but does not have cover the entire top of the bus (as most people will never see it from above).

Some rough estimates: Front of bus - 9' wide, bottom part, 2' high, top part 2' high, 9' wide; Back of bus - 9' wide, 90' high. Again rough dimensions. Side of bus - 35' long by approx 3 - 4' high at top.

Use this link to download a copy of the IFB, .eps and .pdf graphic files: here.
The Passcode is Gillig2026CNG.

All vinyl will be 7-year transit grade. All Swoosh and letter vinyl will be cut, reflective white. All installation will be completed at MCTA’s facility. Buses will be washed and available in an indoor bay.

Photos of some of the buses are available here: PHOTOS

IFB 260X Questions and Answers

Fresh Bus Questions:

• Can the price be recalculated upon receipt of final design No. The final design is now updated in the file.
• Which of the two variants (black or lime) should be used for pricing purposes Neither. The vinyl will be cut and expose the paint color behind it. The buses are many different colors.
• Is the black or lime the base paint or the vinyl? There are many different colors. No vinyl is required to match the base color.

General RFP Questions:

• No roof coverage is shown – please clarify if this is not required, or requires the unit number on the roof per the eleven No roof numbers are required. There is vinyl on certain areas of the roof, per the layout.
• Confirmation that the contract will be awarded to the lowest compliant bid e.g. there are no non-price criteria only pass/fail mandatory conditions like the proper inclusion of forms for Federal Clauses As with all projects that involve government money, the lowest, responsive, and responsible bidder is awarded the contract. MCTA must conduct a disbarment review and ensure that all forms are signed
• When do you need this work to be completed? As soon as practical. We’d like the America 250 bus design to be installed prior April 15, 2026.
• Page 3, please can you provide the make, model, year, and length in fleet of the vehicles?

  Make	Model	Year	Length	Quantity	Condition
  Gillig	Low Floor	2019	35 foot	3	Good
  Gillig	Low Floor	2021	35 foot	4	Very Good
  Gillig	Low Floor	2025	35 foot	5	New

• Page 16, could MCTA share the available budget as a target for total cost so that we can seek to price in the full scope? No.
• Page 6, because Item E (Cost for one AMERICA 250 bus) is included in the roll-up for Item F (Total Cost for Project (B+D+E)) and based on the description in paragraph 2.4 Project Scope and Documents on page 4, are bidders to understand that AMERICA 250 bus is a twelfth bus? Yes.
• Page 3, paragraph 2.1 Small/Disadvantage Business Enterprise Participation, to comply with the instruction ‘The Contractor should summarize and describe..’ should the response be provided in a free text e.g. in a cover letter, or is there a specific form to be completed? Free text or in cover letter is sufficient.

Graphics Removal and Replacement

Page 4, paragraph 2.4 Project Scope and Documents to accurately calculate labor required to satisfy ‘remove and replace graphics on seven older CNG 35’ Gillig buses’

• Please could you provide pictures from all four sides of the vehicles Photos are available here.

• Kindly advise what is the age, condition, and coverage Please see chart above.

• Are you able to let me know the material that will need to be removed from the vehicles? For the seven existing buses, everything, except for the bus numbers and bus name and the railroad crossing warning on the back bumper.
• Are the vehicles being repainted and if so has two weeks been planned for ‘de-gassing’ to ensure proper adhesion of the vinyl material No buses are being repainted. The new buses have been painted over two weeks ago.
• What is the base paint color? The single bus for the 250 bus is light gray. This is unimportant as no vinyl will be printed to match any vehicle paint color.
• Are the grey, blue, and red areas paint or vinyl? Gray is paint, all other colors will be vinyl as per the .eps / .pdf files.
• Does the coverage extend onto the window only for flag, bell and celebrate text e.g. minimal coverage? Is this to be provided in the same regular opaque even though it will inhibit passenger visibility from inside the vehicle? Please plan on using perforated vinyl for window areas.
• Please confirm no coverage of back window, bumpers, rubber seals, inside light well / recess or ventes/grillesThere is no back window and we have made extra efforts to not cover vents or grills. However, there may be some vinyl on rubber seals around the older buses windows.
• Page 4, paragraph 2.4 Project Scope and Documents we have noted ‘Contractors must Verify Bus Sizes and Dimensions before Printing and Installing Vinyl’ will MCTA be able to provide elevated drawings from the manufacturers showing the measurements? I’ll see what I can do, but its always a good idea to have someone on site to take measurements for visual conformation before hitting print.
• Page 4, question about the statement ‘All vinyl will be 7-year transit grade’ on page 5, please can you that this requirement does not apply to the material on the window and roof (This is because of warranty limitations vertical services and glass), also please acknowledge those manufacturer warranty limitations Accepted.

Price Questions

• Confirmation that bid are prices exclude tax and the contractor will be provided with a tax exemption certificate following award. If not, please confirm the applicable rate(s) and whether they should be included or separately itemized MCTA is tax exempt and will provide a certificate to the winning bidder.
• Confirmation that Item A () and Item E () are inclusive of design adaptation (conversion into vendor’s print files but without creative work), production, installation and shipping/freight. Yes. The price must include all work.

Vinyl and Work Qualities

• Question about the statement ‘All vinyl will be 7-year transit grade’ on page 4, please can you that this requirement does not apply to the material on the window and roof (This is because of warranty limitations vertical services and glass), also please acknowledge those manufacturer warranty limitations Asked and Answered above.
• We note that the make/model of the film is unstated nor is the bidder required to state their recommendation, will MCTA evaluate the technical attributes of the proposed vinyl or how will this be compared on a like-for-like basis? If the vinyl fades prematurely, MCTA will contact the vendor and our solicitor, if necessary, and the vinyl will be replaced, without cost to MCTA. MCTA does understand that vinyl is not paint, and that normal wear and tear is expected.
• Confirm final artwork will be provided in high-resolution vector files (e.g. Adobe Illustrator) All artwork is now provided.
• Please confirm you will provide Pantone Matching System (PMS, not CMYK) Color Codes to avoid the need for color-matching? There will be no need for color matching. The vinyl is not going to intentionally match any bus paint. I urge bidders to review the artwork.
• Please advise the schedule for the vinyl wrap installation as it relates to the planned delivery of the transit vehicles and the completion of the installation work? Also please confirm all twelve will be handled as one batch for efficiency, or indicate any intervals between the twelve. All vehicles will have been received (we have all but one at this moment). MCTA will coordinate with the winning vendor to have vehicles available to wrap.
• Please confirm that unit numbers are required on the graphics Only if it is useful for the installer. All buses have their numbers and this is not part of the specification.
• Confirm whether any OEM or Safety decals, not supplied by the Contractor, need to be installed on the paint? There are safety and OEM decals on the bus. The contractor will need to cut out the design vinyl to reveal the existing decals.
• When do you need this work to be completed? Asked and answered above.

Questions about MCTA’s facility

• Are out of hours installation required? Yes, are we willing to permit you to install vinyl while the buses are running down the road, providing your insurance certificate expressly states this is your business practice. If you mean, is work permitted overnight (12 midnight – 4 AM), no. We will coordinate the availability of buses based on your schedule.
• Please confirm that you will provide a contact on site to move each vehicle as they are completed and moved for the next vehicle install Yes.
• Please confirm that the contractor will be provided with a temperature-controlled bay above 15 degrees with access to power, light and water and 3 feet of surrounding working space Celsius (very likely) or Fahrenheit (yes), power, light, and water, and space, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
• What are the working hours? 4 AM to 12 midnight, Monday through Saturday.
• Are there any time restrictions for the installation window? No.
• Are there any non-standard security, COVID-19 or health and safety regulations that apply? No. But as a precaution, please do not bite our staff.
• Can bidders assume that minimum indoor temperature of 60 degrees F? Asked and answered above.
• Please confirm that the vehicles will be clean for pre-installation – we appreciate that a final wipe down is needed but just want to be sure the vehicles will not need a power wash (no wax) Yes.