Subject
title
Award and Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Contract Responsive to RFP # 21-26, City's Phase 1 Wayfinding Sign Package Fabrication and Installation Details, to KM Printing, LLC dba Strategic Factory, of Owings Mill, MD, in the amount not to exceed $354,100
end
Department
PW - Traffic & Transportation
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council award and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract responsive to Request for Proposals RFP #21-16 City’s Phase 1 Wayfinding Sign Package Fabrication and Installation Details to KM Printing, LLC dba Strategic Factory, of Owings Mill, MD, in the amount not to exceed $354,100, with delivery of fabricated signs to occur in or before December 2026.
Discussion
The contract includes all signs in Phase 1 of the City’s Wayfinding Sign Package. The FY26 operating budget originally included funds to procure only signs in Phase 1a, primarily Town Center. City staff identified additional funds to include all signs previously in Phase 1a and 1b.
Phase 1 includes fabrication and installation of seventy-three (73) vehicular directional, eight (8) pedestrian and biking directional, five (5) destination identification, and five (5) parking identification wayfinding signs, which go beyond the Town Center area. Staff successfully negotiated with the selected vendor a best and final offer of $354,000 to fabricate and deliver all Phase 1 signs, signposts with installation details and hardware. After delivery, the City’s DPW staff will install the signs. Staff determined that the best and final offer amount is fair and reasonable.
In its continuing efforts to transform Rockville, and more importantly the Town Center, into the shopping, dining, entertainment and employment heart of the city, the City of Rockville engaged the signage design firm: KMA Design in 2018 to develop a comprehensive wayfinding program for the city that can be expanded as new destinations are added but with primary focus on Town Center, and City’s Parks and Recreational areas. The consultant effort started with the review of a report prepared by the council that summarized the existing and limited wayfinding and sign system in the city and primary within the Town Center area, dated November 6, 2016. Also, a wayfinding Focus Group was created and included members of Rockville Chamber of Commerce, The Federal Reality Development Group, and Rockville Economic Development Inc. Staff also worked with the vendor in creating and distributing an online survey that was distributed at various city events in 2019 and was posted on the City’s web Page for residents’ input and suggestions. The vendor developed sign concepts and packages that were comprehensively reviewed by all stakeholders. In September 2021, the Mayor and Council approved the full implementation of the City’s Wayfinding Sign Study, which was recommended by city staff and the Focus Group. Implementation was put on hold per the recommendation of the focus group and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) report calling for completion of branding and then wayfinding. The FY26 Budget funded the implementation of Phase 1a. Staff then proceeded with the preparation and execution of RFP #21-26 to fabricate the signs and provide construction design and installation details.
Mayor and Council History
Discussion of Wayfinding concept plans was conducted in January 2020. In September 2021, the Mayor and Council approved the City’s Wayfinding Sign Package.
Public Notification and Engagement
Extensive citizen engagement occurred during the consultant work leading to the preparation and approval of the City’s multiphase Wayfinding Package.
Procurement
Staff prepared and publicly advertised RFP #21-26 on March 12, 2026 in accordance with Rockville City Code section 17-62. RFP #21-26 was posted on the City website and electronically provided to 130 prospective offerors via the State of Maryland new e-Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) system. Of the 130 prospective offerors, using the new systems reporting capabilities, 14 were Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), 17 were Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), and 17 were Small Business Enterprises (SBE). Three proposals were received from:
1. KM Printing LLC
2. Blink Marketing Inc.
3. DMS Sign Connection Inc.
The evaluation committee consisted of staff from DPW assisted by the Procurement Department. DPW staff ranked the proposals based on five criteria:
|
Evaluation Criteria |
|
Tab Assignment |
Category |
Maximum Points |
|
A |
Firm’s Qualifications and Experience |
10 |
|
B |
Similar Projects/References |
20 |
|
C |
Project Approach |
15 |
|
D |
Cost |
45 |
|
E |
Project Schedule |
10 |
|
MAXIMUM TOTAL POINTS |
100 |
The proposals were ranked as follows:
|
Vendor |
MFD-V Status |
Location |
Score |
|
KM Printing LLC |
Non-MFD-V |
Owings Mills, MD |
First |
|
Blink Marketing Inc. |
Non-MFD-V |
Cleveland, OH |
Second |
|
DMS Sign Connection Inc. |
Non-MFD-V |
Mt. Airy, MD |
Third |
The evaluation committee determined KM Printing LLC to have best met the criteria in the solicitation. The proposer demonstrated excellent experience with similar projects, a fast project schedule, great project approach and the lowest cost proposal.
Staff found the references for KM Printing LLC and their subcontractors to be satisfactory for this proposal.
KM Printing LLC is a non-Minority, Female, Disabled or Veteran (non-MFD-V) business.
The draft contract is attached as Attachment 1.
To view all contract documents, please click the links below:
1. Solicitation <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=178285&GUID=08987713-610f-4732-bb0c-8654cdc8f2e4&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIyNTkgXzE%3d>
2. Appendices <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=178286&GUID=39dddfef-0fde-4e3b-bf49-9884192a0e38&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIyNTlfMg%3d%3d>
3. -KM Printing LLC Proposal <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=178287&GUID=7c3b0b64-ea70-41d6-ba96-b4da07c56451&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIyNTlfMw%3d%3d>
4. Addendum 1 <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=178288&GUID=c2fd3724-cfc8-4053-9a9c-c2592da12306&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIyNTlfNA%3d%3d>
5. Addendum 2 <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=178289&GUID=499e9c1a-5acd-49a2-a331-a39d52625a11&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIyNTlfNQ%3d%3d>
6. Addendum 3 <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=178290&GUID=3fe962d6-5dcb-4921-b3c2-a43f30e4ddc9&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIyNTlfNg%3d%3d>
7. BAFO <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=178292&GUID=094d5568-5142-482a-a996-9e4012248dbb&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIyNTlfOA%3d%3d>
Fiscal Impact
$160,000 was originally allocated for the implementation of the Town Center portion of the Phase 1 wayfinding initiative. Staff has successfully identified additional sources of funds to complement the approved amount which is sufficient to complete the fabrication of all required signs for Phase 1. Wayfinding efforts beyond Phase 1 will require additional appropriations.
Next Steps
Upon approval by the Mayor and Council, staff will coordinate with the Procurement Department to finalize the contract and issue a work order to the selected vendor for the fabrication and the delivery of Phase 1 Wayfinding Signs. City staff will then install the signs starting the fall of 2026.