How to do Business with the City

To become a vendor for the City, go to Vendor Connection and register. Registering requires providing information such as Legal Name and Tax ID.

Vendor Connection provides a public clearinghouse of detailed information about current business opportunities with the City of Austin.

On Vendor Connection:

• Create a subscriber account.
• Subscribe to solicitation notifications.
• Download solicitation documents.
• Review public solicitation openings. Results of public solicitation openings are posted online.
• Registered vendors can manage their accounts and view reports of business activity with the City.

MBE/WBE Certification

Firms can become a certified Minority-owned or Women-owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE), contact the City’s Small and Minority Business Resources Department for assistance. 

Learn more about all the services provided by SMBR or contact the office at 512-974-7600.

How the City Buys Goods/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 authorized and/or paid using a purchasing order or purchasing card.

• $3,000.01 - $50,000

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

• $50,000.01 and above

Purchases made based on a formal solicitation and may require approval by the City Council

Visit the Austin Finance Online Vendor Connection

Procurement Information

• Standard Bid Documents
• Bid Opening Webinars
• Bid Tabulations
• Registered Vendor Search
• MBE/WBE Reports
• No Contact List
• Expiring Contracts List
• NIGP Commodity Search

Policies, Rules & Ordinances

• Anti-Lobbying Ordinance
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure
• Probation, Suspension, Debarment
• MBE/WBE Ordinance
• MWBE Procurement Rules

Anti-Lobbying Ordinance

The City’s Anti-Lobbying Ordinance restricts vendor communication solely to the Purchasing Office’s authorized contact. Questions about the ordinance should be directed to the Purchasing Office.

No Gift Policy

City of Austin employees are not allowed to accept gifts from vendors. This includes paying for meals. If you customarily send a token of appreciation to your customers, the City asks that you not send any item to City employees or offices.