New statewide contracts
New statewide contract available for executive recruitment consulting services
DES has a new statewide contract 03024 for executive recruitment consulting services. This contract features 10 Washington small businesses and one Washington veteran-owned business. Find pricing and points of contact on the contract summary page.
Questions? Email Sarah Smith at [email protected].
New statewide contract available for variable message boards
DES has a new statewide contract 03724 for variable message boards. This contract succeeds contract 03220 variable message boards, which expired Jan. 31, 2024.
This contract features two small businesses. Find contractors, including pricing and points of contact, on the contract summary page.
Questions? Email Carmen Hill at [email protected].
Contract changes
DES extending contract for cab and chassis trucks of various sizes
DES signed a contract extension amendment for contract 03920, cab and chassis trucks of various sizes. The businesses on this contract are:
- Western Peterbilt LLC dba Dobbs Peterbilt
- Gordon Truck Centers, Inc.
- Papé Trucks, Inc. dba Papé Kenworth
- RWC Group
Questions? Email Gideon Simukonda at [email protected].
Green contract news
Making your purchasing more sustainable with green procurement tools
Did you know that green purchasing—also called environmentally preferred purchasing—helps reduce negative environmental and health impacts while ensuring responsible stewardship of state resources?
To support procurement professionals in making informed, sustainable choices, DES offers a green purchasing guide, an interactive tool designed to help you integrate environmentally responsible products and services into your purchases.
The green purchasing guide includes:
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Just-in-time training to help you apply green purchasing best practices.
- An overview of state laws, policies, and executive orders related to sustainable procurement.
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Checklists, questionnaires, and sample certifications to identify and verify green purchases.
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Boilerplate solicitation language for incorporating environmentally preferred goods and services into contracts.
The green purchasing guide is also included in the Washington State Environmental Procurement Preferences training—a required course for all Washington state procurement professionals—available in the Learning Center.
Success spotlight
Supplier Diversity Community of Practice: Driving growth and collaboration
DES launched the Supplier Diversity Community of Practice (SDCP) in 2022 to support procurement professionals and their agency's spending with small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses (SDVBs). This collaborative group brings together professionals from state agencies, higher education institutions, and other jurisdictions to share best practices, network, and promote equity in public contracting.
While the SDCP primarily helps Washington state agencies comply with the Supplier Diversity Policy and Executive Order 22-01, it is open to procurement professionals from any jurisdiction working to implement supplier diversity programs in their organization.
Growth and impact
Since its launch, the SDCP has seen consistent engagement and expansion:
- In FY24, an average of 72 participants attended the monthly meetings.
- A dedicated Teams channel was introduced in summer 2023 to better track and support members.
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Membership grew by more than 11% in just six months, increasing from 257 in June 2024 to 287 in January 2025.
- The SDCP now includes procurement professionals from:
- 45 Washington state entities
- Seven higher education institutions
- 13 other jurisdictions, including cities, counties, and utility districts
Why it matters
By working together, SDCP members are helping agencies implement supplier diversity policies, improvement procurement processes, and create more opportunities for SDVBs. This group provides a valuable forum for procurement professionals to learn, collaborate, and make public contracting more inclusive,
If you are a procurement professional and want to strengthen supplier diversity in your agency, the SDCP is a great place to connect, learn, and lead.
Want to get involved? Email us at [email protected].
Other news
Washington EDGE will be launching soon
The wait is almost over!
DES is preparing to launch the Washington Encouraging Diversity, Growth, and Equity (EDGE) pilot program. Washington EDGE is designed to provide training, easy access to technical assistance, and networking opportunities for small businesses, making them more competitive in public works contracting with the state.
Once the program goes live, we will start accepting applications from small businesses.
In the meantime, DES recently published the new Washington EDGE policy, which outlines the program goals and criteria for participation.
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