mta.info

Doing Business With the MTA
A Guide for Contractors and Suppliers

Frequently asked questions
Goods and services
Opportunities for disadvantaged-, minority-, and women-owned businesses


The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its family of agencies — MTA New York City Transit, the MTA Long Island Rail Road, MTA Long Island Bus, the MTA Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and the MTA Staten Island Railway — run the subways, buses, commuter railroads, and interborough toll crossings that keep the New York region moving. To provide our services, we rely on a broad range of contractors and suppliers who work with us through the procurement process. The goods and services we purchase are crucial to providing safe, reliable travel for our customers. Contractors and Suppliers

Goods and services purchased for the MTA family range from pencils to market research to railroad cars. We spend more than $1.2 billion a year. And we encourage small businesses and firms owned by minorities and women to pursue contracts and compete for MTA work.

We want to make it easier for you to do business with the MTA, so we've prepared this page to help you offer us your products and services. It tells you what we buy and how we buy. It explains our procurement system. And it lets you know how we select vendors and what we expect from them. goods and services

MTA headquarters and each MTA operating agency have their own procurement departments, but to operate more efficiently and economically we consolidate our procurements under one contract whenever feasible. Addresses and telephone numbers for MTA procurement offices are listed below. You may contact them directly to find out what their needs are or to ask questions about their procurement policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

QWhat does the MTA buy? Whom does it buy from?
Some of the MTA's procurements are for complex, specialized transportation equipment, but like any large company we also need office supplies, consulting services, paint, uniforms—practically anything you can think of. We buy from small vendors and multinational corporations.

Click here for two charts which show only a partial listing of the MTA's purchasing needs. We encourage potential vendors to contact MTA agencies directly to determine if they buy what you sell.
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QIs selling to the MTA complicated?
No more than doing business with any large corporation. Each contract is detailed and contains specifications and requirements that vendors must meet.
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QWill I be paid promptly for my work?
Yes. The MTA adheres to strict New York State regulations requiring that, generally, vendors be paid within 30 days for services or goods. We know how vital it is to be able to predict cash flow, and we want to make doing business with us as productive as possible.
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QHow do I become a vendor to the MTA?
The first step is to get on a Bidders List, a computerized record of vendors who supply the goods and services we often need. Each MTA agency and MTA headquarters maintains its own Bidders List. Vendors may enroll on some or all by calling or writing to the procurement departments and requesting applications.

It's important to know that even though your firm's name is placed on a Bidders List, this doesn't guarantee that you'll automatically receive a solicitation to bid every time the kinds of goods or services you provide are needed. To be sure that you're aware of opportunities to bid on MTA contracts, search the New York State Contract Reporter and New York-area newspapers for advertisements of upcoming bid opportunities.
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QHow will I hear about upcoming opportunities?
To reach as many potential vendors as possible, the MTA uses several different ways of announcing bid opportunities.

QHow does the procurement process work?
We solicit bids and proposals in three ways:

  1. Informal Solicitation
    When we're buying goods and services for under $10,000, we often contact vendors for bids by telephone or fax, rather than advertise. We turn to Bidders Lists and other sources to locate qualified suppliers.

  2. Invitation for Bid (IFB)
    An IFB is used to obtain bids when a contract is competitively bid. Vendors submit bids that are opened in a public meeting at the location, date, and time specified in the IFB; the contract is awarded to the qualified vendor submitting the lowest bid. IFBs are usually for goods or trade services (such as computer hardware and construction). IFBs over $10,000 are advertised; suppliers on the Bidders List may be notified by mail or by telephone.

  3. Request for Proposal (RFP)
    We send RFPs to obtain proposals when a contract is competitively negotiated. A selection committee evaluates the proposals and, based on the selection criteria set forth in the RFP, negotiates with proposers before making a selection and awarding a contract. RFPs are typically for professional services (economic consulting, systems design, management services, architectural and engineering services) and major equipment purchases such as rolling stock.
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QWho is my contact at the MTA?
The MTA agencies and MTA headquarters maintain specialized departments to conduct the procurement process.
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QHow does the MTA decide who gets a contract?
The procedures for making contract awards differ, depending on whether the contract is based on an informal solicitation, an IFB, or an RFP. Informal solicitations usually are awarded based on the lowest quote, but may specify another basis for award. IFBs are awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. This means that while competitive price is the critical factor, the MTA will also determine if the lowest bidder can responsibly fulfill the contract. Delivery performance, quality, and ability to meet bid specifications are all important considerations in evaluating a bidder's level of responsiveness.

For contracts based on RFPs, a number of criteria are considered. These are specified for each contract and may include competitive pricing, demonstrated ability to fulfill the contract, quality of samples, previous experience, and contract performance. The MTA may choose to negotiate with one or more vendors as part of the RFP process
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MTA Procurement Departments

MTA New York City Transit
Materiel Division
Solicitation Management Unit
2 Broadway, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Vreplies@nyct.com
NYC Transit operates subways in four New York City boroughs, and buses in all five boroughs.

MTA Staten Island Railway
Purchasing Department
845 Bay Street
Staten Island, NY 10304-3801
Phone: (718) 876-8276
Fax: (718) 876-8273

MTA Staten Island Railway operates a surface railroad that links 22 Staten Island communities.

MTA Long Island Rail Road
90-27 Sutphin Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11435
Mail Code: 0335
Phone: (718) 558-4704
Fax: (718) 558-4735

Contracts, Planning & Construction, and Major Projects
90-27 Sutphin Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11435
Mail Code: 0335
Phone: (718) 725-2622
Fax (718) 725-2575

The LIRR operates commuter rail lines in Nassau and Suffolk counties and in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

MTA Long Island Bus
Procurement Department
700 Commercial Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530-6434
Phone: (516) 542-0100, x4337
Fax: (516) 794-8670

LI Bus operates buses in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties.

MTA Metro-North Railroad
Procurement and Materials Management
347 Madison Avenue, 14th floor
New York, NY 10017-3739
Phone: (212) 340-3920
Fax: (212) 340-4034

Metro-North operates commuter rail lines in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, and Rockland counties and in Manhattan, the Bronx, and southwestern Connecticut.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels
Procurement Division
2 Broadway, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: (646) 252-7092
Fax: (646) 252-7077

MTA Bridges and Tunnels operates seven bridges and two tunnels in New York City.

MTA Capital Construction
Law and Procurement Department
2 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone (646) 252-2321
Fax (646) 252-2026
E-Mail: procurement@mtacc.info

MTA Capital Construction is responsible for managing major capital expansion
and Downtown Manhattan transit infrastructure projects.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Procurement Department
347 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017-3739
Phone: (212) 878-0219
Fax: (212) 878-7429

MTA headquarters sets policy MTA-wide, secures funding, oversees the transportation network's rebuilding programs, and manages budgets, investments, and real estate.
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