Business Diversity Matters in Washington State
By the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services
Washington state spends over $5 billion a year on goods and services through private industries. That’s no small sum, and it’s important to do what we can to keep these dollars in our communities. This is why we make an effort to engage and work with local small and diverse businesses in how these goods and services are contracted and procured.
Do you care about:
- Using your voice to ensure the programs Washington state develops for supplier diversity bring more dollars into local communities?
- Learning about opportunities for your business and engaging in the work that matters to you?
- Ensuring the state is creating inclusive opportunities?
- Engaging in the work that matters to you and how Washington state contracts and procurement influences our experiences?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re likely invested in how businesses are included in state government contracting. The state is making these choices often and we want you at the table to help us get it right.
Contract dollars coming into your community
In the fall of 2018, Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) launched the first small and veterans preferences for Washington state master contracts. These centralized contracts have over $1 billion in spending a year and are used by state agencies, local municipalities, tribal governments, and non-profit organizations.
For instance, in the initial pilot for an IT Cabling contract, we offered points to businesses based in Washington with fewer than $7 million in revenue or less than 50 employees. Every Washington small and certified diverse business that bid on this initial solicitation for IT Cabling was awarded a contract. Also, today, almost every DES master contract has preference points for Washington small businesses and veteran-owned businesses.
Growing this program, DES started offering designated awards. That means a larger full contract is open, and a more focused scope is also available only to Washington small or veteran-owned business.
For example, DES posted a flooring solicitation in our online bid system, called Washington’s Electronic Business Solution, or WEBS. All sizes of businesses from any region could bid to supply the full state with all of the requirements. However, a local Washington small or veteran-owned business that just wanted to sell flooring and do maintenance installation in their region could bid to do that. Half of this procurement includes designated awards only for Washington small and veteran-owned businesses. Not only does this matter to DES, it matters to you and the governments that use these contracts. Improving opportunity for local small businesses can also have a positive economic impact in your region.
- To learn more, visit our Business Diversity page
- To sell to the state or ask about contracts, email WEBScustomerservice@des.wa.gov
- To see more of this in state procurement policy, contact our Policy team at DESmiEnterpriseProcurementPolicy@des.wa.gov
Implementing the disparity study recommendations
Recently, the state completed a disparity study. The study made recommendations on how to achieve equity in state contracting and procurement. Then, DES developed a path for implementing the recommendations from the study.
Did we get it right? Here are some ways you can engage with us and have your perspective included in the conversation:
- Review the recommendations and how DES plans to implement them. Share your thoughts and ask questions.
- Connect with local organizations and businesses.
- Join an upcoming event.
- Ask us to bring the conversation to you. Submit a request and we will schedule a time over Zoom or other virtual platform. We are willing to talk about what we’re doing, tackle the hard questions, hear your feedback, and focus on the areas you care about most.
How to engage and partake
If you’d like to provide input on — and partake in — the $5 billion a year spending the state does with private industries, here are some ideas on how to do so:
- Review our state centralized contract forecast list or upcoming opportunities with DES
- Review the approved capital budget and look for our upcoming construction opportunities
- Register in WEBS or participate in an upcoming training
- Contact our customer service team or resource partners for more one-on-one engagement: 360-902–7400 or WebsCustomerService@des.wa.gov
- Get no-cost technical assistance: www.washingtonptac.org
- Subscribe to Business Diversity Updates.
We look forward to connecting with you and hearing your feedback.
The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services oversees goods and services procurement policy and public works contracts on behalf of the state. For more information, visit the DES Business Diversity page.
