(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB) ^[PDF] for advertising on 128* Capital Bikeshare station map panels in the District. DDOT is soliciting proposals from companies who will have exclusive authority to place advertisements on the exterior facing of the 132 map panels at each Capital Bikeshare station in the District.

“Capital Bikeshare has been a resounding success since we launched the program in September 2010, with strong brand recognition and approval ratings to match,” said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy. “The ability to be associated with such a popular transit system, as well as reach the thousands of residents and visitors who use the system every day, is a highly attractive opportunity for any company. And with the additional resources we will be able to generate, our goal for financial self-sufficiency and continued growth becomes that much more of a reality.”

The successful offeror will have the ability to advertise its message on a space 38 inches wide and 56 ¾ inches tall, in prime activity centers with significant levels of pedestrian, car, bike and transit traffic, for 365 days a year, 7 days a week.

In addition to the expected financial return to the District, the District will also evaluate the offeror’s ability to maintain the brand identity and equity of Capital Bikeshare and consideration of neighborhood characteristics in the selection of advertisements for display.

The Invitation for Bids is posted online at ddot.dc.gov/procurement.

*There are currently 132 Capital Bikeshare stations in the District of Columbia including 4 located on National Park Service property.

Capital Bikeshare is a bikesharing program developed through a partnership between the District Department of Transportation and Arlington County and operated by Alta Bicycle Share, Inc. Capital Bikeshare offers four different membership options, Annual, Monthly, 3-Day and 24-hour for access to a fleet of 1,500 bicycles located at over 160 stations across Washington, DC and Arlington, VA.