Frequently Asked Questions
Bidding
How do I Promote my Business to the City of San Diego?
First, visit the Commodity Listing (PDF) document which lists commodities purchased by assigned Procurement Specialists. Then, contact the appropriate Procurement Specialist.
How do I Register as a Potential Vendor with the City of San Diego Purchasing Division?
Fill out the Vendor Application (PDF) to register as a potential vendor. Registered vendors will be contacted for bidding opportunities.
Where Do I Find Bid & Contract Opportunities?
Visit the Bid & Contract Opportunities web page to view a listing of bid opportunities and download bids or the City Bulletin of Public Notices for Notices of Bid Opportunity.
If I'm Not a Registered Vendor, Can I Still Submit Bids with the City?
Yes, however, in the event of an award, we cannot issue a purchase order unless you are a registered vendor and have supplied all supporting information.
What Should I Expect at the Pre-bid/Pre-proposal Meeting?
The pre-bid meeting is used to discuss specifications for a specific bid/proposal, and it allows for vendors to ask questions in order to seek clarification. Not all bids have a pre-bid meeting and attendance is not mandatory unless specified.
Does the City Give Local Vendor Preference Points?
Yes, Council Policy 100-10 allows for the portion of the sales tax that is returned to the City (1%) to be taken into consideration when evaluating bids.
How Are Bids Awarded?
Purchase orders will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder who meets all requirements and specifications of the bid. See the Bidding Guidelines for more information about awards and obtaining bid results.
How Do I Get Paid?
Payments are made by the City Auditor and Comptroller after material is received and found to be correct and in good condition. In the case of equipment, payment is made for complete units as received. We do not make partial payments for work in progress at vendors' plants since the City Charter prohibits payment until material is received. Vendor invoices must reference the appropriate purchase order number and be submitted in duplicate to the "bill to" address indicated in the Invoice Instruction section of the referenced purchase order. Do not send invoices to Purchasing. To prevent errors or delays in payment, vendors should carefully check the prices and Purchase Order Conditions when received. Please include the purchase order number on all correspondence.
Consultants
What Is a Consultant?
A Consultant is defined as any professional or technical expert contracting with the City for the purpose of giving opinions, preparing reports, conducting studies, and making recommendations or providing special services in the fields of finance, planning, personnel, public relations, engineering, and architecture.
Who Selects Consultants for the City?
City of San Diego Departments are responsible for advertising the Request for Proposal (RFP) and recommending award in accordance with Administrative Regulation 25.70 - Selection of Consultants other than Architects and Engineers, or Administrative Regulation 25.60 - Selection of Consultants for Work Requiring Licensed Architect and Engineering Skills.
What is Purchasing's Role in Selecting Consultants?
Purchasing is only responsible for issuing a purchase order to the selected consultant. It is the responsibility of each City Department to retain a list of consultants which would normally provide the services they may require.
How Do I Promote My Consultant Business to the City?
If you are interested in promoting your business to a specific City Department, a City of San Diego Directory may be purchased at the City Administration Building Information Desk. Directories must be picked up in person, and are available on a first come, first serve basis. No phone orders will be accepted. Please call (619) 236-5555 for updated pricing or for more information.