How to bid on COTA bus shelter cleaning services

What COTA is buying

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is seeking a contractor to clean passenger shelters and Bus Rapid Transit shelters and pylons throughout its service area. The work includes routine cleaning, litter and debris and graffiti removal, snow and ice treatment, inspections, minor signage support, and emergency cleaning.

Cleaning covers passenger-facing areas such as glass panels, benches, handrails, concrete pads, and sidewalks. The contract will set schedules, service requirements, performance standards, and reporting requirements. COTA may add or remove locations as its operational needs change.

Key date and deadline

The RFP was published October 9, 2026. Responses are due November 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET.

Submit your response through OpenGov before the deadline. The provided information does not state what happens to late submissions, so confirm submission requirements in the RFP and allow time to complete the portal process.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity may suit facilities services firms with experience cleaning public-facing outdoor spaces and maintaining shelters or similar locations. Relevant capabilities include litter and graffiti removal, winter weather treatment, inspections, and responding to urgent cleaning requests.

How to access and respond

Click “View original source” to open the opportunity in OpenGov Procurement. The portal may show a brief security check the first time; let it finish for the project page to load.

Sign in or create a free vendor account to download plans, ask questions, join the planholders list, and submit your response. OpenGov also sends addenda notices, so check for updates as you prepare your submission.

Prepare a competitive response

Review the RFP plans and requirements closely. Build your proposed approach around the location types, cleaning schedules, performance standards, and reporting requirements stated in the documents.

Explain how your team would handle routine work, inspections, snow and ice, emergency requests, and reporting damaged equipment. Make your staffing, equipment, service coverage, and quality checks clear, and account for the possibility that COTA may add or remove locations.

Check the portal for answers to questions and addenda before submitting. Follow the RFP’s instructions and confirm that all required response materials are included.