How to bid on Smart Benefits/Transit Benefits for federal employees with Department of Transportation

What the agency is buying and why a vendor would care

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to award a sole-source contract to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). This contract is for providing smart benefits and transit fare media to federal employees in the Washington, D.C., region. The service supports over 200,000 customers.

This is not a typical solicitation. Instead, it is a special notice announcing DOT's intent to award a contract without full competition. However, other organizations that believe they can meet this requirement are invited to submit information for consideration.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This notice was published on September 09, 2026. If you are an organization other than WMATA and believe you can provide these services, you must submit your information by September 24, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Submissions received after this deadline may not be considered.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is for organizations capable of providing transit fare media and smart benefits for a large customer base, specifically in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The Product Service Code is V999 (Transportation/Travel/Relocation- Other: Other) and the NAICS Code is 485999 (All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation). This is not set aside for small businesses.

How to respond

To respond, you need to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation. This submission should demonstrate your ability to meet the requirement for providing transit fare media and smart benefits.

Email your submission to Abdul Latifi at [email protected], Robin Golden at [email protected], and Jermaine Datcher at [email protected]. Ensure your email is sent no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Time on September 24, 2026.

To view the original source of this opportunity, click the 'View original source' link. You may need to click it twice if it first leads to the portal's homepage. A free account might be necessary to view documents, though not always.

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

Even though this is a sole-source notice, a strong capability statement can still be effective. Clearly articulate your experience and capacity to manage transit benefit programs for a large number of federal employees. Highlight any existing infrastructure or partnerships that would allow you to seamlessly provide fare media and smart benefits in the Washington D.C. region.

Focus on demonstrating a clear understanding of the specific needs outlined, such as supporting over 200,000 customers and handling fare media distribution. Provide concrete examples of past performance in similar large-scale transportation or benefits administration projects. Ensure your submission is concise, professional, and directly addresses how your organization can fulfill the stated requirements.