The Department generally releases an open bid every two years. The next one is scheduled to be released February 2023. Please return to this page periodically for updates.
All bids are posted on Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System (BidNet). Registration is free. If you have problems registering or navigating the site, please call the 800 number in the upper righthand corner of the page. When a bid is open, Department staff may not respond to vendor questions directly. The bid will identify the manner and timeframe for vendors questions.
The last open bid was a Request for Qualifications for various services and goods. If you have questions about the procurement process in the meantime, please contact [email protected].
The Department may use open competitive bids posted by the State of Colorado, another Colorado County, or a Colorado purchasing consortium or similar, if applicable, and that bid included cooperative language.
You can learn more about Douglas County Government’s procurement process by reviewing the County’s Procurement page.
Human Service is a highly regulated area of work, but the Department strives to simplify it as much as possible. Requirements vary by type of service or good, and funding source. All specifics are outlined in a contract. This page does not capture every requirement however, some basic requirements are below.
Vendors may not be suspended or disbarred from receiving federal funds. This requirement can be met in various ways: a) Registration on www.sam.gov, b) Certification, or c) Contractual condition. SAM registration is always free. You do not have to use a private third-party to complete or maintain SAM registration. SAM registration must match your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
Vendors must continuously meet the County’s general insurance requirements. Actual requirements may vary and are outlined in each contract. However, general requirements are:
A W9 is required at the time of initial contract execution and any time the information contained therein changes.
If you have questions about vendor requirements, please contact [email protected].
Contracting Process
Human Service is a highly regulated area of work, but the Department strives to simplify it as much as possible. The Department will determine when a Public Contract for Services (PCS) is required. A contract issued for one term (generally 12 months) does not guarantee a subsequent contract. The Department cannot guarantee a volume of referrals or work and corresponding revenue stream. The demand for goods and services varies by caseload size, specific case needs, and program policy decisions.
Vendors’ internal policies, e.g., invoicing policies and missed appointments, are not assumed to be incorporated into the PCS. Services and rates are defined in the PCS. Any staff discussions, emails or agreements inconsistent with or not included in the PCS or Amendment are not binding or assumed to be part of the PCS or Amendment.
Child Welfare services can be complex. Interested vendors should familiarize themselves with these special notes.
Generally, the process takes two months. The actual amount of time varies based on many factors, e.g., number of contracts being developed at any given time, whether the vendor is new to the Department, and the type of services or goods being provided.
Since services should not begin prior to the execution of a fully executed PCS, vendors should review the requirements above when contract discussions begin so they are able to begin accepting referrals and work as soon as the PCS is signed.
An Amendment may be required during the term of a PCS. Examples of when an Amendment is required include increases in the contract maximum, a change in vendor address, or updates to services or goods being provided. Typically, an Amendment takes less time to complete than a PCS and follows the same process.
