Branded Apparel & Webstore

Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is soliciting proposals through PennBid for a branded apparel and web store program, with proposals due October 22, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EST. No formal small business set-aside applies. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are encouraged to bid and must include current Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program documentation. Firms submitting a joint proposal must do so on a prime-subcontractor basis rather than as a joint venture.

The vendor must supply new-hire garments, including 10 branded shirts and a winter jacket for operators and supervisors and 10 shirts for customer service representatives, with orders fulfilled within two weeks and packaged by recipient. The vendor also administers an annual employee voucher program at $150 for operators, customer service representatives, and operations supervisors and $50 for administrative staff, with operator vouchers contractually obligated under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Itemized voucher invoices are due within 90 days of utilization. The solution must maintain a web-based employee store and be operational by March 1, 2027, replacing the contract ending February 28, 2027. The IT questionnaire requires SAML/SSO authentication, multi-factor authentication integration, encryption standards, NIST guidelines, and SOC2 certification.

Historical volumes run 189 to 278 garments annually from 20 to 34 new hires, and voucher issuances total approximately $17,950 per year. The initial term runs January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, with four optional one-year renewals through December 31, 2031 that CATA exercises with 30 days' notice. Pricing is fixed for the initial year, and later increases require 30 days' notice and CATA approval. The procurement is partially financed by Federal Transit Administration and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation grants, with FTA terms and prevailing wage provisions applying where required.

Evaluation criteria, listed in priority order, are program design and support, garment assortment and quality, pricing and cost minimization, website functionality and aesthetics, and proposal professionalism with implementation plan and client references. Proposals are limited to 30 pages, excluding standard clauses, pricing sheets, the IT questionnaire, and product catalogs, and remain valid for 90 days from closing. Clarification questions were due through the PennBid Clarifications feature by 3:00 p.m. EST on October 8, 2025, a date that predates the September 8, 2026 posting.