Agency Overview

DES provides centralized business services to state government agencies; to other public entities such as cities and counties; to tribal governments; and to Washington residents. Our mission is strengthening the business of government for a sustainable and just future. We do this by creating overall operating efficiencies so our state's government entities can focus on their core missions. Our buying power, economies of scale, and years of experience help government organizations get the best value for the products and services they need to support their missions. 

View the agency fact sheet.

Key services

  • Capitol Campus management
  • Construction & public works
  • Contracts & procurement
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Energy efficiency
  • Engineering & architectural services
  • Facilities management
  • Fleet management & EVs
  • Parking management
  • Printing & mail services
  • Property management
  • Real estate services
  • Risk management
  • Small agency support
  • Surplus property
  • Training & workforce development

Service highlights

We provide workplace solutions that enhance government's ability to fulfill their missions.

  • Goods and services contracts: Manage 200 statewide contracts with 1,750+ vendors, resulting in $2.1 billion in annual goods and services purchases.
  • Construction projects: Manage 800+ design and construction projects worth $400M+ each year.
  • Statewide facilities: Care for government facilities totaling 180,000+ square feet and 14 acres in Cowlitz, King, Thurston and Yakima counties.
  • Building leases: Administers 700+ active leases totaling 9.5M+ square feet with rents totaling $185M+ each year.

We reduce government risk and add value through our stewardship and services.

  • Risk management: Provide risk management services and process 3,000 legal claims per year.
  • Small agency support: Provide human resources, financial, and contracting and procurement services to small agencies.
  • Mail: Process 4 million pieces of incoming, outgoing and campus mail, saving an estimated $5M in postage per year.
  • Printing: Print 14 million images per month, including sensitive documents and items for governments such as vehicle titles and voter pamphlets.

We help government get the best value for mission-support services.

  • Surplus: Recycle, reuse and sell materials, keeping 600,000+ pounds of materials out of landfills each year, returning 80% of funds generated to agencies.
  • Fleet: Manage vehicle purchases, long- and short term leases, and repairs and maintenance for a fleet of 5,000+ vehicles.
  • Technology leases: Help government reduce costs when replacing old equipment like computers, printers and servers

We support government in meeting their modern workforce needs.

  • Training: Manage the Washington State Learning Center with a library of 1,200+ online classes.
  • EAP: Provide support through the Washington State Employee Assistance Program to promote the health and well-being for 100,000+ public employees.
  • Careers.wa.gov: Administer the state's online recruiting system, with 1,400+ job postings and 25,800+ online applications received monthly.

Mission, vision & values

Mission: Strengthening the business of government for a sustainable and just future.

Vision: We take an enterprise view of government operations and provide shared services, policy and governance for our customers so they can focus on their core missions.

Values:

  • Be the change.
  • Embrace the journey.
  • Serve with intention.
  • Defy convention.
  • Lead with love.