Colorado Government Bid Types: RFQs, RFPs and RFIs

Colorado Government Bids

The first sort of solicitation is often referred to as a Colorado bid. This price dependant bid can also be known as invitation to bid (ITBs), informal bids (IFBs) or get quotes (RFQs). Local Colorado governments have to bid out purchases above a certain threshold. Within Colorado, a proposal threshold varies by local buying agency. For example, during the same form of municipal government, bid threshold limits can vary:

City of Aspen, Colorado: <$10,000 informal bid threshold

City of Boulder, Colorado: <$50,000 informal bid threshold

City of Lakewood, Colorado: <$25,000 informal bid threshold

Within many local or local government statutes, it really is required that these informal contracts be awarded for the lowest responsive, responsible bidder.

Colorado RFPs

The bid threshold and statutes surrounding formal Colorado bids differ. Many formal bids are for goods or services more advanced in nature, that price is not the only consideration and people purchases may fall under an RFP category.

Request for proposal (RFP) is primarily used by Colorado city agencies for IT as well as other professional services. RFPs can also be used when the overall "plan" outweighs the pricing.

Local Colorado governments use RFPs to acquire services, as a way of seeking competition while considering factors along with price. When a Colorado buying organization uses an RFP to acquire services, the company itself decides what the timeline is as well as the proposal evaluation criteria. It is up to each government agency to decide what process will best balance its needs with the specific Colorado RFP depending on criteria which may include (1) top quality services, (2) value, (3) transparency, (4) efficiency, and (5) fairness.

Colorado RFIs or Information Requests

The final type of solicitation and related documents you will note used by Colorado governments can be a Request for Information or RFI. RFIs usually are not used to procure goods or services directly, but instead are used to solicit details about purchases or projects which can be planned to get procured in the foreseeable future. Many local Colorado agencies utilize RFIs to survey the marketplace and help them actually build an RFP based on their informational findings. There is no contract to become won with a Colorado government RFI, nonetheless it may pave the way for a relationship and better consideration from the specifications of an future Colorado RFP.

Finding Colorado RFQs, RFPs, RFIs along with other Solicitations

The Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System is a web based bid system used by over 100 local Colorado gov departments for their procurement needs. Find Colorado bids, RFPs, RFIs and all related documents about the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System.

Check out Colorado solicitations