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*Contracts Connection
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Sept. 29, 2022

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TOOLS FOR EQUITY

PIE Program: Outreach to small and diverse businesses

The Procurement Inclusion and Equity (PIE) Program was established in 2019 at the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) [ [link removed] ] to increase and sustain the purchasing of goods and services from Washington?s small and diverse businesses.

Based on the 2019 Washington State Disparity Study, [ [link removed] ] the use of small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses (SDB) in state procurements is vital to Washington?s economy. Agencies are encouraged to get in touch with the DES PIE Program <[email protected]> for help in identifying and reaching out to small, diverse and veteran businesses. __

*What is outreach?*

Outreach connects, educates and informs small, diverse, and veteran businesses of upcoming solicitations. This helps create a more equitable and competitive environment in state government contracting.

DES reaches out into Washington?s business community to bring small, diverse and veteran companies to the state contracting table. Outreach is an integral part of DES?s procurement processes.


* It encourages small-business innovation
* It helps build a solid foundation for small, diverse, and veteran businesses
* It helps create a robust pool of competitive bidders on solicitations

*How can we help?*

PIE can help your agency connect with diverse businesses in several ways:


* By sharing online tools [ [link removed] ] and templates [ [link removed] ] for communicating your agency solicitations to the broadest possible pool of potential bidders, including small, diverse and veteran businesses.
* By sharing tips, tricks and lessons learned in DES?s own outreach.
* By demonstrating how to use other resources for researching and identifying SDBs, including the OMWBE Certified Business Directory [ [link removed] ] and Washington?s Electronic Business Solution [ [link removed] ].
* By encouraging partnerships with the Business Diversity Advisory Group (BDAG [ [link removed] ]_)_, Procurement Training and Assistance Center (PTAC [ [link removed] ]_)_, Tabor 100 [ [link removed] ]_,_ and more.

Contact the PIE Program anytime for guidance for outreach and inclusion of Washington?s small and diverse business.

OFFICE SUPPLIES

ODP Business freshens price and product listings

ODP Business Solutions, formerly Office Depot USA, has updated its vendor listings to reflect a price increase effective Oct. 5.

ODP?s catalog, updated to remove items that are no longer available, and the new pricing can be viewed on the Contract 06019 Contract Summary [ [link removed] ] page.

Questions can be directed to Neva Peckham at DES Contracts Team Fir <[email protected]>, 360-407-2213.

*TOWING*

*Direct Buy may become best way to buy*

Enterprise Services has determined that Contract 01016 [ [link removed] ] for towing services in Thurston County will not be replaced with a new contract upon its expiration at the end of October.

The contract does not meet minimum standards for statewide contracts, DES found, based on low usage by customers. Most customers have met their towing needs through Direct Buy [ [link removed] ] purchases and may continue to do so in the absence of a state contract.

Questions or concerns with DES not pursuing a new contract can be directed to DES?s Luke Kulina <[email protected]>.

IMPACT ATTENUATORS

DES to launch new procurement

Enterprise Services has determined it will begin work on a new solicitation to replace Contract 02417 [ [link removed] ] for impact attenuators, which expires at the end of July 2023.

Visit the summary page for Solicitation 20322 [ [link removed] ] for the project schedule and other information. For questions or to contribute to the new solicitation, contact Contract Specialist Jaime Bacon <[email protected]>.

COPIERS AND MANAGED PRINT

Contract extended until 2024

Enterprise Services is giving notice that the Master Contracts for Contract 06619 [ [link removed] ] have been extended to July 31, 2024.

The Contract Summary [ [link removed] ] page has been updated to reflect the term date change. In addition, the pricing and ordering page has been updated with local sales contacts for each vendor.

For questions, contact DES?s Stacia Wasmundt <[email protected]>.






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*DES Contracts and Procurement*

*360-407-2210 | [email protected]*

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