TRA
PROCUREMENT POLICIES - DOING BUSINESS WTH TRA
The Authority annually expends several million dollars
on goods, services, and supplies. In 2006, these expenditures
(excluding professional services) exceeded $39 million.
With respect to procurement, it is the TRA’s
intent to promote competitive pricing and broad participation
of vendors in purchasing.
VENDOR PARTICIPATION
A Vendor Solicitation List (VSL) will be used for
both solicitation of bids and for pricing purchases,
which fall below the required bid amount. Pricing
of purchases not required to be bid will be made through
HUBs, non-HUB vendors , and the consolidated purchasing
sources.
Vendors will be deleted from the VSL at the vendor's
written request. Vendors may also be deleted from
the VSL when goods or services are non-conforming,
fail to meet quality standards or fail to be delivered
as promised.
DISADVANTAGE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PARTICIPATION
Business enterprises, including disadvantaged, minority,
women owned, or Historically Underutilized Business
(HUB), will be encouraged to submit a vendor profile
to a TRA purchasing site for inclusion in that location’s
VSL.
TRA will accept the statement of the vendor as to
51% ownership by an individual or class of individuals
who qualify as HUB owners, i.e. Black Americans, Hispanic
Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Native Americans,
and Women. TRA will accept vendor certification of
HUB status by the North Central Regional Certification
Agency, North Texas Women’s Business Counsel,
and the consolidated purchasing sources.
TRANSACTIONS REQUIRING COMPETITIVE BIDS
Purchases in Excess of $50,000
For contracts of $50,000 or more where purchases
are available through the consolidated purchasing
sources, the manager will obtain three other quotes.
If the consolidated purchasing sources' price is the
lowest and best price, the purchase order may be initiated
after approval from the General Manager.
For contracts over $50,000 where the purchase is
not available through the consolidated purchasing
sources, the Authority shall advertise the letting
of the contract, including the general conditions,
and time and place of the opening of sealed bids.
The notice shall be published in one or more newspapers
with general circulation in the state, or with general
circulation in the Authority's jurisdiction. The notice
shall be published once a week for two consecutive
weeks before the date that the bids are opened, and
the first publication shall be not later than the
21st day before the date of the opening of the sealed
bids.
Publication of Bid Notices will be made by the appropriate
manager only after a determination of the availability
of the products or services.
Bid awards based on the lowest and best bid will
be determined by an analysis of the bids received
and what is available from the consolidated purchasing
sources. Recommendations for bid awards will be made
to the General Manager and/or the Board of Directors.
Purchases Between $25,000 and $50,000
For contracts over $25,000 but not more than $50,000,
the Authority shall obtain proposals based on uniform
written specifications from at least three parties,
and subject to the adequacy of budgeted funds.
Purchases Below $25,000
The Authority is not required to advertise or solicit
proposals for contracts that are not more than $25,000.
