Wyoming Business Tips for June 28

A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Andrea Lewis, Wyoming Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) specialist

“I am interested in selling my goods and services to the State of Wyoming. How do I get started?” Ben, Wright

The State of Wyoming buys products and services for many things. Different agencies, commissions or departments have different methods of purchasing; plus, dollar thresholds that determine how things are bought also are in place.

For instance, if the product or service is more than $7,500, a competitive bidding process is used. If the product or service (usually for day-to-day operations) is under $2,500, verbal quotes are used. If it is between $2,500 and $7,500, written quotations are used.

Start your research on how to do business with the state by reading the department or agency website. The list of agencies can be found at: http://www.wyo.gov/agencies. While all agencies may not have information on their websites about how to do business with them, it is still a good place to start, because you will get a sense of the mission and what products or services are used.

Some state agencies work with the State of Wyoming Administration and Information Department (A&I) to purchase products or services that are over the $7,500 threshold. Directions on how to do business with A&I are on the Procurement/Purchasing Web page at http://ai.wyo.gov/general-services/contracts--purchasing. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and A&I use a third-party vendor, Public Purchase, to advertise and manage bid opportunities.

WYDOT’s Procurement Services Program is responsible for acquiring all materials, supplies, equipment, printing, services and building construction for all branches of its department throughout the state, with the exception of highway and bridge construction and consulting services. The department’s vendor guide is at http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/business_with_wydot/purchasing/purchasingguide.html.

The Contracts and Estimates Office, within WYDOT, handles bidding for highway and bridge construction or other federally funded projects. Engineering Services is responsible for consulting services, and Airport Projects has information on bidding and bid openings for airport improvement projects. See WYDOT’s website for links to these offices at https://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/business_with_wydot/Bidding_Opportunities_with_WYDOT.default.html.

If you would like assistance in determining which agency your company might find opportunities with or in navigating the Public Purchase website, contact us at the Wyoming Entrepreneur PTAC. All of our consultants are able to assist in finding and registering for work with the state. Do not hesitate to contact us if needed.

A blog version of this article and an opportunity to post comments are available at http://wyen.biz/blog1/.

The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922.