FAQ
Procurement
What is a bid?
Does a vendor need to be pre-qualified to bid?
How does a vendor become pre-qualified to bid, and how often does the vendor need to renew its pre-qualified status?
Can I apply to become a CTA Vendor On-line?
Does a vendor need to pay for bid specifications?
Can bids be faxed?
Can vendors from outside the county or state make bids?
When are bids opened?
What disqualifies a bid?
What are the results of the bid opening?
What was the previous price?
Who is the low bidder?
When will the contract be awarded?
Do I need to bid through a DBE?
What is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)?
Where do I find a DBE firm to use?
Who are approved DBE's?
Can I apply and/or maintain my DBE Certification On-line?
I'm a certified DBE with the City of Chicago/the Illinois Department of Transportation/Metra/ Pace, am I also certified with CTA?
What is the Illinois Unified Certification Program (IL UCP)?
How do I fill out Schedules C and D?
How do I get my product approved?
How do I sell to CTA?
Which Procurement Administrator or Buyer is in charge of purchasing my commodity?
Please explain the difference between purchases over and under $10,000.00?
Is everything that CTA purchases posted on the website?
Procurement
Q:
What is a bid?
A:
A bid is a vendor's response to a solicitation by the Authority requesting offers to provide a specific good or service.
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Q:
Does a vendor need to be pre-qualified to bid?
A:
No, unless otherwise specified in the bid documents. For most contracts, if you can provide the goods and/or services requested in the invitation for bids, you may bid on the specification.
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Q:
How does a vendor become pre-qualified to bid, and how often does the vendor need to renew its pre-qualified status?
A:
As stated above, a vendor does not need to be pre-qualified to bid.
However, a vendor is encouraged to register online, which will allow the vendor to be added to CTA's database of vendors, which includes those commodities that the vendor is able to provide.
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Q:
Can I apply to become a CTA Vendor On-line?
A:
Yes, you can apply to become a CTA Vendor on-line by accessing our on-line vendor/DBE registration system at www.ctavendor.com.
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Q:
Does a vendor need to pay for bid specifications?
A:
When required, you must provide us with cash, a cashier's check, certified check or money order.
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Q:
Can bids be faxed?
A:
Bids must be returned to the Authority in accordance with the instructions to bidders contained within the bid document.
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Q:
Can vendors from outside the county or state make bids?
A:
Yes, there are no restrictions regarding a vendor's location
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Q:
When are bids opened?
A:
Bids are opened and read publicly at 11a.m. on the date indicated in the bid document. Bids received after the hour and date indicated for the bid opening will not be considered.
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Q:
What disqualifies a bid?
A:
You should read the specification document very carefully and follow all instructions. This is the best way to keep from having your bid disqualified. In general, bids can also be disqualified for being late or missing information and/or signatures. Please note that these reasons should not be considered all-inclusive.
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Q:
What are the results of the bid opening?
A:
These were available at the time of the bid opening, however no information can be provided during the review and evaluation process.
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Q:
What was the previous price?
A:
Information can be obtained through the Freedom of Information Act process. However, bidders are encouraged to offer their best price without considering the previous price.
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Q:
Who is the low bidder?
A:
This information will be available after the contract is awarded.
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Q:
When will the contract be awarded?
A:
Bids are normally to be valid for 90 days after bid opening and a contract is to be awarded sometime during that period.
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Q:
Do I need to bid through a DBE?
A:
No.
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Q:
What is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)?
A:
A DBE firm is a firm which is owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals pursuant to 49 CFR, Part 26. More information regarding CTA's DBE program can be obtained from the DBE Department.
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Q:
Where do I find a DBE firm to use?
A:
The Illinois Unified Certification Program publishes and maintains a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Directory which lists all certified DBEs in the State of Illinois. A copy of this directory can be viewed on CTA's web page or you may contact the DBE Department for a copy of this directory.
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Q:
Who are approved DBE's?
A:
Please contact the DBE department for a copy of the aforementioned Disadvantaged Business Directory.
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Q:
Can I apply and/or maintain my DBE Certification On-line?
A:
Yes, you can apply for DBE certification, and maintain your certification if you are already certified,
on-line by accessing our on-line vendor/DBE registration system at www.ctavendor.com.
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Q:
I'm a certified DBE with the City of Chicago/the Illinois Department of Transportation/Metra/ Pace, am I also certified with CTA?
A:
CTA is a certifying participant in the Illinois Unified Certification Program (IL UCP). All firms that are certified with the IL UCP through one of the aforementioned agencies are considered DBEs with CTA. Please note that WBE and MBE certifications are NOT recognized by CTA.
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Q:
What is the Illinois Unified Certification Program (IL UCP)?
A:
The IL UCP is based on the concept of reciprocity among the participants. The certifying participants of the IL UCP are CTA, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the City of Chicago, Metra and Pace. "One Stop Shopping" is provided to certified DBE firms such that an applicant DBE need only to apply once for DBE certification. If the firm is approved as a DBE firm, this certification is honored by all IL UCP participants in the State of Illinois.
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Q:
How do I fill out Schedules C and D?
A:
Please follow the directions in the document or contact the DBE department should you need additional assistance.
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Q:
How do I get my product approved?
A:
Review and approval is handled by CTA's Technical Services or using departments.
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Q:
How do I sell to CTA?
A:
We will send you a copy of the publication, "Doing Business With CTA." We will also send you a vendor application, which you should complete and return to CTA.
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Q:
Which Procurement Administrator or Buyer is in charge of purchasing my commodity?
A:
No one particular commodity is necessarily assigned to one particular individual. You should contact the specific person handling a specific procurement.
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Q:
Please explain the difference between purchases over and under $10,000.00?
A:
Purchases in excess of $10,000.00 are required to be publicly advertised for bid, whereas those of $10,000.00 or less in value are not required to be publicly advertised.
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Q:
Is everything that CTA purchases posted on the website?
A:
No, generally only those purchases that are in excess of $10,000.00.
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