The transit operator for the City of Ottawa stated it desires a "strategic partner capable of leveraging available assets for maximum revenue – someone with a proven track record of generating ad revenue."
That firm should be capable of dealing with "traditional transit media" as well as newer technologies such as "location-based mobile communication channels," stated a notice on Merx, a procurement site used by several levels of government.
OC Transpo's fleet of buses are largely transmitting their locations by GPS, causing open-data advocates to ask for their locations to be released for use on mobile phone apps and other forms of information.
In January, OC Transpo chief Alain Mercier publicly mulled holding back that release while seeking ways of generating advertising from the data.
Amid public protest, the transit commission – which includes eight councillors and four members of the public – declared Jan. 28 that OC Transpo would make the data available publicly by March 22.
The list of assets for which OC Transpo is seeking advertising help includes:
- Transit buses and accessible transit vans;
- Transitway stations, including display cases and digital bus arrival displays;
- Bus stops and shelters;
- OC Transpo's website;
- Print materials such as maps, brochures and timetables;
- Mobile information services.
The request for information closes March 5.
