CTA reserves the right to reject any bid.

Notice of Acceptance
Successful bidders will be notified by CTA within 90 days of the bid opening unless otherwise specified.

Bid deposits are returned within 10 calendar days to all but the two apparent lowest bidders. After a contract is awarded to the lowest responsive bidder, the bid deposits of the two apparent lowest bidders are returned.

Bid Results
Bidders who are unable to attend an IFB bid opening may receive a copy of the bid results after the contract is awarded by writing to the appropriate procurement administrator. A self-addressed, stamped envelope must accompany your request.

Shipping Charges
Since CTA does not have a traffic department, F.O.B. Destination is the preferred shipping designation. If another shipping method is used, shipping charges must be included in your quotation, bid or proposal. 

Delivery
CTA requires delivery on the date indicated on the specification, contract or release. CTA reserves the right to accept earlier or later delivery and/or partial shipments.

Inspection/Testing
CTA may perform inspections or tests on purchased material prior to its acceptance.

These inspections and tests, which may be defined in contract documents, specifications or drawings, include physical inspection and measurement, material certifications, value analysis and in-service testing.

Payment of Invoices

General Contracts:
Invoices are processed for payment when the Accounts Payable Department is notified by the using department of the delivery, inspection and reception of requested materials or services. You must submit a separate invoice for each order, and the correct purchase order number or release number must be noted on each invoice.

Construction Services:
CTA honors pay requests when the disbursement is authorized by the Contract/Vendor Oversight Section. Approval of the pay request is subject to reconciliation with the contract prices and requires an agreement between the contractor and CTA on the percentage of work completed. The pay request is typically accepted at monthly intervals and must be accompanied by waivers of lien from any subcontractors for payment under a construction contract.

In addition, construction contract pay requests are subject to retention, which is withheld until acceptance of the completed project of the CTA.

Architectural Services:
Since these contracts are awarded on a cost plus fixed fee basis, CTA honors pay requests for reimbursement of the consultant's labor, administrative and direct costs on a monthly basis. The fixed fee portion of the contract is retained until final acceptance of the consultant's services or is paid in part at mutually agreed to milestones in the performance of the contract.

Approval of the pay request is based on CTA's acceptance of the consultant's rates, costs, time committed to CTA's project and work products provided during the billing period.

Accounts Payable:
Invoices are processed by the Accounts Payable department after a project manager approves work authorized by the CTA in a written contract. The CTA strives to process invoices within a thirty-day time frame. However, this goal can be met only when you carefully follow the billing instructions listed below: 

• Each invoice must contain the proper purchase order and release number.
• The rates and materials/services indicated on the invoice must be the same as those stipulated in the contract.

Invoices should be mailed to the following address:

Accounts Payable Department
567 W. Lake Street,
P.O. Box 7565
Chicago, IL 60680-7565.

If you have a question about an invoice, you should first contact your designated project manager. Subsequent inquiries should be directed to the Coordinator, Accounts Payable, at 312-664-7200, extension 13419.

Accounts Payable mails out checks twice a week. However, only those invoices for approved, contracted work can be processed for payment. Consequently, you should not begin working until you have in hand an approved, written contract with the CTA. All contract amendments must be authorized in writing before additional work is performed and invoices are paid.

This booklet is provided to the public as a guideline. If any of the information contained herein is in conflict with the bidding/contract documents, then the bidding/contract documents take precedence.