To reach as many potential suppliers, consultants and contractors as possible, the NFTA uses several methods, including this web site, to announce procurement opportunities.

• Register on Bonfire Interactive as a potential supplier 

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) has partnered with Bonfire Interactive to create a new procurement portal that will allow you to receive notifications of formal competitive procurements (Requests for Proposal & Invitation for Bids) and then electronically submit bids and proposals to the NFTA.

Registration on Bonfire is mandatory to participate in the NFTA’s formal competitive procurements and to download procurement documents and submit a proposal/bid. Only registered suppliers will be notified of upcoming procurement opportunities.

Vendors are requested to visit bonfirehub.com, then follow the link to the Bonfire vendor registration page to register your company. Please be sure to select “Vendor Type” and “NAICS Code Set” associated with your type of business or organization. Vendors will be alerted to upcoming solicitations based on their selected “Vendor Type” or NAICS Code.

For engineering and construction project opportunities, go to

https://www.nftaengineering.com/

• Check the Bonfire portal for Current Procurement Opportunities Bids must be downloaded directly from this website.

• Check the Newspapers

Advertisements announcing most of our procurement needs appear in the Buffalo News, The Niagara Falls Gazette and The Buffalo Challenger. Other newspapers and periodicals may be used under special circumstances.

• The Primary Source: The New York State Contract Reporter

All procurement solicitations that are anticipated to be $25,000 and above appear in the New York State Contract Reporter. For subscription information, contact the New York State Contract Reporter at http://www.nyscr.com or call 1-888-697-7787.

We solicit bids and proposals using the following methods:  (All formal procurements $25,000 and above are advertised).

• Informal Bids

When buying materials and services for under $25,000, we telephone or email potential sources for quotations rather than advertise. We look at our Registered Suppliers List and other sources to locate qualified suppliers.

• Invitation for Bid:

An Invitation for Bid is used to obtain bids when a contract is competitively bid. Potential suppliers and contractors submit bids that are opened at a public meeting: at a location, date and time specified in the Bid Document.

• Request for Proposal

We use Requests for 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 the most qualified proponent before awarding a contract.

The procedures for making awards differ depending on whether the contract is based on Informal Bid, an Invitation for Bid, or a Request for Proposal. For Informal Bids, solicitations and Invitations for Bid, contracts or Purchase Orders are awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The NFTA determines if the lowest responsive bidder can responsibly fulfill the contract or purchase order. Delivery, performance, quality, and ability to meet bid specifications are all important considerations when evaluation a bidder's level of responsiveness.

For contracts based on RFP's, a number of criteria are considered. Pertinent experience, proven management skills, qualified key personnel, ability to perform within given time constraints, past performance, quality of previous bid documents, demonstrated professionalism and other criteria specific to each contract may all become part of the negotiations that lead to the awarding of a contract based on an RFP.