MCT & ACT PROCUREMENT PROCESS
Madison County Transit (MCT) and Agency for Community Transit (ACT) have transitioned to an Electronic Procurement System called Bonfire. Vendor training on how to access the free Bonfire portal system, including account and password creation and selecting commodity codes in available here: Vendor Registration – Bonfire Vendor Support
All formal procurement are conducted in the Bonfire portal.
Open Procurements
https://mct-act.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities
Closed Procurements
https://mct-act.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=pastOpportunities
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
In accordance with requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation set forth in 49 CFR Part 26, Madison Mass Transit District (MCT) hereby announces that it has established its overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal for contracting opportunities funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration during Federal Fiscal Years 2025-2027. MCT has established an overall DBE goal of 3.32% for FFY 2025-2027. MCT anticipates achieving its overall DBE goal with 0.25% race/gender neutral participation and 3.07% race/gender conscious participation. The overall DBE goal is exclusive of FTA funds to be used for the purchase of transit vehicles. For more information on MCT’s DBE Program, the program can be found at Civil Rights – Madison County Transit. MCT would like to encourage all small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to become certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Please visit IDOT for more information on applying for a DBE certification with the Illinois Unified Certification Program (IL UCP). The IL UCP was established to meet the requirements in federal regulations, 49 CFR part 26. These regulations require that all recipients of federal-aid must implement a “one-stop” certification process for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs). “One Stop” shopping will be provided to DBE program applicants, such that an applicant need only apply once for DBE certification that will be honored by all participating agencies in the IL UCP.
The Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/) applies to the wages of laborers, mechanics and other workers employed in any public works, as defined in the Act.
Current Prevailing Rates Illinois prevailing rates webpage
When required by federal program legislation, the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts apply to federally funded or assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 for the construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) of public buildings or public works. Davis-Bacon Act and Related Act contractors and subcontractors must pay their laborers and mechanics employed under the contract no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for corresponding work on similar projects in the area.
Wage Determinations | SAM.gov Davis-Bacon prevailing rates webpage
Any protest initiated by a protesting party concerning procurement actions will be administered in accordance with the following procedures.
- Submission of Protest. The protest must be filed (received) in writing by the procurement’s applicable entity, Madison County Transit (MCT) or Agency for Community Transit (ACT), in accordance with the timing requirements set forth herein, and must include:
a. The name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the protestor;
b The project name and solicitation number;
c. A statement of the grounds for the protest or appeal, along with any supporting documentation; and
d . A statement as to what relief is requested,The written protest shall be directed to the applicable entity with the word “Protest” clearly marked on the outside of the transmittal envelope. Protests should be submitted to the procurement’s applicable entity:
Madison County Transit
Attn: Managing Director
1 Transit Way
Pontoon Beach, IL 62040Agency for Community Transit
Attn: Executive Director
1 Transit Way
Pontoon Beach, IL 62040 - Pre-bid protest. Any protest regarding a solicitation for a procurement must be filed a minimum of five (5) calendar days prior to the bid opening or proposal due date. Any protest filed after that date which raises issues regarding the solicitation will not be considered by the applicable entity. This type of protest may be based upon a) restrictive specifications, or b) the evaluation procedure, or c) the basis of award, or d) any claim that the solicitation documents or the solicitation process violates applicable Federal or State laws.
- Pre-award protest. All other protests made prior to award must be filed no later than five (5) calendar days after the protesting party knows or should have known the alleged basis of the protest.
- Post-award protest. Any protest regarding the award of the contract must be submitted no later than seven (7) calendar days after the date of award or after the earliest date that the protesting party should have known of the facts giving rise thereto. Any protest regarding the award of a contract filed after that date will not be considered by the applicable entity. Goods obtained or construction and/or services being performed under a protested contract will generally not be suspended pending the resolution of the protest.
The protesting party is required to furnish with its protest, at its sole expense, a Protest Bond in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000). The protest bond shall be in the form of a cashier’s check or certified check made payable to the applicable entity. The protest bond shall serve as a guarantee of the validity and accuracy of the protest. If the protest is upheld, the bond shall be returned to the protesting party. If the protest is denied, the bond shall be used by the applicable entity to recover any administrative costs and damages incurred as a result of the protest and/or any resulting delay in the contracting for goods and services which were the subject of the bid.
- The applicable entity response. A protest submitted in a timely manner shall be reviewed by the applicable entity’s Managing or Executive Director, who shall consider all facts, technical support, and justification submitted by the protesting party, and within a reasonable period render a written decision on behalf of the appliable entity as to the validity of the protest and the disposition thereof. The applicable entity’s Managing or Executive Director may request additional information from the protesting party to clarify or support its assertions, in which case such information shall be submitted by the protesting party within seven (7) calendar days following the request.
- Request for reconsideration. In the event that the protesting party disagrees with any decision of the applicable entity’s Managing or Executive Director, the protesting party may, within five (5) calendar days following receipt of such written decision, appeal the decision in writing to the Chairman of MCT’s Board of Trustees, or the President of ACT’s Board of Directors, as applicable. Such written notice of appeal shall include all documents and other information necessary to substantiate the appeal. The applicable entity’s Chairman or President shall provide timely review of the appeal and transmit a written decision to the protesting party. This decision shall be considered final.
- Decisions by MCT or ACT. When a protest is filed prior to a bid opening, proposal due date or award of a contract, the bid opening, proposal due date or contract award may be postponed until the protest is resolved. The procurement’s applicable entity has sole discretion to proceed with the procurement process prior to resolution of protest if the applicable entity determines that:
a. The need for the goods or services is exigent; or
b. The protest appears vexatious or frivolous; or
c. Delivery or performance will be unduly delayed by failure to make the award promptly; or
d. Failure to make a prompt award will otherwise cause harm to MCT, FTA or other affected party.
Procurements with federal and or state assistance are subject to certain requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and must use the documented procurement procedures for the methods of procurement listed in 2 CFR Part 200.320. Federally-assisted contracts must comply with the requirements of FTA’s Master Grant Agreement executed between MCT and FTA. Further FTA guidance is provided in FTA’s third-party contracting guidance circular. State of Illinois funded capital projects must adhere to the state’s capital grant manual. Additionally, procurements must comply with the Illinois public bidding requirements of the Local Mass Transit District Act (70 ILCS 3610/5.5)
eCFR :: 2 CFR 200.320 — Procurement methods
FTA Master Agreement (version 33, April 25, 2025)
Third Party Contracting Guidance (Circular 4220.1G)