Basic Principles
This foundational regulation outlines uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards.
What is 2 CFR Part 200?
This FTA circular provides guidance specifically for FTA recipients on award management requirements.
What is FTA Circular 5010.1F?
The FTA-required document(s) that defines a recipient's approach and procedures for procurement of goods and services.
What are written procurement policies and procedures?
Per 2 CFR 200.320 and the FTA PSR Manual, this procurement method is appropriate for acquisitions below the micro-purchase threshold and does not require competitive quotations if the price is considered reasonable.
What is a micro-purchase?
This category of professional services must follow a qualifications-based selection process and must not be procured using sealed bids.
What are Architectural and Engineering (A&E) Services?
This is the simplified acquisition threshold under federal procurement rules.
What is $350,000? (as of 10/1/2025)
This type of FTA compliance review specifically assesses transit agencies’ adherence to federal procurement requirements.
What is a Procurement System Review?
This principle ensures all qualified vendors have an equal opportunity to bid on FTA-funded contracts.
What is full and open competition?
This practice involves breaking up a purchase to avoid bidding requirements.
What is splitting?
Under 2 CFR 200.318(e), recipients are encouraged to use this approach to procurement that involves analyzing spending patterns and leveraging volume discounts for better pricing and reduced duplication of effort.
What is strategic sourcing?
This term describes purchases made without competition due to unique circumstances or only one source available.
What is noncompetitive procurement?
According to 2 CFR 200.324 and the FTA PSR Manual, recipients must perform this type of review for every procurement action—including contract modifications—to ensure the price is fair and reasonable.
What is cost or price analysis?
These required steps must be documented when a procurement is not competitively bid due to unique circumstances.
What is noncompetitive procurement justification?
This term describes agencies procuring goods or services through a competitively awarded contract by another public agency.
What is piggybacking?
This method of procurement may be used when there is a public exigency or emergency that will not permit a delay caused by providing public notice of a competitive solicitation.
What is a noncompetitive procurement?
All procurement transactions must be conducted in a manner providing this type of competition, which prohibits placing unreasonable requirements on firms to qualify.
What is full and open competition?
It is the online system transit agencies use to request reimbursement or advance payments from FTA.
What is the Electronic Clearing House Operation (ECHO)?
This method of procurement under 2 CFR 200.320(b) is preferred for construction projects when the price is the deciding factor and publication of the opportunity results in bids that are publicly solicited and opened.
What is sealed bid?
2 CFR 200.318(b) requires recipients to maintain this type of oversight throughout the life of contracts awarded using Federal funds.
What is "contract monitoring"?
This procurement method, typically used for acquiring low cost items, involves minimal procurement processes.
What is micro-purchase procurement?
This federal procurement requirement ensures that an agency avoids the appearance or reality of unfair advantages by maintaining strict separation between those who develop procurement specifications and those who compete for contracts.
What is Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)?
These are required to be included in FTA-funded procurements exceeding the micro-purchase limit and construction contracts over $2,000.
What is FTA-required federal clauses applicable?
The threshold under which agencies can procure without formal bids, using informal price quotations instead.
What is the simplified acquisition threshold?
This is an example of a method that evaluates bids based on factors other than price alone, such as technical merit or experience.
What is Request for Proposals (RFP)?
This list allows transit agencies to quickly identify potential vendors.
What is a pre-qualified vendor list?