USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Best Practices Procurement & Lessons Learned Manual (Report 0105)


This manual provides FTA grant recipients with detailed information about third-party procurement requirements to help improve internal processes and avoid pitfalls. The manual covers the entire procurement cycle: (1) Planning, (2) Selecting Type of Contracting Method, (3) Evaluation of Proposals and Contract Award, and (4) Contract Administration.

Derived from federal statutes, regulations, and guidance, the examples provided are not intended to be all-inclusive, given the many unique situations grantees face when undertaking third-party procurements. Rather, the examples are intended as a resource and a starting point for recipients to explore how other recipients have approached procurement compliance. Items in the table of contents link to the relevant sections.

Effective Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020
DOT is committed to ensuring that information is available in appropriate alternative formats to meet the requirements of persons who have a disability. If you require an alternative version of files provided on this page, please contact FTAWebAccessibility@dot.gov.