ClearedVendor
KMDW

Vendor requirements at Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, IL. MDW. Sponsor: City of Chicago (Chicago Department of Aviation)

General aviation at Midway runs through two FBOs, Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support, so a vendor's first stop is the FBO it will work for. The City of Chicago also runs a Certified Service Provider Program (CSPP) at O'Hare and Midway, and its insurance schedule for ramp and aircraft service providers calls for $20M general liability and $10M auto on secured areas. The public pages do not say whether the CSPP reaches vendors who only serve FBO customers, so confirm with the CSPP office (cspp@cityofchicago.org) before the first job.

Mostly set by agreement Last reviewed

Permit to operate

No general vendor permit was found in the published documents. Confirm with the airport before your first job.

Fee: No fee published on the CSPP page.

Apply through the CSPP portal (cspp.flychicago.com) after requesting access. The CDA posts templates for a client list, letter of verification, equipment inventory and vehicle inventory. CSPP Rules are effective 2023-09-30. The CDA also publishes yearly base wage notices for CSPP workers (latest effective July 2026). The CSPP Rules PDF has no readable text, so the list of covered services and any general aviation exemption could not be checked.

Insurance minimums

CoverageMinimumApplies to
General liabilityTerminal and passenger handling and security services carry $5M. Garbage and waste removal carries $10M. Umbrella or excess may be combined with primary to reach the limit. $20M per occurrence, or full policy limits if greater CSPP ramp and aircraft service providers
Auto liabilityMCS-90 or equivalent where applicable, plus pollution coverage when hauling waste. $10M per occurrence on secured areas; $5M landside All CSPP categories
Workers compensation and employer's liabilityWaiver of subrogation by endorsement equivalent to WC 00 03 13. Statutory; employer's liability $1M each accident / $1M disease each employee / $1M disease policy limit All CSPP categories
Pollution liabilityCity named as additional insured. $2M per occurrence CSPP ramp and aircraft service providers; garbage and waste removal
Subcontractor general liability and auto $5M per occurrence airside; $2M landside Subcontractors of a certified provider

Endorsements and policy terms

  • City of Chicago named as additional insured on general liability, auto and pollution, with coverage at least as broad as the named insured's
  • Additional insured coverage on a primary and non-contributory basis, with no limiting language such as sole negligence wording
  • General liability may not carry endorsement CG 21 39 or an equivalent
  • Waiver of subrogation on all policies
  • 30 days written notice of material change, cancellation or non-renewal; 10 days for non-payment of premium
  • Claims-made policies need a retroactive date at or before the start of work and a two-year extended reporting period if not renewed
  • Provider pays all deductibles and self-insured retentions

Vehicles and ramp driving

  • CSPP applicants submit a vehicle inventory list and an equipment inventory list on the CDA templates.

Working under an FBO or tenant

Midway's general aviation activity sits with the two FBOs (Atlantic Aviation, 6150 South Laramie Avenue; Signature Flight Support, 5821 South Central Avenue). The CSPP application asks for a client list and a letter of verification, which suggests certification is tied to the airlines or tenants a provider serves. How FBO sponsorship or escort works for outside vendors was not found on public pages.

What we could not confirm

  • The CSPP Rules PDF (effective 2023-09-30) has no machine-readable text, so the list of regulated services and any exemption for general aviation or FBO work could not be read.
  • Whether the $20M ramp and aircraft insurance schedule applies to detailers, mobile mechanics or caterers working only on the FBO ramps is not confirmed.
  • The CSPP insurance requirements are marked Final 2018-07-19; no later version was found.
  • Base wage amounts in the CSPP wage notices were not captured.
  • Midway SIDA or AOA badging steps, fingerprint and STA fees, and the ID office location were not found on flychicago.com.
  • No public CDA document covering airside driving permits, aircraft washing or fees on gross revenue for vendors was found.
  • FBO-level vendor requirements (insurance, escort, access) at Atlantic and Signature were not researched and likely apply in addition to any City rules.

Before your first job at KMDW