Vendor Information
This section provides important forms and information for vendors interested in doing business with the City of San Diego Purchasing & Contracting Department.
On this page:
Vendor Registration and Notification
Click Here for Vendor Registration and Bid Opportunities
The City uses a fully automated web-based vendor registration and bid management system (PlanetBidsTM) to post and distribute all formal solicitations released by the Purchasing & Contracting Department.
To receive automatic announcements and download solicitations from the City and avail of other portal key features and benefits at no cost, register through the City's vendor portal. If your company prefers not to register at this time, you can still view a current listing of solicitations here. However, you must be registered to submit bids.
For technical support regarding the vendor portal, call 818-992-1771 or open a support ticket. You may also visit the vendor portal's General Questions page for frequently asked questions.
General Terms and Provisions of Purchase
General Provisions are the legally binding clauses that are part of any contract or purchase order.
- General Contract Terms and Provisions dated Jan. 16, 2020
Legal Authority
For legal documents that govern the bidding requirements of the City of San Diego, please refer to City Charter Article V, Section 35 (PDF), which outlines the responsibilities of the Purchasing & Contracting Department, and Chapter 2, Article 2, Division 32 of the Municipal Code, which describes when contracts may be entered into and whether a contract must be competitively bid.
Labor Compliance
Living Wage Ordinance
San Diego Municipal Code, Division 42 (Living Wage Ordinance) requires covered employers and their subcontractors to pay a wage sufficient for a full-time worker to meet basic needs and avoid economic hardship. Visit the City's Living Wage Program page for additional information on requirements and applicability.
Prevailing Wage Requirements
The federal Davis-Bacon Act and state labor laws ensure equitable pay. State law concerning prevailing wages can be found in the California Department of Industrial Relations Code of Regulations, Title 8. Visit the City's Prevailing Wage Program page for additional information on requirements and applicability.
Highest Wage Rate Applies
The contractor is required to pay the highest applicable wage rate where more than one wage rate applies.
Insurance and Bonding
The City requires vendors to submit evidence of adequate insurance and bond coverage, regardless of the dollar amount of the project, prior to performance of work or services on City property.
Business Tax Certificate
The City requires vendors to comply with Section 31.0301 of the San Diego Municipal Code regarding business taxes. Visit the City's Business Tax Program website for additional information on requirements and related processes.
Supplier Diversity and Equal Opportunity
A goal of the City is to promote and foster business diversity and inclusiveness when providing bid and contracting opportunities with the City. It is the policy of the City to ensure equal opportunities are available for all business types, including small, local, emerging, and minority/woman-owned businesses. Visit the Equal Opportunity Contracting Program website for additional information and compliance requirements.
Systems and Technology
The City uses SAP Ariba to manage contracts, purchase requisitions, and purchase orders for goods and services needed for everyday operations. After awarding a contract, the Purchasing & Contracting Department works with vendors to establish trading relationships in SAP Ariba, setting up online or static catalogs as needed. Vendors receive purchase orders through SAP Ariba or by email if they are not using the platform.
For public works, warehouse, and asset management purchasing transactions, the City relies on SAP ERP Central Component (ECC) modules like Materials Management, Inventory Management, and Enterprise Asset Management. Contracts related to these transactions are managed with outline agreements in SAP ECC, and vendors get their purchase orders via email from SAP ECC.
Commodity Codes
The City uses version 19.05 of the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) to classify commodities within its procurement system (SAP Ariba and SAP ECC). The UNSPSC code set is used to effectuate certain critical functionalities and policies (like reporting, linking contracts to purchase orders, and commodity-based approvals) within the system. Therefore, vendors wishing to transact with the City should be familiar with the UNSPSC and be prepared to classify their goods and services accordingly and to use the applicable codes in their catalogs and fulfillment systems as needed.