On Monday, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) launched a searchable vendor database on its Website that allows interested parties access to contract information dating back to 2003. Easy access to vendor information and contracts adds to the transparency of CTA’s purchasing activities.

Visitors to CTA’s Website can click on the “Doing Business” menu at the top of the homepage. Select “Procurement Information” and then “Vendor, Contract & Payment Information” to gain access to the database, which may also be accessed via the City of Chicago’s purchasing Website.

“The ability to access contractual information immediately via the Internet will help vendors in their efforts to research existing contracts so they may better position themselves to do business with the CTA,” said CTA President Richard L. Rodriguez. “The ability to search and access vendor databases has been standard practice at other city agencies I have been a part of over the past decade so I felt it was important to implement it at CTA. I have found that it improves the transparency of an agency’s contractual dealings for anyone who may be interested.”

The database contains information on more than 46,000 contracts. Information will be refreshed nightly, so the most current data will be available to visitors. Searches can be conducted by vendor name or contract number. Contract details including award amount and payment information are also available.