# SAM #FRTIB1-27-00001

FRTIB sole-source transit benefit administration through WMATA SmartBenefits

**Buyer:** FRTIB OCFO Contracting Office
**Posted:** November 05, 2026
**Respond By:** November 19, 2026
**Identifier:** FRTIB1-27-00001
**NAICS:** 488490, 485119

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

<p>This is a Special Notice of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board&#39;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.</p>

<p>The contemplated award will provide access to WMATA&#39;s SmartBenefits&reg; Program, which enables the electronic distribution and administration of transit benefits for eligible FRTIB employees participating in the Federal Transit Benefit Program.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><strong>Authority</strong></p>

<p>The Government intends to award this requirement on a sole source basis pursuant to <strong>FAR 13.106-1(b), Soliciting from a Single Source,</strong> as only one source is reasonably available to satisfy the agency&#39;s requirements.</p>

<p><strong>Sole Source Rationale</strong></p>

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

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

<ul>
	<li>WMATA exclusively administers the SmartBenefits&reg; Program.</li>
	<li>The SmartBenefits&reg; Program is the established regional transit benefit platform accepted by participating transit providers throughout the Washington metropolitan area.</li>
	<li>No other vendor possesses the rights, authority, or capability to provide access to, administer, or distribute benefits through the SmartBenefits&reg; Program.</li>
	<li>The use of an alternate source would not satisfy the Government&#39;s requirement for participation in the regional transit subsidy program.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Capability Statements</strong></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Capability statements shall include sufficient information to clearly demonstrate the ability to provide transit subsidy administration services equivalent to those provided through WMATA&#39;s SmartBenefits&reg; Program.</p>

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

<p>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.</p>

[View original listing](https://sam.gov/opp/f4b708c666794344a2cf2cb8be49fc4f/view)