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Department of Fiscal & Administrative Services - Purchasing Division

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Procurement/Bid Opportunities

Our goal is to conduct all procurement in a professional manner and to deal with each prospective vendor, bidder, or salesperson with honesty, fairness, and integrity. We recognize that the procurement process can seem complex, and we invite your questions regarding any aspect of the procurement process of which you may be unsure.

Who Buys For Charles County

Purchasing conducts or provides oversight of all purchases in excess of $2,500. However, most procurement is either initiated or requested by county departments.

How The County Buys

  • Small Purchases (less than $5,000): Charles County Government departments are authorized to conduct these purchases independently, and will contact vendors directly. Only one quote is required.

  • Medium Purchases (from $5,000 to $50,000): If practicable, informal quotations are obtained from at least three sources. These requests for quotations usually originate from the departments. Purchase orders are typically required, and are issued by the Purchasing Division based upon requisitions submitted by the departments.

  • Large Purchases (more than $50,000): The Purchasing Division conducts a formal solicitation process to obtain sealed bids/proposals. Other bid documents are required to accompany the sealed bid/proposal, such as qualifications and experience, bid/proposal affidavit, bid bond, insurance certification, Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) participation, Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) participation, etc. Formal solicitations are advertised in the following venues:

Vendor Notifications

All formal county solicitations are published on eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), the State of Maryland’s electronic bid board, which provides email notification of solicitations published. We strongly encourage all firms wishing to be notified of county solicitations to register on the County's e-Procurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/charlescountymd and with eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA).

Suggestions for Bidders/Offerors

  • Always read the solicitation documents thoroughly before submitting questions.
  • Comply completely with all instructions and requirements contained in the solicitations. Bids/proposals missing required information and/or containing incomplete forms may be rejected.
  • Attend the pre-bid/proposal meeting/site visit if one is offered.
  • Ensure you submit all items required by the solicitation, such as: bid security, addendum acknowledgement, references, qualifications, licenses/certifications, etc.
  • Check the e-Procurement Portal frequently. You are responsible to be aware of any addendums, updates, or notices concerning the solicitation published on the e-Procurement Portal.
  • If you submit questions, ensure they are clear, concise, directed to the person specified in the solicitation, and submitted in writing prior to the cutoff date for questions.
  • Ensure your bid is submitted prior to the published bid/proposal closing date and time. Bids and proposals submitted late will not be considered.

Solicitation & Award Information

Information not contained in the county solicitation documents posted on the e-Procurement Portal is not available until after award has been made.

Bid openings for bids received in response to Invitations To Bid are public, and bidders are encouraged to attend.

Awards of contracts resulting from formal solicitations are made after completion of review, evaluation, and tabulation of bids/proposals. Award and bid/proposal information is published on the county e-Procurement Portal after award.

Information concerning the county’s formal solicitations is available on the e-Procurement Portal for at least 30 days after the award of the contract. Information concerning procurement documents not published on the e-Procurement Portal may be requested in writing in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act, as directed on the county website.

Who To Contact

You may contact County Departments directly if you know the person you need to speak with, or you may contact the Purchasing Division Office. If you do not know the Department point of contact, Purchasing will direct you to the appropriate individual(s). We will always try to make your contact with the County mutually productive. General inquiries or questions regarding these procedures may be directed to the Purchasing Division Office:

  • Mailing Address: 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, MD, 20646
  • Email Address: PurAdmin@CharlesCountyMD.gov
  • Telephone: 301-645-0656
  • In-Person: By appointment - request via email (PurAdmin@CharlesCountyMD.gov) or phone

Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE), and Small Local Business Enterprise Programs (SLBE)

The County established these programs to encourage participation of small, local, minority, and woman owned businesses in county procurement. The Programs are administered by the Charles County Economic Development Department. To obtain information on these programs, eligibility criteria, and how to apply, contact the Economic Development Department Outreach staff at 301-885-1334, 301-885-1340, or SLBE@MeetCharlesCounty.com.

Sale of Surplus County Property

Serviceable surplus County property is sold at public auction by Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA). IAA is located at 14149 Brandywine Road, Brandywine, MD, 20613-3003. For more information about IAA's monthly public auctions, and to learn how you can participate, contact them by phone at 301-372-8876.