Boost Your Business with Local Government Contracts

August 5, 2024 | By Alex Held

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One common question from businesses large and small is: “How can I do business with Arlington?” For companies with a few years under their belts, procurement with local governments can be a great way to expand their customer base while taking advantage of business in their backyard. In this month’s Small Business Focus, we will demystify the process to help you slay in local government procurement.  

Doing your homework is essential before you begin selling to the local government. Arlington is one of the most transparent customers, as many procurement opportunities and purchasing decisions are public and included in our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), annual budget, regular board meeting minutes and comprehensive master plans. Through Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA), business owners can also view the results of any previous bids or solicitations and final contracts from past requests. In April, the Arlington County Board approved a balanced budget of $1.65 billion for fiscal year 2025, which began on July 1, 2024, and will end June 30, 2025.  

Once you’ve completed your homework, it’s essential to understand how Arlington makes purchasing decisions. Arlington has a decentralized purchasing process, where procurement is done at the departmental level with support from the Purchasing Division. The idea is that each department is aware of its needs throughout a fiscal year and is empowered to make its own purchasing decisions.  However, despite a decentralized purchasing process, departments must follow the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) and the County’s Purchasing Resolution, found on the Purchasing website.   

Typically, the dollar value of the order and duration affect how a buyer procures goods and services for amounts of $10,000 to $200,000, and there are three main ways Arlington will purchase goods and services: 

  • X10,000 – For the one-time purchase of goods or services that are $10,000 or less within a fiscal year, the County doesn’t need to go through a public process. Purchasing agents can solicit bids from at least two competitors and go with the one they deem the best fit.  

  • Small Purchase Negotiations (formerly eVA Quick Quotes) —A Small Purchase Negotiation is utilized to purchase goods and services greater than $10,000 but less than $200,000. Small Purchase Negotiations are advertised publicly for at least three days. 

  • An Invitation to Bid (ITB) or Request for Proposal (RFP) —An RFP process is leveraged for purchases greater than $200,000. BIDs are advertised for a period of 10 to 21 days, and RFPs are advertised publicly for a minimum of 30 days.  

  • Are you ready to get a piece of the County’s $1.65 billion budget for your small business? First, you’ll need to register for Arlington’s procurement database. Beginning on August 1, 2024, Arlington will transition to a system called PRISM+. After August 1, new suppliers will have the opportunity to register, and existing suppliers will access the new Supplier Portal to do business with Arlington and make updates to their business records. Select all the commodity codes applicable to your business when registering for the procurement portal. Doing so will help anyone making purchases in the County find your business.  

Before you respond to a request make sure your business complies with the County’s procurement guidelines, such as having a business license, good standing with the Virginia SCC, Living Wage Policy, cybersecurity compliance and more. These requirements are listed in the RFP or Small Purchase Negotiations and in Arlington’s Purchasing Resolution. If you have any questions, please reach out to any of the purchasing staff. 

In addition to launching a new procurement portal, Arlington’s Purchasing Division is conducting a Disparity Study. The study aims to determine the effects of race, ethnicity or gender on a business’s ability to do business in Arlington County. The goal is to find out what we can do better, and we can only find that by speaking with business owners! The County is asking businesses through an online survey about their experiences winning or bidding on contracts or subcontracts in Arlington County. For more information about the Disparity Study, visit www.arlingtoncountyvadisparitystudy.com. 

Whether looking at federal, state or local procurement opportunities, BizLaunch is here to help you slay. Sign up for your BizLaunch consultation today or visit www.bizlaunch.org to learn more.  

 

 

 

  

Small Business Focus: Boost Your Business with Local Government Contracts 

A common question from businesses, both large and small, is: "How can I do business with Arlington?" For companies with a few years of experience, working with local governments is a great way to expand their customer base while serving their community. In this month’s “Small Business Focus,” we’ll break down the process to help you succeed in local government procurement. 

Do Your Homework 

Before you start selling to the local government, doing your homework is essential. Arlington is one of the most transparent clients, with many procurement opportunities and purchasing decisions publicly accessible. You can find these in our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), annual budget, regular board meeting minutes and comprehensive master plans. In April, the Arlington County Board approved a balanced budget of $1.65 billion for fiscal year 2025, which began on July 1, 2024, and will end on June 30, 2025. 

Understanding Arlington’s Purchasing Process 

After you’ve done your homework, it’s important to understand how Arlington makes purchasing decisions. Arlington uses a decentralized purchasing process where each department handles its own procurement, supported by the Purchasing Division. This means each department, knowing its needs throughout the year, can make individual purchasing decisions. However, all departments must follow Virginia procurement laws. 

How Arlington Buys Goods and Services 

The dollar value and duration of the order influence the procurement method. Here are the three main ways Arlington purchases goods and services: 

  • Purchases up to $10,000: For one-time purchases of goods or services that are $10,000 or less within a fiscal year, the County doesn’t need to go through a public process. Purchasing agents can solicit bids from at least two competitors and choose the best fit. 

  • Small Purchase Negotiations: Used for purchases greater than $10,000 but less than $200,000. These are advertised publicly for at least three days. 

  • Request for Proposal (RFP): For purchases over $200,000, RFPs are publicly advertised for at least 10 days, with the opening date typically set 21 days from the posting date. 

Getting Started 

Ready to secure a portion of the County’s $1.65 billion budget for your small business? Start by registering for Arlington’s procurement database. As of August 1, 2024, Arlington uses a system called PRISM+. New suppliers can register and existing suppliers can use the new Supplier Portal to do business with Arlington and update their business records. When registering, make sure to select all the commodity codes relevant to your business so purchasing agents can find you. 

Before responding to RFPs, ensure that your business meets the County’s procurement guidelines, such as having a business license, being in good standing with the Virginia SCC, complying with the Living Wage Policy, cybersecurity standards and more. These requirements will be listed in the RFP or Small Purchase Negotiations and in Arlington’s Purchasing Resolution. 

Upcoming Initiatives 

Arlington’s Purchasing Division is also conducting a Disparity Study to determine the effects of race, ethnicity, or gender on a business’s ability to secure contracts in Arlington County. The County is asking businesses to share their experiences through an online survey about winning or bidding on contracts/subcontracts in Arlington County. For more information, please visit the Disparity Study link. 

BizLaunch Support 

Whether you are exploring federal, state or local procurement opportunities, BizLaunch is here to help. Sign up for a BizLaunch consultation today or visit BizLaunch to learn more. 

 

 

 

  

 

Small Business Focus: Boost Your Business on Local Budgets

One common question from businesses large and small is: “How can I do business with Arlington?” For companies with a few years under their belts, procurement with local governments can be a great way to expand their customer base while taking advantage of business in their backyard. In this month’s Small Business Focus, we will demystify the process to help you slay in local government procurement.

Doing your homework is essential before you begin selling to the local government. Arlington is one of the most transparent customers, as many procurement opportunities and purchasing decisions are public and included in our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), annual budget, regular board meeting minutes and comprehensive master plans. Through Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA), business owners can also view the results of any previous bids or solicitations and final contracts from past requests. In April, the Arlington County Board approved a balanced budget of $1.65 billion for fiscal year 2025, which began on July 1, 2024, and will end June 30, 2025.

Once you’ve completed your homework, it’s essential to understand how Arlington makes purchasing decisions. Arlington has a decentralized purchasing process, where procurement is done at the departmental level with support from the Purchasing Division. The idea is that each department is aware of its needs throughout a fiscal year and is empowered to make its own purchasing decisions. However, despite a decentralized purchasing process, departments must follow the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) and the County’s Purchasing Resolution, found on the Purchasing website.

Typically, the dollar value of the order and duration affect how a buyer procures goods and services for amounts of $10,000 to $200,000, and there are three main ways Arlington will purchase goods and services:

  • X10,000 – For the one-time purchase of goods or services that are $10,000 or less within a fiscal year, the County doesn’t need to go through a public process. Purchasing agents can solicit bids from at least two competitors and go with the one they deem the best fit. 

  • Small Purchase Negotiations (formerly eVA Quick Quotes) —A Small Purchase Negotiation is utilized to purchase goods and services greater than $10,000 but less than $200,000. Small Purchase Negotiations are advertised publicly for at least three days.

  • An Invitation to Bid (ITB) or Request for Proposal (RFP) —An RFP process is leveraged for purchases greater than $200,000. BIDs are advertised for a period of 10 to 21 days, and RFPs are advertised publicly for a minimum of 30 days.

  •  

  • Are you ready to get a piece of the County’s $1.65 billion budget for your small business? First, you’ll need to register for Arlington’s procurement database. Beginning on August 1, 2024, Arlington will transition to a system called PRISM+. After August 1, new suppliers will have the opportunity to register, and existing suppliers will access the new Supplier Portal to do business with Arlington and make updates to their business records. Select all the commodity codes applicable to your business when registering for the procurement portal. Doing so will help anyone making purchases in the County find your business.

Before you respond to a request make sure your business complies with the County’s procurement guidelines, such as having a business license, good standing with the Virginia SCC, Living Wage Policy, cybersecurity compliance and more. These requirements are listed in the RFP or Small Purchase Negotiations and in Arlington’s Purchasing Resolution. If you have any questions, please reach out to any of the purchasing staff.

In addition to launching a new procurement portal, Arlington’s Purchasing Division is conducting a Disparity Study. The study aims to determine the effects of race, ethnicity or gender on a business’s ability to do business in Arlington County. The goal is to find out what we can do better, and we can only find that by speaking with business owners! The County is asking businesses through an online survey about their experiences winning or bidding on contracts or subcontracts in Arlington County. For more information about the Disparity Study, visit www.arlingtoncountyvadisparitystudy.com.

Whether looking at federal, state or local procurement opportunities, BizLaunch is here to help you slay. Sign up for your BizLaunch consultation today or visit www.bizlaunch.org to learn more. 

 

 

 

 

Small Business Focus: Boost Your Business with Local Government Contracts

A common question from businesses, both large and small, is: "How can I do business with Arlington?" For companies with a few years of experience, working with local governments is a great way to expand their customer base while serving their community. In this month’s “Small Business Focus,” we’ll break down the process to help you succeed in local government procurement.

Do Your Homework

Before you start selling to the local government, doing your homework is essential. Arlington is one of the most transparent clients, with many procurement opportunities and purchasing decisions publicly accessible. You can find these in our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), annual budget, regular board meeting minutes and comprehensive master plans. In April, the Arlington County Board approved a balanced budget of $1.65 billion for fiscal year 2025, which began on July 1, 2024, and will end on June 30, 2025.

Understanding Arlington’s Purchasing Process

After you’ve done your homework, it’s important to understand how Arlington makes purchasing decisions. Arlington uses a decentralized purchasing process where each department handles its own procurement, supported by the Purchasing Division. This means each department, knowing its needs throughout the year, can make individual purchasing decisions. However, all departments must follow Virginia procurement laws.

How Arlington Buys Goods and Services

The dollar value and duration of the order influence the procurement method. Here are the three main ways Arlington purchases goods and services:

  • Purchases up to $10,000: For one-time purchases of goods or services that are $10,000 or less within a fiscal year, the County doesn’t need to go through a public process. Purchasing agents can solicit bids from at least two competitors and choose the best fit.

  • Small Purchase Negotiations: Used for purchases greater than $10,000 but less than $200,000. These are advertised publicly for at least three days.

  • Request for Proposal (RFP): For purchases over $200,000, RFPs are publicly advertised for at least 10 days, with the opening date typically set 21 days from the posting date.

Getting Started

Ready to secure a portion of the County’s $1.65 billion budget for your small business? Start by registering for Arlington’s procurement database. As of August 1, 2024, Arlington uses a system called PRISM+. New suppliers can register and existing suppliers can use the new Supplier Portal to do business with Arlington and update their business records. When registering, make sure to select all the commodity codes relevant to your business so purchasing agents can find you.

Before responding to RFPs, ensure that your business meets the County’s procurement guidelines, such as having a business license, being in good standing with the Virginia SCC, complying with the Living Wage Policy, cybersecurity standards and more. These requirements will be listed in the RFP or Small Purchase Negotiations and in Arlington’s Purchasing Resolution.

Upcoming Initiatives

Arlington’s Purchasing Division is also conducting a Disparity Study to determine the effects of race, ethnicity, or gender on a business’s ability to secure contracts in Arlington County. The County is asking businesses to share their experiences through an online survey about winning or bidding on contracts/subcontracts in Arlington County. For more information, please visit the Disparity Study link.

BizLaunch Support

Whether you are exploring federal, state or local procurement opportunities, BizLaunch is here to help. Sign up for a BizLaunch consultation today or visit BizLaunch to learn more.

 

 

 

  

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