Procurement Process

NS publicly advertises all projects over $1 million in vehicles such as fwdodge.com.

NS issues a bid package including a sample contract and NS operating guidelines for contractors.

Contracting Requirements

·         NS requires Employers' Liability insurance with limits of not less than $1MM per occurrence, and Commercial General Liability insurance with a combined single limit of $2MM per occurrence.

·         Insurance coverage cannot be denied within 50 feet of a railroad.

·         Bonding or a letter of credit is required for any project greater than $50,000. In some cases bonds may be waived jointly by the user department within NS and the procurement department (e.g. if there is a history of work with NS) .

·         New contractors are required to submit documentation on 3 projects of similar size and scope completed within the past five years, injury ratios, state licenses.

·         Contractor's employees must participate in the e-RailSafe program (similar to all of the Class 1 railroads), and when successfully completed, the outcome is that the contractor's employee will be issued an identification badge.

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