Vendor FAQS
What is DIR's ICT Contracts program?
ICT Contracts is a streamlined cooperative purchasing program for state, local, public education and other public entities
including those outside the state of Texas. The program allows customers to purchase technology products and services
directly from a vendor with whom DIR has a contract. This streamlines the entire order process and allows customers to
receive their orders more quickly. Customers receive pricing and other information directly from the DIR vendor and issue
their purchase orders directly to the vendor, not to DIR. Most DIR contracts are Go DIRect. For non-Go DIRect purchases,
customers make purchase orders payable to DIR and send orders directly to DIR.
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How do vendors get on DIR's ICT Contracts program?
DIR makes it easy for government customers to buy technology products and services through its ICT Contracts program.
DIR awards master contracts that state agencies are required to use, but are used voluntarily by local governments
(cities and counties), public school districts, and public colleges/universities. Through the ICT Contracts procurement
process, DIR maximizes the state's volume buying power to save taxpayers money. In FY 2008, the volume exceeded $1 billion.
Below you will find information on DIR's Contracting process and tools you can use to learn about DIR's bidding opportunities.
DIR's Contracting Process
DIR establishes performance-based contracts with vendors if there is sufficient demand for a product or service. When
DIR plans to establish a contract, the process is as follows:
- DIR posts Requests for Offers (RFO) for technology products and services on the Electronic State Business Daily
(ESBD). Note: DIR will send an e-mail notice that a RFO has been released to vendors that are registered on the state's
Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) for the commodity codes requested in the RFO. However, this is not a guarantee
and vendors should not rely on this method of notification. It is the vendor's responsibility to check the ESBD and
DIR's Current Contracting Initiatives web page to find these notices.
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Interested vendors submit their RFO responses to DIR.
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DIR evaluates the responses and determines best value offers for the state.
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Highest scoring vendors are invited for negotiations. Note: Submitting a response does not guarantee an invitation to negotiate.
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DIR negotiates contracts with one or more vendors.
How to Do Business with the State
Prospective vendors can use the tools outlined below to find out about state bidding opportunities and better position
themselves to earn a contract with DIR.
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Register with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) to receive notices of bidding opportunities.
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Visit the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) to determine if current contract opportunities are a match for
your company. You can browse for DIR bids by selecting our agency (Department of Information Resources) and
clicking "GO." You can also access bids posted by any other Texas state agencies. If you find a match, follow
the instructions to submit a response to the RFO.
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The DIR website lists upcoming contracting opportunities, along with the status of current contracting
initiatives, on the Current Contracting Initiatives page.
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Certified Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) vendors should review HUB reports. These reports offer
valuable information that may lead to contracting opportunities.
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To gain more understanding of the state's procurement process, view the State of Texas Vendor Guide.
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What are the benefits of being a DIR vendor?
Save time and money
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Vendors rarely need to respond to individual bid invitations or negotiate contracts. Because DIR has completed the
competitive bid process required by the state, customers can quickly and easily buy technology products and services
from DIR-contracted vendors
Gain business development opportunities in the public sector
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Customers can easily access vendor product/service information through the online DIR Store.
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Vendors have the potential to expand their business in the public sector with DIR's current and potential
customer base once awarded a DIR contract.
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Vendors can participate and market their product/services at DIR-sponsored trade shows.
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What do vendors need to offer DIR?
DIR expects to receive the vendors' best pricing, since all state agencies, cities, counties, and other local governments,
public school districts, and public colleges and universities can buy through the DIR contracts. Based on the state's
anticipated volume, vendors need to offer DIR deep discounts from their list price. Those discounts must apply to all
DIR customers, regardless of their size, which means that a small agency would receive the same base discounts that a
large agency would receive, although entities buying large quantities should be able to negotiate deeper discounts through
the DIR contracts.
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Can HUB/MWBE vendors participate?
DIR strongly encourages Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) and Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) vendors to respond to RFOs. The Comptroller of Public Accounts' Texas Procurement and Support Services Division (TPASS) manages the HUB Program. For information on how to become a HUB, call TPASS at 512-463-4000 or visit the HUB page.
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How do vendors become DIR resellers for specific manufacturers?
DIR selects new hardware and software resellers approximately every two years, based on the expiration dates of the
current contracts. DIR posts RFOs on the ESBD for various product lines. Resellers must be authorized to sell the
appropriate manufacturer/publisher's product. All interested authorized resellers for those products should respond
to the postings.
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For more information, please contact DIR Customer Service via email or by calling 1-800-464-1215
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