Website Design, Development, Implementation and Maintenance Service using CMS

RFP Issued: March 3, 2026

Questions and Clarifications Submitted: March 24, 2026 by 2:00 p.m.

Proposals Due: April 22nd, 2026 by 4:00 p.m.

Discussions/Clarifications: Week of May 8th

Board of Directors Approval: May 27th, 2026

Contract Execution: June 1, 2026

Information Architecture Approval: July 17, 2026

Design Approval: August 25, 2026

Development Completion: October 15, 2026

Implementation Complete and Maintenance Initiated: November 1, 2026

This RFP seeks a vendor to deliver a comprehensive website design, development, implementation, and maintenance service using a Content Management System (CMS) for a public-facing transportation agency. The website must be attractive, informative, easy to use, and regularly updated with fresh content. The CMS must facilitate core functionalities including creating, editing, deleting, versioning, and organizing pages. Features for editorial workflow such as drafting, reviewing, publishing, scheduling, and font customization are required. The solution must include robust asset management for data, images, and video files, advanced search capabilities, customizable content such as news stories and web forms, and integrated social media. Role-based permissions for multi-user login and management are essential.

Accessibility is a priority; the website must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and include tools to maintain ongoing compliance. Mobile-friendliness is expected, with CMS-driven updates reflecting simultaneously on main and mobile sites. Full testing and rollback functionality must be provided so changes can be verified before going live. The CMS architecture must be open and non-proprietary, ensuring continued website operability and serviceability post-contract. The website should offer transit-related features like a trip planner (via Google Transit or GTFS), interactive maps, a 'We're on the Route' business locator, Google Translate integration, e-commerce with a shopping cart and secure checkout (currently Square), and strong social media integration.

The hosting solution must maintain redundant or backup hosting for the costbus.org domain, guarantee 99.9% network availability, ensure packet loss below 0.5%, and keep average monthly latency for transmissions under 120 ms. The agency requires 24/7 access except for pre-announced scheduled downtimes and any unscheduled outages. Questions regarding the RFP must be submitted by March 24, 2026, with a contract period set for two years.