How to Use Statewide Contracts

Statewide contracts leverage the state’s collective buying power to help you save money, reduce risk, and streamline purchasing. Buy products and services directly from over 1,500 vendors.

Find goods and services on statewide contracts

Search current contracts to see all available goods and services.

State agencies are required to use statewide contracts

If a statewide contract cannot fulfill a state agency’s needs, the agency may purchase from a vendor that is not on contract and document the reason. We review these decisions during the delegation of authority process.

Sign up to use statewide contracts

Before you can use the state’s purchasing power, your organization must sign a contract usage agreement.

1. Check our list of organizations with current contract usage agreements. If your organization isn’t listed, proceed to step 2.
2. Complete a contract usage agreement.
   • Government entities (federal, state, local, or Tribal) must use the contract usage agreement (PDF, 445KB). View step-by-step instructions for submitting a contract usage agreement for government organizations.
   • Certain nonprofit organizations are eligible to use statewide contracts. Use the instructions and forms for Public Benefit Nonprofits.
3. Email your signed contract usage agreement to: CUA@des.wa.gov. Please sign the agreement electronically or it may delay processing.
4. We will email you a copy of the completed agreement.

Costs associated with statewide contracts

There is no cost to sign a usage agreement.

Each statewide contract includes a price list that shows the maximum prices, based on low-volume purchases. Check your invoice against the price list to make sure you are not charged more than the contract price. Discounts may be available based on order quantity, manufacturer or dealer incentives, or other competitive factors. Vendors are allowed to charge less than the stated contract price.

Vendors pay a management fee for establishing and administrating contracts, product and price auditing, purchasing assistance, online access, and all services and administration we perform under RCW 39.26. Vendors submit activity reports and management fees to us every quarter.

Make a purchase from a statewide contract

After you sign a contract usage agreement:

1. Use our Contract Search to find goods and services. You can also search contracts with small, diverse, or veteran-owned businesses.
2. Identify a vendor on the contract you wish to use.
3. Contact the vendor and include:
   • The contract number you wish to use.
   • The contract name.
   • Your customer number.

Subscribe to statewide contracts news

• Sign up in our Customer Communication Profile database to receive information about contract usage agreements and your business needs. We do not share this information with vendors.
• Subscribe to Contracts Connection, our semimonthly email newsletter with statewide contracts news and updates.

Related laws

These are the laws authorize us to establish statewide contracts:

• Title 200 WAC Department of Enterprise Services creation, roles, and authority of DES
• RCW 39.26.050 Procurement of Goods and Services - Washington state law on procurement of goods and services
• RCW 39.26.060 Cooperative purchasing
• RCW 39.26.080 Procurement policy — Director's responsibility and authority — Statewide contracts