Effective immediately, procurements for goods and services directly related to the state's response to the novel coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) are excepted from competitive solicitation requirements.

SEATTLE -- The Department of Enterprise Services received the National Association of Minority Contractors Public Agency of the Year award for its work in promoting small and diverse business participation in public works contracting.

The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services is leading the way to reduce carbon emissions in the state, according to Western Washington Clean Cities. The not-for-profit membership organization that promotes alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in the Pacific Northwest, particularly for fleet operations, recently awarded the state agency the Best Achievement in Electricity award for its leadership in the state's efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Two public meetings -- in Seattle and Spokane -- will be held in June to provide information on a statewide disparity study that Washington state is conducting about minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses in state contracts and purchasing.

Photos

Download photos from the Electric Vehicles (EV) and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Open House on April 20, hosted by the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services:

A website has been launched to provide information about Washington’s statewide disparity study for minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses in state contracts and purchasing.

The site, wastate.disparity-study.com, is maintained by Colette Holt & Associates, who has been contracted to conduct the study. The Department of Enterprise Services will provide oversight of the study on behalf of the state.

Contracts with Diverse Spend

DES has created a search function that will allow customers to search specifically for which Master Contracts offer vendors that are certified Small, Veteran, Minority, Women or Minority and Women owned businesses.

This tool can be located on the Current Statewide Master Contracts, using the contract search tool or by clicking on the 3rd bullet under “Search of view contracts” (see below).

For the purpose of protecting public safety, the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) plans to develop rules that will mostly prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft systems, including drones, on the 486-acre Capitol Campus in Olympia, satellite campuses in Lacey and Tumwater, and other DES-owned properties in in Cowlitz, King, Pierce, Skagit, Thurston and Yakima counties.

Before drafting a rule, DES is seeking public input.

Gov. Jay Inslee today convened a new subcabinet focused on increasing access for small and minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses to contracting opportunities with Washington state government. Inslee has tapped the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to lead the subcabinet in partnership with the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises.

Partnerships vital to successful effort

This is what success looks like: Some 14,000 state employees completed more than 36,700 required contract and procurement training courses between January 2015 and October 2015.

Thank you for your part in supporting and participating in this monumental effort.