Doing Business With SEPTA
June 3, 2022
Thanks to funding made possible by Act 89 – Pennsylvania’s transportation funding plan enacted in 2013 – SEPTA has been able to invest in infrastructure rehabilitation and vehicle replacement to begin to address a more than $4.6 billion state of good repair backlog. From 2015-2020, SEPTA procured $1.57 billion – more than $260 million each year – in goods and services from Pennsylvania companies, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). We rely on the expertise of Pennsylvania companies and workers to deliver these improvements, and we are proud to be reinvesting Pennsylvania tax dollars back into the Pennsylvania economy and communities across the Commonwealth.
The preservation of Act 89, coupled with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted last November – will drive SEPTA’s $1.1 billion capital budget in Fiscal Year 2023. Hearings on the capital budget were held in May, and the SEPTA Board is expected to vote on the new budget and 12-year capital program at the June Board meeting. This record level of investment will allow SEPTA to continue to bring its infrastructure to a state of good repair, maintain safety, enhance accessibility and advance Projects of Regional Significance – including Trolley Modernization, King of Prussia Rail and rail vehicle replacements – to position SEPTA to meet future transit service needs.
Who SEPTA does business with is also important, and we are committed to strengthening contracting opportunities for disadvantaged, minority, women-owned and other historically underutilized businesses, creating new pathways for businesses to grow and build their communities. SEPTA General Manager/CEO Leslie Richards helped develop the Equity in Infrastructure Project, and SEPTA is proud to be part of the five inaugural signatories, pledging to develop and implement policies to increase the number, size and scope of contracts going to historically underutilized businesses.
As SEPTA begins to put this new federal infrastructure investment to work for our customers and the communities we serve, strong partnerships with the building and construction trades industry and business partners across the state will help drive SEPTA’s successful implementation of its capital program. The following opportunities are examples of the various ways to do business with SEPTA.
Heavy Construction Contractor Resource Fair and DBE Matchmaker Event – June 14 & 15
SEPTA is pleased to partner with The Enterprise Center, the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania and other agencies for a two-day in-person Business Resource Fair and DBE Matchmaker Event on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Pre-registration is required for both days and registration links can be found below.
DAY ONE: Contractors’ Business Resource Fair
Tuesday, June 14 | 8:30 to 10:30 AM (registration begins at 8:00 AM)
The Enterprise Center
4548 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/day-one-contractors-business-resource-fair-tickets-333901437187
Day one of a two-day contractor business event, experts will meet one-on-one with business owners in a speed networking format to provide knowledge and tools to those pursuing contracting opportunities with the local, state, and federal government agencies.
DAY TWO: Heavy Construction Contractor and Agency Match Maker Event
Wednesday, June 15 | 9:00 to 11:00 AM (registration begins at 8:00 AM)
Sheet Metal Workers Local 19
1301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/day-two-heavy-construction-contractor-and-agency-match-maker-event-tickets-333994084297
Day two will bring together large Heavy Construction and Highway Contractors with Small, Minority and Women owned firms for contracting opportunities.
Both events are being hosted by The Enterprise Center (TEC), The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and Mid-Atlantic Small Business Transportation Resource Center (MA SBTRC) in conjunction with the Contractors’ Association of Eastern PA (CAEP), the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) and SEPTA Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Office.
King of Prussia Rail (KOP Rail) Industry Forum and Networking Session – June 27
SEPTA is inviting contractors and consultants to an Industry Forum and Networking Session on Monday, June 27, 2022 from 1:00 – 3:30 PM in King of Prussia in advance of upcoming procurement opportunities associated with the King of Prussia (KOP) Rail Project. Pre-registration for this hybrid in-person/virtual event is required and a registration link can be found below and on the attached flier.
---
KOP Rail Industry Forum & Networking Session
Monday, June 27 | 1:00 – 3:30 PM (registration begins at 1:00 PM)
The Alloy
301 W. Dekalb Pike
King of Prussia, PA 19406
In-person and Virtual Registration: https://kingofprussiarail.com/industryforum.php
* Registration closes on June 21
SEPTA’s KOP Rail project will extend the Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) into King of Prussia, providing reliable, convenient and efficient connections between the region’s three largest employment centers – Center City, University City and King of Prussia. The light rail extension consists of two tracks that will run along a largely elevated structure and encompass five new stations. This new service will alleviate congestion on area roads, reduce travel times and transportation-related emissions, and provide access to jobs and opportunity for those living in transit-dependent communities.
In December 2021, the KOP Rail project was approved to enter the FTA Project Development Phase – a major milestone for the project to receive funding through the federal New Starts Program. Thirty percent design is nearly complete, and SEPTA anticipates that the cumulative estimated value of construction will be in excess of $1 billion. SEPTA envisions several large and technically diverse contracts to support the Project and is hosting the Forum to provide preliminary details about the project and create excitement about the upcoming procurements. SEPTA will be encouraging opportunities for certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms throughout these procurements.
We hope to see you there!
