NITA
Contact
Electric bus and CTA bus parked at Navy Pier bus turnaround with Ferris Wheel visible in background.

Doing Business

The Procurement and Contracting Division is responsible for procuring goods, services and commodities on behalf of NITA. NITA seeks to do business with experienced and responsible firms utilizing an open, transparent and competitive process to procure products and services.

NITA's standards incorporate best industry practices that promote accountability and efficiency in our procurement processes.

All purchasing is performed at the NITA office. Business hours are 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

Current Bids

The following solicitations are now open.

Go to the NITA Supplier Portal to access and download open solicitations and submit bids
 
Icon Information gray

NITA Supplier Portal

NITA invites firms to register in the self-service NITA Supplier Portal to receive notification of new solicitations for business. Successful registration allows vendors to access NITA’s open solicitations, submit bids, proposals and invoices and update their company profile. Vendors and suppliers are encouraged to maintain up-to-date account and contact information

Learn More

About NITA Procurement

What NITA buys
NITA Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

More information

Visit the Supplier Portal to see solicitations/events currently open for bidding. 

Contract award information can be found at the Regional Transparency Portal.

Formal Bidding, Cancellation of Solicitation, and Rejection of Bids

NITA conducts formal bidding through public advertisement. An Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Request for Qualifications (RFQ) may be published in local newspapers. Registering your firm into NITA’s Supplier Portal will allow NITA to include you in future solicitations. NITA reserves the right to cancel in whole or in part any solicitation issued by NITA. NITA reserves the right to accept any bid or any part thereof or to reject any and all bids.

Bid Protest

NITA will entertain protests from interested parties regarding its procurement actions. Any interested party may file a bid protest on the basis that NITA failed to comply with a federal or state law or that NITA failed to follow its own Procurement Regulations. For details on the Bid Protest Procedures, please click the link below and refer to Article 12. Bid Protest Procedures.

Payment of Invoices

Invoices will need to be entered into the NITA Supplier Portal. Payment will be processed when notice has been received by the Accounting Department that the goods or services have been received, inspected, and found to be as ordered.

Note: NITA is exempt from all sales tax. Please contact the Procurement and Contracting for an exemption notice.

NITA's Annual Procurement Plan and purchasing process are governed by the following laws and regulations.

And all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations

If you have any procurement-related questions, please contact the Manager of Procurement & Contracting at Procurement@nita.illinois.gov. If you are interested in doing business with CTA, Metra or Pace (“Service Boards”), please contact the appropriate Service Board procurement department. Each Service Board has its own Procurement site and business procedures.

How to use the Supplier Portal

The NITA Supplier Portal allows vendors to receive new procurement opportunities, access and download open solicitations, submit bids, proposals, and qualifications electronically, submit invoices for payment, update and maintain account information and reset passwords, and communicate more effectively with NITA staff during the solicitation process.

Guides
Video Tutorials
Icon Information gray

Questions?

Contact the Regulatory Compliance Officer at (312) 913-3200.

Illinois Uniform Certification Program (IL UCP) DBE Directory

The IL UCP DBE Directory identifies the certified DBE firms for the purpose of providing a reference source to assist bidders in meeting any DBE participation requirements. DBE certification does not guarantee that a firm will be approved to participate toward a contract’s DBE goal.

View the Illinois Uniform Certification Program (IL UCP) DBE Directory

Small Business Set-Aside Program

It is the objective of NITA to take all necessary and reasonable steps to facilitate competition by small business concerns and to eliminate obstacles to their participation. NITA has established a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program that is an element of the DBE Program in conformance with U.S. DOT regulations 49 CFR Part 26.39 (1).

For Small Business Set-Aside solicitations, your firm must be verified as an SBE with one of the five IL UCP members (IDOT, CTA, Metra, Pace or City of Chicago), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or IL Central Management Services (CMS) at the time of bid/proposal submittal and provide proof of SBE verification with submittal to be considered for the solicitation.

Forms

Terms and Conditions for Purchase Order

Vendor Contractor Certification (VCC) and Certifications and Assurances  

Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification

If you are interested in bidding on CTA, Metra or Pace (“Service Boards”) available projects, please select any of the buttons below. Each Service Board has its own Procurement site and business procedures. We recommend you visit the respective Service Board for complete details.

CTA

Metra

Pace

RTA
CTA
Metra
Pace
Copyright © 2026 Northern Illinois Transit Authority. All Rights Reserved.