Doing Business With the New York State Thruway Authority

A Guide for Contractors and Suppliers

Over the past 50 years, the New York State Thruway has earned a reputation as a first-class system of highways and bridges. This was accomplished, in part, because of the Authority's demand for high-quality goods and services.

The Authority continues to demand excellence from its vendors. The Authority cannot maintain its strong reputation without the services its vendors provide.

The Authority seeks a wide range of products and services from an equally wide range of suppliers. Vendors include small businesses, large corporations, and minority and women-owned firms. From these suppliers, the Authority purchases about $140 million in goods and services annually.

If you'd like to be considered for Thruway contracts, the Authority has prepared this web page to help you understand the Authority's procurement process.

The Thruway Authority believes its procurement process is fair, competitive and accountable, benefiting both the buyer and seller. Add your company's name to the list of Authority suppliers and find out for yourself.

If your questions aren't answered here, or if you'd like more information, please contact the Authority's Contracts (518-436-2902) or Purchasing (518-436-2736) offices.

What is the New York State Thruway?

The Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, the 641-mile superhighway crossing New York State, is the largest continuous toll road system in the world.

More than 210 million passenger and 28 million commercial vehicles use the Thruway each year.

The Thruway's 426-mile mainline connects New York City and Buffalo, the Empire State's two largest cities. The Thruway route from New York City to the Pennsylvania line at Ripley is 496 miles long.

Other Thruway sections make direct connections with the Connecticut and Massachusetts turnpikes, New Jersey's Garden State Parkway, and other major expressways that lead to the Midwest and Canada.

A majority of New York's 62 cities, including the nine largest, are located within the Thruway corridor. This corridor represents over 80 percent of the state's population and registered motor vehicles.

In 1991, two other New York routes were added to the Thruway system: the Cross Westchester Expressway (I-287), an 11-mile superhighway that connects the mainline Thruway (I-87) with the New England Section (I-95), and the 71-mile section of Interstate 84* that runs from the Pennsylvania State Line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut border east of Brewster, crossing the Thruway at Newburgh.

*Maintained by the Authority, under contract with DOT

What is the Thruway Authority?

The New York State Thruway Authority is a public corporation organized and existing pursuant to the New York State Public Authorities Law. The Authority is statutorily responsible for financing, constructing, reconstructing, improving, developing, maintaining and operating a 641-mile superhighway system known as the New York State Thruway.

The seven members of the Authority and Corporation Board are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the New York State Senate.

What does the Thruway Authority buy?

The Authority purchases numerous goods and services typically falling into one of three categories:

Is selling to the Thruway Authority Difficult?

Like any large organization, the approval process can take time and, because the Authority is a public authority, 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?

The Authority maintains three computer databases consisting of vendors who previously expressed an interest in working for, or selling to, the Authority. The database headings include: 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'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 invites another firm to submit a proposal. Bidding is not part of this procurement procedure.

Annually, the Authority issues a general advertisement expressing its need for professional services in large circulation newspapers and trade journals. The Authority 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 Authority advertises in newspapers in the county(s) where the work will be done, the New York State Contract Reporter and 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 on our 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 Headquarters 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 Authority procures a wide variety of items through its 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 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).

Will I be paid promptly for my work?

The Authority acts as quickly as possible to ensure its vendors and contractors are paid promptly. The Authority strives to meet state regulations for payment procedures and schedules.

Are disadvantaged, minority and women-owned firms given a fair chance?

The Authority has an outstanding Disadvantaged/ Minority/ Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program (D/M/WBE) and these businesses are encouraged to do business with the Authority.

On construction and engineering contracts valued at $500,000 or more, the Authority establishes D/M/WBE goals that the prime contractors are encouraged to meet by subcontracting to approved D/M/WBE firms.

Addresses and Directions to the Thruway