Transit Vehicle Procurement
Public transportation grantees must comply with standard procurement practices and the Federal Transit Administration's third-party contracting standards. In addition to written standards of conduct and protest procedures, transit agencies must create a written record of the procurement history. The following sample incorporates procurement planning and pre-award/post-delivery audit requirements, using bid forms as supporting material.
- Sample Written Procurement History
- Best Practices Procurement Manual
- BPPM Excerpt – Buy America Guidance
Sample Solicitations
Transit agencies conducting individual or joint procurement efforts may send a bid letter to vendors asking them to express their interest in submitting a bid. View a sample bid invitation from the Bee Community Action Agency. Transit agencies should encourage competition and strive to get three bids.
Many transit agencies are legally required to advertise in a local newspaper. View an example posted by the Bee Community Action Agency in the Beeville Bee-Picayune newspaper.
Cooperative Procurement Pilot Project (CPPP)
TxDOT has launched a pilot project to facilitate the cooperative procurement of transit vehicles through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Procurement and Support Services co-op program.
Transit agencies should follow local procurement procedures prior to issuing a purchase order for any vehicle. They should also collect information and certifications from a prospective supplier to complete the pre-award audit and cooperate with the TxDOT district public transportation coordinator to complete all procurement oversight tasks, including parts I and II of the procurement checklist.
Alternatively-Fueled Public Transportation Vehicle Guidance
Revisions to the Transportation Code Sections 461.001 and 461.005 and advances in engine technology underlie the department's clean air requirements regarding the use of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) and low emission vehicles (LEV) based on a transit agency's service area.
Specifications and Related Documents
The following general instructions, bid forms and specifications should be sent to vendors who respond to the bid letter.