The Buy Line Blog City Purchasing

The Buy Line

Seattle's City Purchasing Announcements, Bids and Proposals

Tabor 100 Office Hours

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Do you want to learn more about doing business with the City? Do you want to know about how the City of Seattle works with women- and minority-owned businesses? Do you have questions about working with unions on City construction projects? Do you want to share info about your business with City of Seattle staff?

The City of Seattle office at the Tabor 100 Hub is OPEN. Purchasing and Contracting staff from the City of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services are available to talk to you. Just drop right in, no need to make an appointment!

7100 Fort Dent Way Suite 100, Tukwila, WA 98188

If you have a question or would like to talk to someone outside of these office hours, please email FAS_PC@seattle.gov.

This schedule is subject to change. Please check this notice for the most up-to-date info.

April 2025

Tuesday, April 1 from 12PM-4PM – Staff from the Labor Equity Team

Thursday, April 3 from 1PM-5PM – Staff from the WMBE/Contract Compliance Team

Monday, April 7 from 9AM-1PM –Tracy Staggers, Purchasing Team

Wednesday, April 9 from 9AM-5PM – Steven Larson, Purchasing Team

Thursday, April 10 from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM – Megan Jackson, Purchasing Team

Friday, April 11 from 11AM-3PM – Presley Palmer, Purchasing and Contracting Division Director

Monday, April 14 from 9AM-1PM –David McLean, Purchasing Team

Tuesday, April 15 from 12PM-4PM – Staff from the Labor Equity Team

Wednesday, April 16 from 9AM-3PM – Edwina Martin-Arnold, Inclusion Advisor  

Friday, April 18 from 9AM-12PM – Staff from the WMBE/Contract Compliance Team

Monday, April 21 from 9AM-12PM – Tracy Staggers, Purchasing Team  

Wednesday, April 23 from 9AM-3PM – Edwina Martin-Arnold, Inclusion Advisor

Thursday, April 24 from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM – Megan Jackson, Purchasing Team

Saturday, April 26 from 12PM-2PM – TBD

Wednesday, April 30 from 9AM-5PM – Steven Larson, Purchasing Team

May 2025

Thursday, May 2 from 1PM-5PM – Staff from the WMBE/Contract Compliance Team

Monday, May 5 from 9AM-1PM –Tracy Staggers, Purchasing Team

Tuesday, May 6 from 12PM-4PM – Staff from the Labor Equity Team

Wednesday, May 7 from 9AM-3PM – Edwina Martin-Arnold, Inclusion Advisor  

Thursday, May 8 from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM – Megan Jackson, Purchasing Team

Friday, May 9 from 11AM-3PM – Presley Palmer, Purchasing and Contracting Division Director

Monday, May 12 from 9AM-1PM –Tracy Staggers, Purchasing Team

Wednesday, May 14 from 9AM-3PM – Edwina Martin-Arnold, Inclusion Advisor  

Friday, May 16 from 9AM-12PM – Staff from the WMBE/Contract Compliance Team

Monday, May 19 from 9AM-12PM – Tracy Staggers, Purchasing Team  

Tuesday, May 20 from 12PM-4PM – Staff from the Labor Equity Team

Wednesday, May 21 from 9AM-3PM – Edwina Martin-Arnold, Inclusion Advisor

Thursday, May 22 from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM – Megan Jackson, Purchasing Team

Wednesday, May 28 from 9AM-3PM – Edwina Martin-Arnold, Inclusion Advisor

Saturday, May 31 from 12PM-2PM – TBD

DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE – NOW ONLINE! COMO HACER NEGOCIOS CON LA CIUDAD DE SEATTLE – VIRTUAL EN LINEA

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WHEN: Friday, May 2, 2025, 9 – 11am
TALLER EN ESPAÑOL: Viernes, 2 de Mayo de 2025 2-3pm

Is your firm interested in doing business with the City of Seattle? Do you want to learn more about how City purchasing and contracting works? Join us at for our “First Fridays” online Doing Business with the City of Seattle event to meet Purchasing and Contracting staff who are part of our purchasing, consultant contracting and construction/public works teams. We will hold three sessions at once so choose the one you’re interested in!

¿Está interesada en hacer negocios con la ciudad de Seattle? ¿Le gustaría aprender más sobre compras y contrataciones con la ciudad de Seattle? Entonces acompañenos para recibir información sobre como hacer negocios con la Ciudad de Seattle.

COST: Free to attend – no registration required – just drop in!
COSTO: Registracion es Gratis y no se require reservacion. Solo entre en linea.

INFO:

  • Find out if the City of Seattle buys the type of product/service you offer
  • Learn about City bid processes for your product/service
  • See if there is a contract in place for those items, and if so, when will it be re-bid
  • Find out who you should market to
  • Get information about the Consultant Roster program and application process
  • Learn about the City’s Public Works contracting process
  • See how to access online plans and specifications for public works construction projects
  • Learn about opportunities through City Job Order Contracting
  • Hear about the City’s women- and minority-owned business (WMBE) resources
  • Averigue si la Ciudad de Seattle compra el tipo de producto/servicio que usted ofrece
  • Aprenda sobre los procesos de licitación de la Ciudad de Seattle para su producto/servicio
  • Aprenda sobre el proceso de contratación de obras públicas de la Ciudad de Seattle
  • Aprenda sobre oportunidades que ofrece la Ciuadd de Seattle a través de contratación
  • Aprenda sobre el programa para Empresas Pertenecientes a Mujeres o Minorias (WMBE)
  • Como registrarse en el directorio de negocios de la Ciudad de Seattle (OBD)

JOIN THE WORKSHOP/ENTRAR AL TALLER:

If you’re interested how the City PURCHASES GOODS AND SERVICES:

When it’s time, join your Microsoft Teams meeting here

Meeting ID: 281 264 429 799

Meeting password: AKxDaB

Join by phone 

+1 206-686-8357 United States Toll (Seattle) 
Phone Conference ID: 132 759 340#

If you’re interested in how the City does CONSULTANT CONTRACTING:

When it’s time, join your Microsoft Teams meeting here.

Meeting ID: 276 460 668 000

Meeting password: MF2fPy

Join by phone 

+1-206-686-8357 United States Toll (Seattle) 
Phone Conference ID: 989 542 788#

If you’re interested in how the City does CONSTRUCTION/PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTING:

When it’s time, join your Microsoft Teams meeting here.

Meeting ID: 210 705 095 810

Meeting passcode: 5y5RdR

Join by phone 

+1-206-686-8357

Phone Conference ID: 389 802 922#

TALLER EN ESPAÑOL:

Entrar al Taller

Codigo de acceso para el taller: 252 054 163 97

Taller clave: nQpghr

Para entrar al taller con telefono 

+1-206-686-8357 United States Toll (Seattle) 

Teléfono conferencia identificacion: 812 502 325#




Mayor Harrell signs Executive Order to expand equity and opportunity in City contracting

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On Nov. 1, Mayor Bruce Harrell was joined by the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS), Women-and Minority Owned business (WMBEs) leaders, and community partners to sign a new Executive Order that expands contracting equity and access for businesses, particularly WMBEs, seeking contracting and procurement opportunities with the City of Seattle. 

“We specifically talk about Black-owned businesses because the data suggests that is an area we need to target, and we believe by targeting that demographic, all boats rise,” Harrell said.

The City’s WMBE program was created to help correct the historical and disproportionate underutilization of WMBE firms. As a result, spending with WMBE firms continues to consistently grow year over year. Of the City’s more than $900 million annual spend on goods and services, nearly $228 million was spent with WMBEs in 2022 for consulting services and contracting for public works projects.  

FAS will lead much of the work around the executive order.

The new Executive Order mandates that City departments regularly engage with the community to facilitate connections between WMBEs, particularly Black-owned businesses, and project managers and procurement professionals in City departments. Additionally, the Executive Order instructs FAS, which is responsible for overseeing the City’s WMBE program and purchasing and contracting services, to develop an action plan for implementing recommendations resulting from an ongoing citywide disparity impact study.  

The Executive Order also reestablishes the mayor’s WMBE Advisory Committee, renewing the City’s commitment to partnering with WMBE and other community leaders with on-the-ground experience to identify and develop solutions to barriers businesses face in securing public works contracts.  

Additionally, the Executive Order advances work FAS and the city’s Innovation and Performance team is conducting to transform the City’s procurement process so that it is results driven, more accessible, and equitable. Seattle is one of two cities in the United States to be awarded a $1 million, two-year grant by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation and a fellow from the Harvard Government Performance Lab is working with the city to support this work.  

Mayor Harrell signs the Executive Order on Nov. 1, 2023

Archived – Clark Construction Strategic Partnership Program

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Clark Construction Group asked the City of Seattle to pass along this opportunity, which is not sponsored by the City of Seattle. Please reach out to Clark Construction for details.

We are pleased to invite you to participate in our upcoming 2022 Fall Session of our nationally renowned small business training – the Strategic Partnership Training Program. The 8 month executive MBA style program is designed to supplement the capabilities of local, small, minority, woman owned and/or disadvantaged businesses in the construction industry. It is structured in an interactive format, with a focus on providing core construction management and business skills to its participants. Courses are taught by Clark, Clark/Lewis and local industry experts, which include classroom learning, team projects, as well as presentations by the trainees. The Program is free of charge to minority, woman and disadvantaged businesses.

In today’s dynamic business landscape, continuous learning and skill development are crucial for the growth and success of small businesses across various industries. For companies operating in the healthcare sector, leveraging innovative learning solutions is key. One such solution is a healthcare LMS software platform, which provides a comprehensive and interactive learning environment. This platform offers a range of specialized courses and resources tailored specifically to the needs of healthcare professionals and organizations. Through the healthcare LMS software platform, small businesses in the healthcare industry can enhance their capabilities, stay updated with industry best practices, and acquire essential skills in areas such as compliance, patient care, and operational efficiency. By embracing the power of e-learning and leveraging the benefits of a LMS software platform, these businesses can position themselves for growth, success, and improved service delivery in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

The Program will start with an orientation in September and end in May. For more information regarding the Strategic Partnership Program and to apply visit https://www.clarkconstruction.com/spp. Please select the Seattle, Washington location after you click on the online application.

The classes will be online/virtual classes. Please note that the deadline for the program application is August 19.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Marivic Chennault at marivic.chennault@clarkconstruction.com.

Please also feel free to share this with other small businesses who may be interested in the Strategic Partnership Program.