Doing Business with the City
Learn how to register as a vendor, understand how the bidding process works, use National Institute Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) commodity codes to find the right categories for your business and sign up for Vendor Academy training.
How the City Buys Goods and Services
The City of Austin makes purchases on the open market, by informal or formal requests or utilizing cooperative contracts.
The City makes purchases based on dollar ranges:
- $0 - 3,000: Purchases made based on a single quote and may be paid using a Purchasing Order or ProCard at the department level.
- $3,000.01 - $5,000: Purchases made based on an informal request with a minimum of three quotes, with attempts made to obtain at least two quotes from a certified Women or Minority Owned Business.
- $5,000.01 - Competitive Threshold: Purchases made based on an informal solicitation process using a Central Purchase Order (CT) or a Master Agreement (MA) for payment and approved by Central Procurement.
- Above Competitive Threshold: Purchases made through a formal advertised solicitation process using a CT or MA for payment and approved City Council through a Request for Council Action (RCA).
Vendor Registration
City of Austin vendors may participate in the City’s procurement process by receiving solicitation notifications for contract opportunities and submitting responses through our website. If awarded a contract or order, an approved account is needed to complete contract execution and process future payments.
For more information or for assistance call 512-974-2018 or email us at vendor@austintexas.gov
Search Registered Vendors
Already Registered?
Each federal taxpayer ID number can only have one associated vendor account. If you think you’re already registered, you can search by taxpayer ID number to find your vendor account.
Search Commodity Codes
Commodity codes represent the goods and services a vendor provides. When the City issues a new solicitation, our Procurement Specialists identify all related commodity codes, and send the solicitation to all vendors who have those codes associated with their vendor profile. Vendors must provide at least one commodity code on their profile, but we recommend adding multiple to cast a wide net. You can also use the search tools find commodities other vendors have registered with.
2026 Vendor Academy Presentations
The Academy has been designed to provide training on a variety of procurement topics to assist them to successfully do business with the City. Topics are relevant to vendors who provide goods, services, professional services and construction-related services. Learn how to navigate the requirements of doing business with the City of Austin while keeping informed of new opportunities.
Learn about our Local and Small Business Preference Programs, invitation for bid (IFB) process, request for proposal (RFP) process, construction contracting methods and more.
- Explore 2026 Presentations
January 21, 2026
- View the Register as a City Vendor & Use Austin Finance Online to Find Solicitations Presentation (5.7 MB)
- View the Business Planning Services and Available Resources for the Vendor Community Presentation (1.6 MB)
February 18, 2026
- View the How the City of Austin Buys and How to Submit Offers Using eResponse Presentation (2.7 MB)
- View the Procurement Lifecycle Presentation (4 MB)
March 18, 2026
- View the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program Presentation (2.6 MB)
- View the Local Preference and Small Business Programs Presentation (2.4 MB)
April 15, 2026
- View the Rate Review Process for Construction-Related Professional Services Presentation (3.7 MB)
- View the Request for Qualifications (RFQS) for Construction-Related Professional Services Presentation (1.9 MB)
May 20, 2026
- View the Construction Contracting Methods Presentation (2.95 MB)
- View the Overview of the Solicitation Process Presentation (2.45 MB)
June 17, 2026
- View the Navigating Contract Changes on City Contracts Presentation (1.9 MB)
- View the How to Receive Prompt Payments on Construction Contracts (2.0 MB)
July 29, 2026
- View the Procurement 101 for Vendors Presentation (5.6 MB)
- View the Preparing a Unit Price Construction Contract: Best Prectices (12.7 MB)
October 21, 2026