Purchase and Delivery of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO), in conjunction with the City of Houston, is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB 2026000003) for the purchase and delivery of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel. This procurement seeks qualified fuel suppliers—specifically major fuel producers or wholesale distributors with prominent presence at primary rack locations—to supply approximately 34,982,000 gallons of ULSD over a 24-month contract period, comprising approximately 17,491,000 gallons annually for METRO and 6,432,000 gallons annually for the City of Houston. The fuel must be available for loading 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year with a maximum wait time of 2 hours at the primary rack location, and must comply with ASTM specifications for Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and applicable Texas LED regulations. Qualified bidders must submit two years of audited financials or tax returns and provide evidence of financial responsibility and business integrity, and must maintain both a fixed primary rack location and a backup rack location to ensure fuel supply continuity. The contractor is also required to guarantee a minimum of 200,000 gallons of ULSD per week during hurricanes or similar emergencies over a 30-calendar-day period following such events. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for May 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST via Microsoft Teams, and sealed bids must be submitted electronically through METRO's EUNA (Bonfire) platform and as one original hardcopy to the METRO Procurement Office by 2:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, with public opening and reading of bids on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST. The contract is anticipated to execute by August 14, 2026, with a start date of October 1, 2026, for a one-year term with an option for one additional year of renewal.

Pricing is structured as a firm fixed differential amount per gallon plus the PLATTS Marketscan U.S. Gulf Coast Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Mean Daily Average (AATGY00) index price, applicable state taxes (totaling $0.207429 per gallon), and a delivery fee, though no specific budget range or award value is provided in the solicitation. METRO has established no small business participation goal for this solicitation, meaning there are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, and all bidders compete on equal footing regardless of their size or enterprise classification. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. Contractors must comply with various certifications including debarment and suspension, lobbying restrictions, equal employment opportunity, and ethical conduct requirements. METRO reserves the right to award multiple contracts, reject any or all bids, and terminate the contract for convenience, with Board of Directors approval required for contract award.