At a Glance
- Buyer: Pace, The Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority
- Industry: Public transit/transportation (bus + paratransit)
- Location/markets: Northeastern Illinois
- Primary scope: Marketing and advertising services (AOR)
- Key deliverables/channels: Creative + media strategy; ability to meet regular deadlines + emergency requirements; specialized capabilities (digital, social, events, PR, multilingual writing)
- Budget: ~$4M/year anticipated advertising budget
- Contract type/term: Not specified
- Key dates: Pre-bid meeting: Feb 6, 2026, 10:00 AM CT; questions due: Feb 13, 2026, 2:00 PM CT; proposal deadline: Mar 13, 2026, 2:00 PM CT
- Eligibility/must-haves: Must register in Pace iSupplier Portal; submit signed AI certification; provide public-sector-relevant case histories (at least two)
Why This Could Be Interesting
Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, is hiring a full-service advertising agency of record for marketing and advertising services.
This RFP reads like a true “do-the-work” account: you’re expected to propose creative strategies and marketing activities that show an understanding of Pace’s organizational strategies, then execute against deadlines Pace sets—sometimes on an emergency basis.
What makes it notable is the breadth of capabilities Pace wants to see in one partner: digital marketing, social media, event execution, public relations, and in-house writing in languages other than English with culturally appropriate creative. If you’ve built an integrated shop that can move from strategy to production without handoffs, this is the kind of scope that can stay busy.
Best suited for agencies with integrated creative + media capabilities, public-sector experience, and proof you can handle formal process and scrutiny (with relevant case histories).
Proposal deadline: March 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM CT.
Download the full RFP here.
