Vendor's Guide to Business with the City of Springfield

The City of Springfield welcomes the opportunity to do business with interested merchants. The Purchasing Division is interested in fostering participation by all qualified business persons offering commodities and services that may be used by departments. The Purchasing Division has the responsibility to make the most economical acquisition of quality materials and services that will assure efficient operation.

To that end, it is essential that interested business persons become familiar with the Purchasing Policies and Procedures . This web site will serve as a general guide. Specific questions and concerns not addressed here should be directed to the City Purchasing Agent.

Vendor Registration

The City of Springfield Division of Purchases has recently updated their vendor records. In an effort to better assist you, the Division of Purchases has begun using an e-mail notification service to e-mail all solicitation opportunities. This service is free of charge and is beneficial to those vendors who like to stay up on all of our current solicitations. When you register your company, you will receive bi-weekly e-mails (Tuesday and Thursday afternoons) with a link to all current solicitation opportunities.

All vendors who have previously filled out a vendor application prior to July 1, 2008 will still need to register their e-mail to receive solicitation notifications. It is imperative that you register your company to be notified of all solicitations that are posted by the City of Springfield Division of Purchases.

If you have any questions please contact Kara Daniel at 417.864.2080 or Marsha Robertson at 417.864.1620.

How to do Business with the City of Springfield

This guide explains how vendors may participate in providing the diverse goods and services needed by the City of Springfield. The City's needs are continual, so the City may be in the market for the item that your company sells.

This general guide should help you become acquainted with our policies and procedures for procurement and help you present your product or service to the City of Springfield. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Purchasing Division.

Where and When

Most of the City's purchasing is handled through the Purchasing Division, located at 218 E. Central, Springfield, MO 65802. Business hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Your visit is welcome; it gives us a chance to learn about your service or product and gives us an opportunity to direct you to those Departments which may be interested in purchasing your products or services.

How we Purchase

Small Procurements (Purchases $5,000.00 or less)

Although Competitive Sealed Bidding is the procedure universally preferred in government procurement, consideration of the time and cost dictates that a less formal procedure be used for small purchases. The City Purchasing Policy and Procedures provides that procurements not exceeding $5,000.00, may be made on the open market without formal bid and further provides for the use of informal written quotes or competitive oral quotations.

Purchasing Card Program

The City of Springfield Purchasing Card program is designed to improve efficiency in processing low dollar purchases under $5,000.00 from any vendor that accepts VISA credit cards. Each Purchasing Card is issued to a named individual employee and the City of Springfield is clearly shown on the card.

Request for Quotations

Request for Quotation packages which typically include the specifications, terms and conditions, quote forms and other applicable documents, may be posted on our Purchasing Web site, Internet Bid Process Center. Quotes are obtained in writing and is a less formal process than a competitive sealed Invitation to Bid. These purchases are under $20,000.00 but over $5,000.00. Purchase awards are typically recommended to the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder or may be in accordance with other award criteria stipulated in the RFQ. The Buyer may elect not to post an RFQ on the Purchasing web site due to time restraints or sufficient competition. The vendor is allowed to fax the quotation form and other supporting documentation to Purchasing on RFQ's.

Formal Competitive Purchases

All purchases over $20,000.00, require a formal solicitation process unless otherwise provided for in the City Purchasing Policy and Procedures such as Emergency and Sole Source procurements. An Invitation to Bid or Request for Proposal will normally be used for these types of purchases even though a Request for Qualifications or Invitation to Negotiate can also be utilized. All Formal Competitive Purchases are advertised and posted on the Internet Bid Processing Center located on the Purchasing Web site. These may be advertised in the local Newspaper and relevant periodicals.

Emergency Purchases

Emergency purchases are sometimes necessary due to the breakdown of equipment or other unforseen event which may affect the operation of the City. When this happens, the using City Department Director is authorized to declare an Emergency under certain conditions to allow them to proceed with the necessary action for the emergency.

As a vendor, and for your protection, you should always make certain that a written Purchase Order or a Purchase Order number has been issued to your firm prior to delivery of materials or services.

Local Vendors

The City of Springfield encourages the participation of local vendors and gives preference to the local vendor when the prices, terms, and conditions are equal.