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General Content

Legacy ID
171
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Significant Regulatory Guidance
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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...

Funds 5311

Frequently Asked QuestionsCan a local agency utilizing 5311 funds enter into a MOU with a CSTA for Paratransit as well as fixed route service?

You should contact your regional FTA office in San Francisco to discuss your plans for paratransit service under the 5311 grant. (Posted: August, 2013)

Splitting

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhen making small purchases, with the threshold of $10,000, it is my understanding that the threshold applies to each purchase. Understanding that splitting purchases to stay under a designated threshold is not allowed, if purchases are made with a particular vendor based...

Rights In Data

Frequently Asked QuestionsIs it permissible to exclude the Federal rights In Data provisions from a contract when the contractor will be using open source code software to develop the deliverable items?

Yes, the Federal rights In Data provisions would not be appropriate for a situation where open...

Sealed Bids

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Does FTA require the grantee/owner to attend the bid opening of a prime contractor that is opening bids from subcontractors on a Design-Build project?

A. FTA policies do not require the grantee/owner to be present at the bid opening of a prime contractor's...

Cost Plus Fixed Fee Contracts

Frequently Asked QuestionsWe would like to incentivize our CPFF contractors to perform their contracts in a timely manner. Can we structure our CPFF contracts to pay the fixed fee upon submission of contract deliverables instead of as a percent of cost incurred on a monthly basis?

We believe this...

State Procurement Schedules

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Would you consider the State of IL Joint Procurement Program a GSA Schedule type contracting method? The State's Central Procurement office issues competitive procurements and in the procurement subsequent contract documents it clearly states that these contracts allow...

Copyrights

Frequently Asked QuestionsWe hire vendors such as photographers and videographers to do specific work paid for with FTA funds. Who does the copyright to this work reside with - The Federal Government or the vendor?Background: Metro has an FTA grant - CMAQ funds - in hiring a photographer I am...

Requests For Information

Frequently Asked QuestionsI am involved in a couple of technical procurements for a new 800MHz Radio System and an Interactive Voice Response system and am having trouble identifying FTA's position on RFIs. We have performed a needs assessment but are concerned that the current technology may offer...