Purchasing

Important Information for Suppliers

How to Stay Informed on City of Tacoma Solicitations

Step 1: Register as a City Supplier

Register as a City of Tacoma Supplier

Register as a City of Tacoma Supplier through SAP Ariba to receive notifications for solicitations in your business category. When a matching opportunity is posted, you’ll be notified. The City uses SAP Ariba for supplier registration, bidding, contract management, and electronic purchase orders and invoicing.

Step 2: Subscribe to Solicitation Category Updates

If you want to receive general updates on solicitations within specific categories, you must subscribe to each category page of interest. To subscribe, visit the page for each category and click “Subscribe to New Solicitations” to receive notifications.

This includes:

• Services Solicitations
• Supplies Solicitations
• Public Works & Improvements Solicitations
• Small Works Solicitations
• Surplus Solicitations

Step 3: Register for a Specific Solicitation’s Updates

If you are interested in a particular solicitation, you must register as a bid holder for that specific solicitation using the Specification Number. This will assist you in receiving any amendments, addenda, or changes to that bid document.

Register for the Bid Holder List for each Solicitation View Current Bid Holder List to Verify Registration

Assistance & Public Records Requests

For questions or additional assistance, email bids@tacoma.gov.

If you need solicitation or contract documents, please submit a Public Records Request.

Bid Results

Bid Results

Please note: Informal/Unsealed RFBs, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), and Requests for Information (RFI) are not read aloud at bid openings. Results for these solicitations will be posted after 1 p.m. on the day they are due to our website: tacomapurchasing.org.

 

Document Revisions

Please note that revisions to a solicitation document may be issued by the City of Tacoma after the solicitation was initially published. Your bid or proposal response could be rejected if you fail to acknowledge any issued amendments or if you fail to submit your bid or proposal based on any published revisions to the original specification or submittal instructions. You are advised to return to this website on a regular basis to monitor for notices of revisions that affect previously published bid solicitation documents.

Substitutions

City of Tacoma MRP Items – Substitutions

Unless an item is indicated “No Substitute,” special brands, when named, are intended to describe the standard of quality, performance or use desired. Equivalent items will be considered by the City.

Substitution Request Policy 

To submit a substitution request, complete the Substitution Request Form and send it to bids@tacoma.gov.

If necessary, the department will reach out to you for a sample. The decision of the City as to what items are equivalent shall be final and conclusive. Substitution requests will not be considered if the item is currently out to bid.

Sustainable Purchasing

The City of Tacoma seeks to do business with contractors and vendors who value our commitment to sustainability. This guide shares the knowledge and resources that help guide the City’s purchasing decisions.

• Vendor Resource Guide
• City Council Resolution No. 38248

Interlocal Agreements

Interlocal Agreements

Board of Contracts and Awards

Board of Contracts and Awards