General
Legacy ID
36
A&E Contracts
Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Can we use FTA money for an on-call architectural and engineering services (A&E) contract? We would follow Brooks Act procedures and negotiate direct labor and overhead with the most qualified firm or firms, and the Department would get fee proposals based on those...Online Tools & Resources
For the user's convenience, we have provided some useful web links. Access the desired link below:
Pricing guide for FTA Grantees (MS Word)Procurement System Self-Assessment GuideProcurement Systems Review Guide (MS Word)The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
Travel Costs
Frequently Asked QuestionsOur agency is about to award a contract for professional services but the vendor has per diem rates that are higher than what I found on the GSA Per Diem website for our area. We are using federal funds for this project and my understanding is that we are not allowed to...Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture
Learn more about the State of Minnesota's Cooperative Purchasing Venture (CPV) Decision (PDF). (Posted: July 30, 2013)
Debarred - Suspended
Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. What is the process that a grantee must take to get a contractor placed on the debarred/suspended list?A. A federal agency can only debar an entity that poses a present risk to federal programs. Debarment cannot be used as a punishment for past wrongdoings....
FTA Grant Opportunities
Frequently Asked QuestionsCan you advise us about grants funds that may exist for transit agencies, State DOT's or school districts to utilize mobile video surveillance systems?FTA does not provide specific funding for video surveillance systems; however, such systems are eligible for purchase...
Bidder Response Time
Frequently Asked QuestionsAre there any specific time requirements mandated by FTA in regard to the length of time that bidders are given to respond to Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, etc. (For instance 2 weeks, 3 weeks)?FTA has no specific requirements for establishing time periods...
Commercial Items
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the definition of an off-the-shelf commercial item? The BPPM appears to say the solicitation can't have specifications for the purchased item to be off-the-shelf. If that's correct, then if a transit agency buys a tire off the rack, it's an off-the-shelf item. But...Procurement Planning
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat are some methods a grantee can use to avoid duplicative or unnecessary purchases?The best way to avoid duplicate purchases is to have a good planning and procurement monitoring process that allows you to track who is buying what. If you can see, for example, that...