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Contact: Kristi Clemens
Friday, June 20, 2003
Tel: (202) 366-4043
FTA Streamlines Contracting Rules
The
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today issued streamlined procurement rules
for transit agencies. This new
guidance eliminates unnecessary record keeping and gives transit agencies
increased contracting flexibility.
"Our
goal is to strengthen the business climate by encouraging common sense
approaches to contracting," said FTA Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn.
"This is just one of many steps we are taking to help communities
deliver the highest value for America's investment in public
transportation."
One
of the most significant changes is a clear, page-by-page explanation of the most
complex contracting requirements. This
tool is meant to encourage a common-sense application of the government's
regulations. The FTA's procurement
circular, titled Third Party Contracting Requirements, provides transit agencies
and the business community with a single, consolidated document that
incorporates all procurement and contracting guidance issued by the agency over
the past seven years.
In
revising the circular, FTA reached out to representatives from transit
properties, suppliers, manufacturers, the legal community and public
transportation trade associations. Their
insights enabled the agency to simplify some of the most commonly misunderstood
procurement requirements. The
streamlined contracting guidance is available on the agency's website:
www.fta.dot.gov.
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