A Guide for Contractors and Vendors
How Can I Do Business with the Canal
Corporation?
The Canal Corporation seeks a wide range
of products and services from an equally wide range of
suppliers. Vendors include small businesses and organizations
of all sizes and walks of life.
The Corporation continues to demand
excellence from its vendors and high-quality goods and
services. The Canal Corporation can not maintain its strong
reputation without the services you, the vendor, provide.
This page was designed to help you understand the
Thruway/Canals procurement system. What the Canal Corporation
buys and how it's purchased is addressed below.
The Canal Corporation
believes its procurement system is fair, competitive and
accountable, and benefits both buyer and seller. Add your
company's name to the list of Canal Corporation suppliers and find out
for yourself.
If your questions are not answered here, or if
you'd like more information, please contact our Contracts
(518-436-2902) or Purchasing (518-436-2736) offices.
What does the Canal Corporation buy?
The Corporation buys numerous goods and services. Purchases
usually fall into one of three categories:
Professional/ Consulting
- Engineering
- Architectural
- Financial
- Environmental
- Management
|
Materials/ Supplies/ Services
- Vehicles
- Building Supplies
- Refuse Disposal
- Automotive Parts
- Maintenance
- Tools
- Uniforms
- Computer Equipment/Supplies
- Equipment Supplies/Repairs
- Office Supplies/Equipment
|
Construction/ Rehabilitation
- Highway
- Building
- Bridge
- Canals
|
Does selling to the Canal Corporation involve red tape?
Like any large organization, the approval process can take time and, because the Canal Corporation is a public benefit corporation, it is required by law to follow certain procedures that may differ from private sector practices. However, these procedures are designed to ensure a fair, competitive and accountable purchase system.
How do I become a vendor and how does the
system work?
Because the Canal Corporation is a subsidiary
of the Thruway Authority, the Corporation's purchasing process
is handled through the Thruway Authority's Purchasing Office
(518/436-2736). The Purchasing Office maintains three computer
databases consisting of vendors who expressed an interest in
working for, or selling to, the Authority/Corporation.
The database headings are the same as
mentioned previously: Professional/Consulting;
Construction/Rehabilitation; Materials/Supplies/Services. Here's how each database works:
Professional/Consulting
This database contains information obtained
from firms that file Federal General Services Administration
SF254 and SF255 forms. A firm that meets the
Authority/Corporation's professional requirements is invited
to submit a proposal for a particular project. If a price is
successfully negotiated, then an agreement is executed. If
negotiations are not successful, then the
Authority/Corporation invites another firm to submit a
proposal. Bidding is not part of this procurement procedure.
Annually, the Authority/Corporation issues a general advertisement concerning its needs for professional services in large-circulation newspapers and trade journals. The Authority/Corporation also advertises individual projects in the New
York State Contract Reporter. A copy of the Federal 254 and 255 forms may be obtained by calling the Contracts Office at (518) 436-2902.
Construction/Rehabilitation
Contracts of this type must, by law, be let by
the competitive bidding process.
In these instances, the Corporation advertises
in newspapers in the county(s) where the work will be done, in
the New
York State Contract Reporter and in construction trade
journals. The Association of General Contractors, Construction Contractors Association, Construction Industry Council, Dodge Reports and Eastern Contractors Association are also notified.
In addition, the Authority posts
construction contract information in the business section. You can obtain a listing of available contracts for bidding under the
Thruway Projects and Plans Sales section.
The Authority also posts
Thruway Bid Results. Simply select the project number you are interested in and it will direct you to that project's bid page.
Plans and proposals are available for inspection at the Authority's Headquaters in Albany and Division Offices in Buffalo, Syracuse and Tarrytown. The plans may be inspected at these offices at no cost, or purchased for a nominal fee.
Materials/Supplies/Services
The Corporation procures a wide variety of
items through the Authority's Purchasing Office. These items
range from 10-wheel dump trucks to thumb tacks. Contracts
vary from yearly open-purchase orders to fixed-price
itemized supply contracts. Small procurements can be done by
telephone solicitation while major procurements are
advertised and bid.
For major purchases, the
Corporation/Authority advertises in local and national
newspapers, the New
York State Contract Reporter and trade
journals. The Purchasing Office maintains a database of
vendors categorized by what the vendor supplies. Invitations
for bids are sent to vendors selected from the database who
match the items for which bids are sought.
Call the Purchasing Office at (518) 436-2736
for a free application (Form TA-3254).
What Contractor Disclosure and Compliance Forms must I complete?
Contractor Disclosure and Compliance Forms
For additional forms and guidelines visit the
New York State Thruway Authority's Business webpage.
Lobbying Law Guidelines
Canal Real Property
Will I be paid promptly for my work?
The Corporation acts as quickly as possible to
ensure its vendors and contractors are paid promptly. The Corporation complies with the Thruway
Authority's prompt payment regulations set forth in 21 NYCRR
Part 109.
Are disadvantaged, minority and women-owned
firms given a fair chance?
The Corporation/Authority has
an outstanding Disadvantaged/Minority/Women-Owned Business
Enterprise Program (D/M/WBE) and these businesses are
encouraged to do business with the Corporation.
On construction and engineering contracts
valued at $500,000 or more, the Corporation/Authority establishes D/M/WBE
goals that the prime contractors are encouraged to meet by
subcontracting to approved D/M/WBE firms.
To obtain more information on the D/M/WBE program, contact
the Authority's
Compliance
Specialist at
(518)
436-3080 or visit the
Authority's website.
|
