How to do Business with Washoe County School District

  • Washoe County School District (District) is responsible for public primary and secondary education in Washoe County, which includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, and Gerlach. There are over 60,000 students attending over 100 schools throughout Washoe County. The Purchasing Department's procurement practices are governed by the District's Board of Trustees policies, regulations, and Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 332 and Chapter 338.  Additional procurement-related policies, regulations, and administrative procedures can be accessed online at www.wcsdpolicy.net

    The District has a relatively centralized purchasing process and the Purchasing Department manages the procurement and contract review functions districtwide.  Procurement services requested from schools, departments, and sites, including those related to construction and construction-related services, and Nutrition Services are overseen by the Purchasing Department, which is the only department authorized to issue valid District Purchase Orders (PO). For verification, when District employees are picking up or purchasing product(s) directly in-person, vendors/suppliers should ask to see their respective District Employee Identification Card (with photo). 

    Vendors/suppliers are strongly encouraged to sign up for the District's direct deposit Automatic Clearing House (ACH) program for payments. Click HERE to access the fillable Authorization Agreement for ACH Payment Non-Employee (Direct Deposit) form. and when completed please email the form to the District's Accounts Payable Department at: ap@washoeschools.net 

    For District purchases, there are two (2) distinct mechanisms used: 

    • PURCHASE ORDER (PO): Vendors/suppliers are expected to fill orders in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of any applicable contract, including, but not limited to, those applicable to a District PO. 

    • PROCUREMENT CARD (PCard):  All purchases of products that total less than $500 may be made with a District-issued Procurement Card (PCard). Certain exclusions apply, including certain computer and laptop items that require a District-issued asset tag.

    To do business with the District and to receive automatic email notifications of Public Works (capital/construction) and non-capital goods and services solicitation opportunities, interested parties need to register online at: solicitations.washoeschools.net

    Procurement solicitation types used by the District's Purchasing Department as governed by NRS include:

    • REQUEST FOR FORMAL QUOTATION (RFQ): Solicitation issued for one-time and/or annual expenditure contracts in the amount of $50,000 or more, but not greater than $99,999.99.

    • REQUEST FOR BID (RFB): Solicitations issued for one-time and/or annual expenditure contracts in the amount of $100,000 or more.

    • REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP): Solicitation issued using a "Best Value" technique within a competitive process, which emphasizes value over price and permits evaluation criteria such as qualification, experience, references, and performance data to assist in determining the best overall value to the District upon contract award. 

    • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQS): Similar to the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, this type of solicitation is issued using a "Best Value" technique within a competitive process and is designed for contracting for various professional services (e.g., consultants, architects, and engineers). This solicitation type excludes pricing/cost proposals as part of the evaluation process; however, it does emphasize value and permits evaluation criteria such as qualification, experience, references, and performance data to assist in determining the best overall value to the District upon contract award.

    Procurement Ethics

    Vendors, suppliers, and contractors who transact business with the District will be dealt with equally and in a manner that compares with good business practices, professional ethics, and the requirements of law. All prospective solicitation respondents shall be given identical information. The specifications, terms, and conditions of all solicitations will be prepared in a language familiar to the trade and in a manner that will encourage competitive sourcing. No member of the Board of Trustees or any of its employees shall accept any commission, expense-paid trip, or anything of material value from any individual, company, partnership, corporation, or any organization supplying or seeking to supply equipment, supplies, and/or services to the District for any purpose except those minor items of nominal value that are widely distributed by the individual company, etc., as part of a public relations or advertising program. Interested respondents/parties may NOT contact anyone other than the solicitation's facilitator regarding this solicitation. Any interested respondent/party contacting any other individual, including, but not limited to, District staff, officials, evaluation committee members, or Board of Trustee may have their submission rejected from evaluation and award consideration.  

    Standard Practices of the Purchasing Department

    • Regard public service as a sacred trust, giving primary consideration to the interest of the public agency by whom we are employed.

    • Purchase without prejudice, seeking to obtain the maximum value for each dollar expended.

    • Avoid unfair practices and give all qualified vendors, suppliers, and contractors equal opportunity.

    • Honor our obligations and require that obligations to our public agency be honored.

    • Treat vendors, suppliers, and contractors in a courteous manner and remember that these representatives are important sources of information and assistance in solving the District's procurement needs.

    • Strive for greater knowledge of procurement and contract review practices and of the products and services purchased.

    • Be receptive to counsel from District colleagues and cooperate with them to promote a spirit of unity and teamwork.

    • Conduct ourselves with fairness and dignity, and demand honesty and truth in standard and acceptable procurement practices.

    • Cooperate with all organizations and individuals engaged in activities designed to enhance the development of the procurement profession.

    • Remember that our actions reflect on the entire procurement profession and govern our actions accordingly.