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Doing Business

The Procurement and Contracting Division is responsible for procuring goods, services and commodities on behalf of the RTA. The RTA seeks to do business with experienced and responsible firms utilizing an open, transparent and competitive process to procure products and services.

The RTA standards incorporate best industry practices that promote accountability and efficiency in our procurement processes.

All purchasing is performed at the RTA office. Business hours are 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

Current Bids

The following solicitations are now open.

Go to the RTA Supplier Portal to access and download open solicitations and submit bids.

  • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP). Opens January 12, 2024. Closes March 12, 2024 at 11 a.m.
  • Information Technology ("IT") Supplies and Accessories. Opens February 29, 2024. Closes April 1, 2024 at 11 a.m.
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RTA Supplier Portal

The RTA invites firms to register in the self-service RTA Supplier Portal to receive notification of new solicitations for business. Successful registration allows vendors to access RTA’s open solicitations, submit bids, proposals and invoices and update their company profile. Vendors and suppliers are encouraged to maintain up-to-date account and contact information

About RTA Procurement

What the RTA buys?
RTA Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

More information

Visit the Supplier Portal to see solicitations/events currently open for bidding. 

Contract award information can be found at the Regional Transparency Portal.

Formal Bidding, Cancellation of Solicitation, and Rejection of Bids

RTA conducts formal bidding through public advertisement. An Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Request for Qualifications (RFQ) may be published in local newspapers. Registering your firm into the RTA’s Supplier Portal will allow the RTA to include you in future solicitations. The RTA reserves the right to cancel in whole or in part any solicitation issued by the RTA. The RTA reserves the right to accept any bid or any part thereof or to reject any and all bids.

Bid Protest

The RTA will entertain protests from interested parties regarding its procurement actions. Any interested party may file a bid protest on the basis that the RTA failed to comply with a federal or state law or that the RTA failed to follow its own Procurement Regulations. For details on the Bid Protest Procedures, please click the link below and refer to Article 12. Bid Protest Procedures.

Payment of Invoices

Invoices will need to be entered into the RTA Supplier Portal. Payment will be processed when notice has been received by the Accounting Department that the goods or services have been received, inspected, and found to be as ordered.

Note: The RTA is exempt from all sales tax. Please contact the Procurement and Contracting for an exemption notice.

The RTA's Annual Procurement Plan and purchasing process are governed by the following laws and regulations.

And all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations

If you have any procurement-related questions, please contact the Manager of Procurement & Contracting at Procurement@rtachicago.org.  If you are interested in doing business with CTA, Metra or Pace (“Service Boards”), please contact the appropriate Service Board procurement department. Each Service Board has its own Procurement site and business procedures.

How to use the Supplier Portal

The RTA Supplier Portal allows vendors to receive new procurement opportunities, access and download open solicitations, submit bids, proposals, and qualifications electronically, submit invoices for payment, update and maintain account information and reset passwords, and communicate more effectively with RTA staff during the solicitation process.

Guides
Video Tutorials
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Questions?

Contact the Regulatory Compliance Officer at (312) 913-3200.

Illinois Uniform Certification Program (IL UCP) DBE Directory

The IL UCP DBE Directory identifies the certified DBE firms for the purpose of providing a reference source to assist bidders in meeting any DBE participation requirements. DBE certification does not guarantee that a firm will be approved to participate toward a contract’s DBE goal.

View the Illinois Uniform Certification Program (IL UCP) DBE Directory

Small Business Set-Aside Program

It is the objective of the RTA to take all necessary and reasonable steps to facilitate competition by small business concerns and to eliminate obstacles to their participation. The RTA has established a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program that is an element of the DBE Program in conformance with U.S. DOT regulations 49 CFR Part 26.39 (1).

For Small Business Set-Aside solicitations, your firm must be verified as an SBE with one of the five IL UCP members (IDOT, CTA, Metra, Pace or City of Chicago), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or IL Central Management Services (CMS) at the time of bid/proposal submittal and provide proof of SBE verification with submittal to be considered for the solicitation.

Forms
RTA Terms and Conditions for Purchase Order

Vendor Contractor Certification (VCC) and RTA Certifications and Assurances  

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Requirements—DBE Compliance Plan Feb 2018

Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification

If you are interested in bidding on CTA, Metra or Pace (“Service Boards”) available projects, please select any of the buttons below. Each Service Board has its own Procurement site and business procedures. We recommend you visit the respective Service Board for complete details.

CTA

Metra

Pace


RTA
CTA
Metra
Pace
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