Do Business with TARC

HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH TARC
Transit Authority of River City

Who Buys for TARC?
The Purchasing Department handles all purchasing for the Transit Authority of River City. If anyone has any questions about TARC's purchasing policies, contact:

Robert F. Bailey Jr.
Director, Purchasing Department
Transit Authority of River City
1000 West Broadway · Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 561-5135
FAX (502) 561-5148
bbailey@ridetarc.org

All forms, bid notices, specifications and other documents can be picked up at the above address during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.

What Does TARC Buy?
Parts, supplies, equipment, professional and other services required to maintain the buses, related equipment, fixed facilities and administrative offices.

How Does TARC Buy?
All goods and services, which TARC needs, are obtained through spot purchases and competitive bidding.

Goods and/or services valued from $1000 to $25,000 may be purchased from the lowest and best of three quotations obtained by phone, or in writing.

Goods and/or services valued over $25,000 are purchased through a competitive sealed bid process. Vendors are notified of TARC's intent to obtain bids by direct mailings from current vendor lists and through newspaper advertisements.

Who Receives TARC's Bid Notices?

Known Vendors
Kentucky Minority Business Council (KMBC)
Justice Resource Center
Greater Louisville, Inc.
F.W. Dodge Corporation (Construction Only)

How Does TARC Advertise for Bids?
All bid related advertising appears in the legal notice sections of the Louisville Defender, Courier-Journal, New Albany Tribune, Passenger Transport (as applicable). Construction projects are also listed in the Dodge Report.

How Do I get on TARC's Bid List?
Getting on TARC's bid list is as simple as forwarding a letter of interest to the Purchasing Department, 1000 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203, Attention: Director of Purchasing.

Legal / recognized name of your business.
Street and/or P.O. Box mailing address(es) of business
All business contact phone numbers: 1-800 or similar, fax, pager, cellular, mobile and local phone numbers: e-mail and/or website addresses (when available)
Business point of contact names and positions held.
Future solicitations you wish to be mailed. Please limit requests to services and/or parts that can be provided by your business.
Identify if business has DBE, MBE, WBE status.

Small, Disadvantage Business Enterprises If anyone feels that their firm qualifies under the Small Business Administration definition of a small, disadvantaged business enterprise as found in Section 8 (d) of the Small Business Act, contact:

Robert F. Bailey Jr.
Director, Purchasing Department
Transit Authority of River City
1000 West Broadway
Louisville, KY 40203
Phone: 502.561.5135
Fax: 502.561.5148
Email: bbailey@ridetarc.org

On an annual basis, TARC establishes goals for the participation of disadvantage business in its procurement process. For fiscal year 2008, the DBE goal is 10%

NOTE: There is no DBE set-aside or discount provision in TARC's Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program.
Check These Points - Mistakes Can Cost YOU Money $$$$
A word of WARNING! One of the most difficult aspects of operating a business is bidding and job pricing. It is very important to remember to use extra care when preparing bids. Refer to this checklist to make sure that these points have not been overlooked causing disqualification of your bid.

Spot Purchases

Acknowledge receipt of pricing request.
Give prompt quotation response.

Sealed Bids

Have you read the solicitation thoroughly and do you understand it?
Have you conformed to all the necessary specifications and standards?
Have all addenda/amendments been acknowledged?
If bonding is required, has it been included?
Have you carefully entered your pricing information? (Lump sum or per item as specified in the bid)
Are the figures legible?
Are your terms for delivery in exact accordance with that required in the bid? (F.O.B. Destination)
If you provide any discounts, have they been stated correctly?
Sign your bid. Is the person who signed the bid authorized to do so?
Has your envelope been identified properly?
Make sure that the bid arrives on time. It is your responsibility to see that it does?
Please remember the Transit Authority of River City, TARC reserves the right to consider non-responsiveness in connection with any proposal request to be sufficient cause for removal of unresponsive vendor from our active bidders list.

Do not hesitate to initiate contact with the Purchasing Department to seek assistance. Since TARC's is a public agency, you may request information on current pricing. Follow-up. If you are not the successful bidder, find out what the winning bid was and compare it with your bid. With each experience, a firm will be better able to asses what it takes to bid successfully.

Current Opportunities

Purchasing Department Main Page

DBE Information

Get On-Board with TARC

The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) is committed to being a national transportation leader that provides innovative, cutting-edge service to benefit the greater Louisville community. This commitment includes one of our valued resources, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs*). TARC continually seeks out and utilizes certified DBEs that can provide quality products and services.

Click here for bids currently being solicited

Policy Statement:
It is the policy of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) to award and administer all U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) assisted contracts in a nondiscriminatory manner. TARC will take all necessary and reasonable steps in accordance with 49 CFR, Part 26, to ensure that (a) a level playing field is created in order that small and disadvantaged business enterprises have the maximum opportunity to compete for and participate in the performance of contracts financed in whole or in part with Federal funds; (b) only firms that fully meet the eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBE's; and (c) development assistance is provided so the DBE firms may successfully compete in the marketplace.

TARC and its contractors shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin in the award and performance of Department of Transportation assisted contracts.

TARC will ensure that small and disadvantage business enterprises are informed of procurement activity through trade papers, newspapers, minority community focus newspapers, local assistance agencies and direct contact.

When requested, TARC will provide information on certification procedures, bonding requirements, joint venturing, job performance requirements, procurement opportunities, and facilitate the review and evaluation of unsuccessful bids through debriefing sessions. TARC will encourage joint ventures among small and disadvantaged business entities and also between majority, and small disadvantaged firms in its bidding process.

The Transit Authority of River City, Board of Directors adopted this Policy Statement at its regular meeting convened on Monday, August 16, 1999.

Mary Morrow, Board Chairman

J. Barry Barker, Executive Director

Objectives:

To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of US DOT assisted contracts;
To create a level playing field on which DBE's can compete fairly for US DOT assisted contracts;
To ensure that only firms the fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBE's;
To help remove barriers to the participation of DBE's in US DOT assisted contracts; and
To assist in the development of firms that can compete in the marketplace outside the DBE program

Overall DBE Goal:

The Overall DBE Goal for FY 2007: 10%

Certification Eligibility:

That is at least 51% owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged or, in the case of a corporation, in which 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals; and
Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it.

Other criteria includes, but is not limited to:

Membership in a protected class;
The owners' personal net worth; and
Firm meets SBA small business guidelines.

Gross receipt averages over three years must not exceed $17.4 million (heavy construction contractor) or $4 million (engineering consultant).

Contact:
Robert F. Bailey Jr.
Director, Purchasing Department
Transit Authority of River City
1000 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40203
Phone: 502.561.5135
Fax: 502.561.5148
Email: bbailey@ridetarc.org
*Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBEs/WBEs)