Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons

March 27, 2001

www.DART.org

DART Using Website to Expand Contracting Opportunities

Business owners of any size will have faster access to DART contracts thanks to improvements on the transit agency Internet website, www.DART.org.

DART is now posting all of its contract opportunities worth more than $2,500 on the website and updates the availabilities each weekday. "Business owners are just two mouse clicks away from seeing current DART contract availabilities," said Victor Burke, DART Executive Vice President/General Manager. "They can review our vendor's guide and register online to do business with DART. Eventually, we want vendors to be able to submit bids via the DART website and return to it and see the contract awards."

DART procurement information will still be published and posted as required by law and is available by calling the DART business center, 214-749-2701.

DART Board Member Brenda Reyes was instrumental in promoting the use of online contract information. "At any given time we may have two dozen contracts available and some of the smaller contracts need a quick response from potential vendors," Reyes said. "It's important to DART staff and my colleagues on the Board to expand our vendor base and create opportunities for more businesses to work with us. Businesses will have faster access to information and that may put them in position to bid on contracts they wouldn't have otherwise known about. We think over time this will create more competition for DART projects. That gives us more options and will help local businesses grow."

To see what DART needs to buy, visitors to DART's web site click on the section "Doing Business With DART" on the front page of DART.org. From there, they click on "Current Solicitations" to see the current DART contract opportunities. At that location, vendors can read about available solicitations and find the name and phone number of the individual who can provide additional information about bidding.

Contracts posted on the web site are divided into two categories, those between $2,500 and $25,000 and those over $25,000. Typical items in the below $25,000 range include bus and train parts, computer hardware and software, printing and automotive parts and supplies. Items in the above $25,000 range include buses and rail cars, construction contracts and consulting services.

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