MBTA Solicitations Overview
For large contracts valued at more than $50,000, the MBTA manages the procurement process internally.
Note: to bid on small goods and services contracts, visit the FairMarkIT platform. The MBTA uses the statewide contract for general goods and services. Register for COMMBUYS to bid on those contracts.
Bid Types and Responsible Departments
The MBTA uses a bidding and procurement process to set relationships with third-party suppliers. The department in charge of managing bids (also called solicitations) depends on the type of service needed:
| Capital Delivery | Procurement and Logistics | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Delivery | Service Need
| Procurement and Logistics | Service Need
|
| Capital Delivery | Solicitation Types
| Procurement and Logistics | Solicitation Types
|
Any business with the relevant experience and capability to perform the work outlined is welcome to apply for any solicitation.
Common Fields and Industries
The MBTA contracts with groups in a range of fields on projects including station design and construction, consulting, and materials purchasing. Here are some professions and business types we commonly work with, broken down by service need:
- Administrative
- Architects
- Building Envelope
- CAD/CADD Experts
- Catenary/Electrifications
- Chemical Engineers
- Civil Engineers
- Construction Inspectors
- Data Processing Experts
- Draftsmen
- Ecologists
- Economists
- Electrical Engineers
- General Engineering
- Engineering Technicians
- Environmentalists
- Estimators
- Geologists
- Graphic Designers
- Hydraulic Engineers
- Hydrologists
- Interior Designers
- Landscape Architects
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mining Engineers
- Oceanographers
- Planners: Urban/Regional
- Plumbing Engineers
- Sanitary Engineers
- Signal Engineers
- Site Engineers
- Soils Engineers
- Specification Writers
- Structural Engineers
- Surveyors
- Systems Engineers/ITS
- Telecommunications
- Track Engineers
- Transposition Engineers
- Value Engineers
- Hard/Software
- Gen. Req.
- Site Construction
- Concrete
- Masonry
- Metals
- Wood & Plastics
- Thermal/Moisture
- Doors & Windows
- Finishes
- Specialties
- Equipment
- Furnishings
- Special Construction
- Conveying Systems
- Mechanical
- Electrical
- Automotive/Bus Parts and Services
- Computer Services and Supplies
- Fuel and Lubricants
- Industrial Supplies
- Marketing and Promotional
- Railcar Maintenance/Parts
- Surplus
- Clothing and Uniforms
- Fare Media
- Health and Medical
- Maintenance of Way
- Office Supplies and Services
- Revenue Supplies and Services
- Other
Get Notified of Bids in Your Industry
Sign up to receive notifications whenever there is a contract opportunity with the MBTA in your field.
Bid Openings
Solicitations from the Capital Delivery department are posted online and updated as needed to reflect the most current information.
All necessary documentation for bidders is available for download. Physical copies are no longer available.
If a materials bid is federally funded, it will be publicly opened by being read aloud in Suite 2810 of the State Transportation Building at 2 PM on the bid opening date. The solicitation will also be posted online.
All other bids will be posted online, but will not be publicly opened.
Interested bidders can download relevant information for any solicitation or pick up copies at the State Transportation Building:
Procurement and Logistics
10 Park Plaza
Suite 2810
Boston, MA 02116
Submitting Bids
Be sure to include all required documentation with your submission. Incomplete or late bids will not be considered.
Follow the instructions for the solicitation you’re interested in pursuing.
Some bids, particularly those for construction services, are submitted through an online platform. Others may require submissions by mail.
Follow the instructions for the solicitation you’re interested in pursuing.
Some bids must be submitted by mail, while others can be submitted by telephone or fax.
Appealing or Protesting Bids
Do you need to appeal the awarding of a contract to a particular vendor or request clarifications or changes to a solicitation before it’s awarded? Follow these steps to submit an appeal to the MBTA.