• By Commodity

• Concrete Paving Contractors
• Electrical Contractors
• Excavating & Underground Contractors
• General Contractors
• Glazing Contractors
• Heating/Ventilating/Air-Conditioning Contractors
• Painting Contractors
• Plumbing Contractors
• Roofing Contractors
• Sewer Contractors
• Steel Erection Contractors
• Track Construction Contractors
• Tuckpointing and Masonry Contractors
• Demolition Contractors

Architectural and Engineering firms should verify that they are listed in the appropriate service categories:

• Architects
• Civil Engineers
• Electrical Engineers
• Geotechnical Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Structural Engineers 

You or your representative are welcome to visit our offices during business hours, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, we ask that all contractors/vendors have an appointment to see our Purchasing staff. Please call (312) 664-7200, ext. 12660, to make an appointment.

CTA encourages its vendors to maintain a responsible performance record by adhering to all contract terms and specifications. This includes providing specified materials or services and making on-time deliveries.

If your past performance on CTA contracts is unsatisfactory, you may be suspended from a vendor's list and denied the right to bid on CTA purchase orders or contracts, per the CTA's debarment and suspension regulations.

Types of Purchases and Sale Transactions:

CTA purchases rail cars and buses, parts for rail cars, buses, and service vehicles, office supplies, and a wide variety of materials and services for the maintenance, repair and operation of the CTA.

According to the Municipal Transit Act of Illinois, and the CTA's Regulations Governing Purchase and Sales Transactions, CTA is required to accept competitive bids for any purchase order or contract exceeding $10,000 for personal property, materials or supplies, labor, services or work; or the sale of scrap, surplus material, and obsolete equipment.

Exceptions to this requirement include purchase orders and contracts for sole source items; services for professional, technical or artistic skill; rolling stock; emergency or public exigency purchases; and goods or services procured through competitive negotiations.

Purchases or sales of less than $10,000 must be let by competitive bidding, whenever possible, after solicitation of bids by mail, telephone or other means. 

The two types of purchase and sales transactions covered in this brochure are as follows:

Request For Quotations
When materials or supplies costing less than $10,000 are required, the Purchasing Department issues a Request For Quotations to CTA approved vendors. An RFQ includes a complete description of the item and quantity requested.

• No Bid:
  If you are unable to bid on all or part of a quotation, please write "no bid," where applicable, and return the entire package to CTA on or before the close date. A "no bid" response indicates that you are interested in remaining on our active bidders list.

• Bid Submittal:
  Vendors may respond to the quotation by typing or legibly printing in ink their quantity, unit of measure, price and delivery terms. An authorized company agent also must sign and date the bid. The complete quotation, including all CTA terms and conditions, must be returned to the post office box indicated on the quotation, or to the lock box in the Purchasing Department, no later than 8 a.m. on the designated close date.

• Purchase Order Award:
  Purchase orders are awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. A quotation is responsive when it meets the requirements of the RFQ. Responsibility includes, but is not limited to, financial stability, previous performance, experience, adequacy of equipment, special or unique skills, and ability to complete performance within a specified time limit.

Invitation For Bids
The Purchasing Department publishes an Invitation For Bids in an English language daily newspaper of general circulation (currently the Chicago Tribune). Bid documents also are mailed to CTA approved vendors and are posted on the CTA web site.

In addition, public notice may include periodic handouts listing proposed contracts or announcements of proposed contracts in trade journals, minority and female publications, Spanish or other foreign language publications, magazines and other mass communications media. Notices are also posted on the bulletin board on the 2nd floor, 567 W Lake. St. Chicago, IL 60661-1498.

Interested vendors should obtain a bid package from CTA's Bid Office to learn more about a bid. Addenda to specifications, which are mailed to every firm that received a bid document, must be acknowledged in your response.

• Completing The Bid Package:
  Only those bids that are completed correctly and submitted on time will be evaluated for contract award. Bids must be signed in the designated areas in each of the following sections: Proposal Page; DBE Schedules B, C, D; Lobbying; Debarment; Buy America Requirements; and Execution Pages, including Partnership, Sole Proprietorship, Disclosure of Ownership, and Acceptance. Bidders must also meet the requirements listed in the Special Conditions which may call for additional information to be submitted along with the bid package. 

  Some commonly made mistakes to avoid when completing the bid package include:

  • Authorized party does not sign bid on execution page.
  • Bidder does not sign compliance or non-compliance with Buy America requirements.
  • Bidder does not meet DBE requirements, and does not request a waiver.
  • Bidder does not submit a bid bond when required.
  • Bidder will not bid on options when required.
  • Bidder does not submit price list or book when required.
  • Bidder does not list names of subcontractors when required.
  • Bidder does not acknowledge in bid submittals receipt of addenda issued to the bid package that affect price, quantity, quality, delivery schedules, or liability.
  • Bidder does not submit the bid package, in its entirety, to the CTA's Bid Office within the required time frame.

• No Bid:
  If you are unable to bid on all or part of a specification, please write "no bid," where applicable, and return the entire package to the CTA's Bid Office on or before the bid opening date. A "no bid" response indicates that you are interested in remaining on our active bidders list. 
  
  
• Bid Deposits:
  When specified in an advertisement, bids must be submitted with a deposit, i.e. cashier's check, certified check, money order or bid bond. If you submit a bid bond, you must reference the specified CTA contract number and have at least an Alfred M. Best Company "B+" policyholder's rating and "X" or better financial rating. 
  
  After the bid opening, you may substitute a bid bond for a bid deposit.
  
  
• Bid Submittal:
  The complete bid, including specification and addenda, must be received by the CTA Bid Office, 2nd Floor 567 W. Lake St. Chicago, IL 60661-1498, before 11 a.m. on the bid opening date. Bids received after this time will be returned to the bidder.
  
  You are invited to attend the public bid opening on 2nd Floor 567 W. Lake St. Chicago, IL 60661-1498 at 11 a.m. on the designated date.
  
  
• Contract Evaluation and Award:
  Contracts are awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Factors considered in determining responsiveness and responsibility include: 

  Responsiveness - A bid is responsive when it complies in all material aspects with the IFB. This applies both to the method and timeliness of submission and the substance of any resulting contract. Exceptions to the bid document could result in a potentially non-responsive situation. CTA is unable to accept any non-responsive bids.

  Responsibility - Responsibility includes, but is not limited to, financial stability, previous performance, experience, adequacy of equipment, special or unique skills, and ability to complete performance within a specified time limit.

During declared emergencies or public exigencies, CTA will request quotations for the necessary supplies or services from known, reliable sources. If you are interested in being considered for an emergency contract, you must maintain a current application, as well as an exemplary track record on your deliveries and contract performance.