This column is sponsored by BizLauncha division of Arlington Economic Development.

A common question from businesses, large and small, is, “How can I do business with Arlington?”

For companies with several years of experience, working with local governments is a great way to expand their customer base while serving their community. In this month’s Small Business Spotlight, we’ll break down the process to help you succeed in local government procurement.

Do tasks

Before you start selling to local government, it’s essential to do your homework. Arlington is one of the most transparent clients, with many procurement opportunities and purchasing decisions accessible to the public. These can be found in our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), annual budget, minutes of regular board meetings and comprehensive master plans. Through the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA), business owners can also view the results of any previous bids or solicitations and final contracts from past solicitations.

In April, the Arlington County Board approved a balanced budget of 1.65 billion dollars for fiscal year 2025, which began on July 1, 2024and will end in June 30, 2025.

Understanding the Arlington buying process

After you’ve done your homework, it’s important to understand how Arlington makes purchasing decisions. Arlington uses a decentralized purchasing process where each department handles its own procurement, supported by the Purchasing Division. This means that each department, knowing its needs throughout the year, can make individual purchasing decisions. However, despite a decentralized purchasing process, departments must follow the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) and the County Purchasing Resolution, found on the Purchasing website.

How Arlington purchases goods and services

The dollar value and length of the order affect how a buyer procures goods and services for amounts between $10,000 and $200,000.

There are three main ways Arlington purchases goods and services:

• X10,000: For one-time purchases of goods or services that are $10,000 or less in a fiscal year, the County does not need to go through a public process. Buying agents can request bids from at least two competitors and choose the best fit.
• Small purchase negotiations: Used for purchases greater than $10,000 but less than $200,000. These are advertised publicly for at least three days.
• An Invitation to Bid (ITB) or Request for Proposal (RFP): For purchases greater than $200,000, an RFP process is used. Bids are advertised for a period of 10 to 21 days, and RFPs are publicly announced for a minimum of 30 days.

starting

Ready to secure part of the circuit 1.65 billion dollars budget for your small business? Get started by signing up for Arlington’s procurement database. Regarding August 1, 2024, Arlington uses a system called PRISM+. New suppliers can register and existing suppliers can use the new Supplier Portal to do business with Arlington and update their business details. Select all commodity codes applicable to your business when registering on the procurement portal. Doing this will help anyone shopping in the county find your business.

Before responding to a solicitation, make sure your business meets the county’s procurement guidelines, such as having a business license, being in good standing with the Virginia SCC, complying with the Living Wage Policy, cyber security standards and more. These requirements will be listed in the RFP or Small Purchase Negotiations and the Arlington Purchase Resolution. If you have any questions, please contact any of the purchasing staff.

Future initiatives

The Arlington Division of Procurement is also conducting a Disparity Study to determine the effects of race, ethnicity or gender on a business’s ability to secure contracts in Arlington County. The goal is to find out what we can do better, and that can only be found by talking to business owners! The county is asking businesses to share their experiences through an online survey about winning or bidding on contracts/subcontracts in Arlington County. For more information, please visit the Inequality Study link.

BizLaunch Support

Whether you’re exploring federal, state or local procurement opportunities, BizLaunch is here to help. Sign up for a BizLaunch consultation today or visit BizLaunch to learn more.