Contracts Connection

Aug. 30, 2021

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Best practice recommendation: Place an ad announcing your bid

Procurement professionals looking to expand bidder pools for small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses can circulate a free advertisement throughout the diverse business community to announce a bid opportunity immediately after it goes live in WEBS.

When your solicitation has been posted in WEBS, DES’s Procurement Equity and Inclusion (PIE) program recommends sending your one-page ad based on this template to:

Getting the word out to small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses as early and often as possible is a recommended best practice to help ensure they are informed and prepared and therefore more likely to participate in competitive solicitations.

Tire chains

Expiring contract to join with another

Contract 06215 for tire chains and accessories will be allowed to expire in February 2022. DES intends to combine its requirements with another contract prior to October 2021.

Questions may be directed to descontractsteammaple@des.wa.gov.

Public records management

Granicus acquires GovQA

Agencies using public records technology firm GovQA to fulfill public records requests should be aware the company has been acquired by digital communications firm Granicus.

The GovQA solution is available through software resellers on DES master contracts 05116 and 06016.

The Granicus deal brings technology for fulfilling records requests into Granicus’s catalog of communications and civic engagement tools. Public records requests have increased significantly during the pandemic.

Sweepers

Contract extended for one year

Contract 02613 for sweepers (various sizes) has been extended to Aug. 27, 2022, for the following contractors:

  • Ben-Ko-Matic Co, dba Owen Equipment Company

  • Enviro-Clean Equipment Inc.

  • PacWest Machinery, LLC.

  • Pape’ Machinery, Inc.

Questions can be directed to Kelli Carmony at DESContractsTeamCypress@des.wa.gov, 360-407-2218.

CHA Washington