Transit Vehicle Procurement

On February 26, the Texas Transportation Commission approved the use of $32.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for public transit projects.

Public transportation grantees must comply with standard procurement practices and 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 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 letter 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 monitoring form.

Alternatively-Fueled Public Transportation Vehicle Guidance

Revisions to the Transportation Code Section 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 agencies service area.

Clean Air Guidance

Specifications and Related Documents

The following general instructions, bid forms and specifications should be sent to vendors who respond to the bid letter.