SAM #FRTIB1-27-00001

FRTIB sole-source transit benefit administration through WMATA SmartBenefits

FRTIB plans a sole-source award to WMATA for administration of employee transit benefits through SmartBenefits. - Agency: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), through its OCFO Contracting Office. - Service: Electronic distribution and administration of transit benefits for eligible FRTIB employees participating in the Federal Transit Benefit Program. - Provider and rationale: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) owns, operates, and administers SmartBenefits; FRTIB says no other vendor can provide access to or administer benefits through the regional platform. - Competition: This is not a request for quotes or proposals. Other capable sources may submit statements demonstrating their ability to provide equivalent services for the Government’s consideration. - Term: One 12-month base period plus 19 12-month options, for up to 20 years; options are at the Government’s discretion.

Description

This is a Special Notice of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board's (FRTIB) intent to award a sole source contract to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), 300 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, for transit subsidy administration services.

The contemplated award will provide access to WMATA's SmartBenefits® Program, which enables the electronic distribution and administration of transit benefits for eligible FRTIB employees participating in the Federal Transit Benefit Program.

The anticipated period of performance is one (1) twelve-month base period and nineteen (19) twelve-month option periods. Exercise of any option period is at the sole discretion of the Government.

Authority

The Government intends to award this requirement on a sole source basis pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b), Soliciting from a Single Source, as only one source is reasonably available to satisfy the agency's requirements.

Sole Source Rationale

WMATA is the sole owner, operator, and administrator of the SmartBenefits® Program, the transit benefit system utilized throughout the National Capital Region. The SmartBenefits® Program provides the infrastructure required to electronically distribute transit subsidies directly to employee transit accounts for use with participating regional transit providers.

FRTIB has determined that WMATA is the only source capable of fulfilling this requirement because:

WMATA exclusively administers the SmartBenefits® Program. The SmartBenefits® Program is the established regional transit benefit platform accepted by participating transit providers throughout the Washington metropolitan area. No other vendor possesses the rights, authority, or capability to provide access to, administer, or distribute benefits through the SmartBenefits® Program. The use of an alternate source would not satisfy the Government's requirement for participation in the regional transit subsidy program.

Capability Statements

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations or proposals. However, any responsible source that believes it can satisfy the requirement may submit a capability statement demonstrating its ability to provide the required services.

Capability statements shall include sufficient information to clearly demonstrate the ability to provide transit subsidy administration services equivalent to those provided through WMATA's SmartBenefits® Program.

Responses must be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer by 1:30 pm, Thursday, November 19, 2026.

The Government will consider all capability statements received by the closing date solely for the purpose of determining whether competitive sources exist. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

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