Service Requirements
- What are Union Pacific's basic contract requirements?
- What are Union Pacific's basic insurance requirements?
- What are Union Pacific's basic safety requirements?
- What should I do if I hear about a project that I would like to bid on?
- What happens after I submit a proposal or bid to Union Pacific in response to a Request for Bid?
- What are common mistakes that may cause my bid to be disqualified?
- Does Union Pacific publish bid results?
- Whom should I call to inquire about project specifications or how the work is to be performed?
What are Union Pacific's basic contract requirements?
Union Pacific's contracts are structured to define various conditions for the protection of the railroad and our suppliers. These include, but are not limited to:
- Nature and location of the work or services
- Timeline for performance of the work
- Submission of a "Statement of Business and Legal Relationships"
- Indemnification and liability protection
- Compensation provisions
- Expenditure limitations
- Railroad's right to audit the records of the service provider
- Right to recover overbillings
- Expiration date and/or termination clause
- Special provisions (i.e., nondisclosure of information and/or ownership and use of the work product)
- Insurance requirements
- Lien obligations and release of liens
- Payment of wages and payroll taxes; compliance with laws
- Permits
- Right to stop work; extra work
- Assignment and subcontracting
- Patent, copyright, and other infringements
- Waiver of default
- Modification of the entire agreement
What are Union Pacific's basic insurance requirements?
Most service contracts with Union Pacific call for the following minimum insurance:
- General Public Liability: $500,000 per occurrence, with a $1,000,000 aggregate limit.
- Automobile Public Liability: $500,000 per occurrence.
- Workers' Compensation insurance, as required by law.
Construction contracts with Union Pacific call for the following minimum insurance requirements:
- General Public Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence, with a $2,000,000 aggregate limit.
- Products Completed Operations: $1,000,000 aggregate minimum.
- All-Risk Builder's Risk: coverage equal to the projected value of the completed structure(s).
- Automobile Public Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence.
- Workers' Compensation insurance, as required by law.
Contractors are required to keep the necessary insurance in force for the entire term of the agreement and furnish UPRR a Certificate of Insurance which names the railroad as an additional insured. Contracts for other services may have minimum requirements which vary from the above.
Please contact a Supply representative for more detailed insurance information:
- Supply Group by Function
- Supply Group by Commodity/Service
What are Union Pacific's basic safety requirements?
Depending on the type of work and the work location, there are many specific OSHA and FRA safety regulations that Union Pacific requires its contractors to follow. These requirements may be specifically identified in various forms of contract.
Essentially, UP requires that its contractors follow the same basic safety rules that govern Union Pacific employees. These may include, but are not limited to, wearing appropriate clothing, hard harts, safety glasses, safety shoes, fall protection devices, and other safety equipment, as conditions warrant.
What should I do if I hear about a project that I would like to bid on?
You may become aware of projects for which you were not solicited to bid. If you are interested in submitting a bid for such a project, you should contact the project manager or Supply representative as soon as possible to secure a bid package. Depending on the timing of the project, Supply may be able to accommodate your request.
What happens after I submit a proposal or bid to Union Pacific in response to a Request for Bid?
After the deadline for submission of bids has passed, all bids for a given project are opened and reviewed. After necessary approval is secured, generally a Supply representative will notify (where practical) the unsuccessful bidders, while preparing and transmitting duplicates of original contracts to the successful supplier for signature. The supplier signs both original contracts and returns the documents to Supply, along with a proof of insurance and bond (if required). Supply arranges for the appropriate railroad officer to execute the contract, assigns a Contract Audit Number to the agreement, and returns one original copy of the contract to the supplier. Only after completion of these steps should the supplier expect to be allowed onto railroad property to begin the work.
What are common mistakes that may cause my bid to be disqualified?
Incomplete bids are the most common reason for disqualification of bids. Bids that do not contain costs for all identified bid items (or bids that contain costs for additional items not specified) are difficult, if not impossible, to compare to other bids. Other causes for disqualification include, but are not limited to, a lack of adequate insurance coverage and exceptions to the form of contract that cannot be resolved through negotiation. Union Pacific reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids at its discretion.
Does Union Pacific publish bid results?
The general rule is that bid results are not published. However, the railroad reserves the right to publish certain bid results.
Whom should I call to inquire about project specifications or how the work is to be performed?
Specific technical questions about the specifications of a project are best answered by the project manager. Questions regarding bidding or contracting procedures should be addressed to the Supply representative identified in the bidding documents.