Procurement FAQs

The Supplier Portal is an integrated system for Suppliers, Procurement, Accounts Payable, and the Office of Supplier, Diversity, and Inclusion to have access to the same information. The information in the Supplier Portal is what Procurement uses to notify Suppliers of posted solicitations which correspond to their NAICS code. Accounts Payable also uses to the information to facilitate invoice payments.  It is mutually beneficial to Suppliers and WSSC to utilize the Supplier Portal.

Visit WSSC Supplier Registration page, complete the form, and be sure to include any applicable attachments. On average, the supplier registration application is approved within five days, please allow for additional time if you are an SLMBE supplier. The WSSC Supplier Portal User Manual is available as a guide. 

The email you provided has already been registered in the WSSC Supplier Portal. Email [email protected] to have your password reset. Please note you can only use an email once in the WSSC Supplier Portal, if you have multiple supplier profiles (different companies) you will need a different email for each profile.

The information in your supplier profile will be valid for as long as you do business with WSSC Water. You may receive notifications for various reasons; your Certificate of Insurance was added to your profile, your certification for any SLMBE status (if applicable) has expired, and/or WSSC sends quarterly notifications to remind suppliers to keep their profile information up to date. 

You can add as many contacts and use as you would like in the contract directory. It is good practice to review your contract directory annually to ensure all contacts still work for the company and need access to the Supplier Portal.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS, pronounced Nakes) was developed under the direction and guidance of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the standard for use by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the collection, tabulation, presentation, and analysis of statistical data describing the U.S. economy.  NAICS is based on a production-oriented concept, meaning that it groups establishments into industries according to similarity in the processes used to produce goods or services. NAICS replaced the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system in 1997.

WSSC Water uses the Primary NAICS codes for internal records. The Secondary NAICS codes are used to notify Suppliers of solicitations being posted. You can list as many Secondary NAICS codes as you need, make sure your Primary NAICS code is also listed as a Secondary NAICS code.

You do not get a password until your registration is approved, but you can request a status link to update your profile by emailing to [email protected]. Your username will be the email address you entered on the first page of registration. 

Type in “%united%” then click on the magnifying glass.  Next, use the “quick select” button and it will automatically fill in United States for you. Additional guidance may also be found on page 6 and 51 of the document below.

WSSC Supplier Portal User Manual Version 2.0 (September 2020)

The WSSC Supplier Portal User Manual can be found here. Training is offered on an as needed basis. Send an email to [email protected] with requested training topics to schedule a training.

WSSC Water’s Supplier Portal serves as the central (and only) site for suppliers to register to do business with WSSC Water. To receive e-mail notifications on contract opportunities, suppliers must register in the WSSC Water Supplier Portal identifying their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry code for the commodity and services they wish to receive notifications. Each supplier must provide a primary NAICS code in their profile and may select additional codes. 

Note: Secondary NAICS codes are used for email notification about solicitation opportunities, so be sure to include all NAICS codes that apply to your business.

No. You must register in the WSSC Water Supplier Portal in order to receive bid notifications that correspond to your NAICS code(s). 

• Negotiation = Solicitation 
• RFI = WSSC Water RFI (Request for Information), WSSC Water RFQu (Request for Qualifications)
• RFQ = WSSC Water RFP (Request for Proposal), WSSC Water Multi-Step IFB (Invitation for Bid)
• Auction = WSSC Water IFB (Invitation for Bid), WSSC Water RFQ (Request for Quotation)

1. Solicitation statuses can be found here.
2. Bid tabs should be posted 48 hours after the closing date. Log on as you normally would then:
   1. Click on View Bid Opportunities and at the top of the page you will see “Select a Solicitation Status:”
   2. Change the drop down box from Open to Evaluation; then click Go when it opens
   3. You should now see the bid tab as a PDF file that you can open with a click.

• $0 - $5,000: Purchase Card (Credit Cards)
• $5,001 - $49,999.99: Small Purchase Category 1 – Not required to be advertised in Supplier Portal, quotes are requested via email.
• $50,000 - $100,000: Small Purchase Category 2 – Required to be solicited through Supplier Portal for at 3 days
• Over $100,000: Formal bid required

The Procurement Officer/Buyer name and email are listed on the solicitation. Please note all questions pertaining specifically to the Solicitation or Contract Documents shall only be submitted by a Bidder/Offeror to the Procurement Officer through the method identified on the instructions to bidder.

Visit WSSC’s Bid Solicitation page to view the Proposed Solicitation List and the current list of Solicitations. You can download a pdf of the Solicitation by clicking on the “Solicitation #” in the first column.

Yes, read the Solicitation and all Contract Documents thoroughly so you comply with all instructions and submission requirements. Improperly completed bids/proposals may result in the bid/proposal being deemed non-responsive.

The time between solicitation close date and award vary by the type and complexity of the contract.