About MTA EDGE Tier 2
Tier 2 of the MTA EDGE program builds on the foundation established in Tier 1 and is designed to help participating firms expand their capacity, increase their bonding limits, and prepare for larger and more independent contracting roles with the MTA.
Firms that successfully complete Tier 1 may advance into this five-year Tier 2 program, where they become eligible to bid on contracts valued up to $5 million. Unlike Tier 1, contracts awarded in Tier 2 are delivered with minimal construction manager oversight, giving firms greater responsibility and a direct path toward operating as independent contractors on future MTA projects.
To participate, firms must meet enhanced readiness and bonding requirements, reflecting the increased complexity and scale of Tier 2 work.
What Tier 2 includes
- Project and business mentorship, access to working capital
- Bonding assistance and financial readiness support
- Opportunities to perform MTA construction contracts up to $5 million
- Fast-track payment processing
Eligibility criteria
To be considered for MTA EDGE Tier 2, a firm must have:
- Successfully completed MTA EDGE Tier 1.
- At least two references for completed commercial work valued at $500,000 or more in each trade the firm is prequalified for.
- Annual average gross receipts of $10 million or less over the past three years.
- Business ownership with a net worth not exceeding $15 million (excluding primary residence).
- A bonding capacity of at least $2 million single / $4 million aggregate.
How firms receive work
Once a firm receives its pre-qualification approval and is officially enrolled in Tier 2, it becomes eligible to receive bid opportunities through the MTA EDGE program.
Bid opportunities will depend on:
- The firm’s bonding capacity at the time of solicitation.
- The availability of work in the trades for which the firm is pre-qualified.
Opportunities are communicated by the MTA procurement team based on active scopes and market demand.