Logging in

If you already have a login provided by us and have access to the statewide intranet, go to the Sole Source Contracts Database. If you do not have access, contact brooke.jensen@des.wa.gov for assistance. 

To facilitate the requirements of RCW 39.26, state agencies and institutions of higher education must file sole source and related amendments in the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Sole Source Contracts Database (SSCD) for DES approval or review.

The questions asked within the SSCD are designed to assist state agencies and institutions of higher education in providing succinct and compelling justifications for awarding sole source contracts. The questions are based upon the following business and/or operational topics:

• Business need
• Unique qualifications of the vendor or product
• Market research
• Considerations for small businesses (supplier diversity) and unbundling services
• Special circumstances

Filing requirements

Direct Buy Threshold: Sole source contracts need to be filed if their value is greater than (a) $30,000, or (b) $40,000 if the purchase is being made from a small business as defined by RCW 39.26.010(22), or from a certified veteran-owned business. Sole source contracts less than these amounts meet direct buy requirements and are not required to be filed.

Filing timelines

• Sole source contract and amendment filings must be entered at a minimum of 15 working days prior to the anticipated start of work date for DES approval. Working days do not include holidays, weekends, and the day you file your sole source contract in the SSCD.
• Sole source exempt contract filings must be filed within 20 working days of contract execution.
• Emergency contract filings must be filed within 10 working days after the start of work or contract execution - whichever comes first.

Non-State Funds – Higher Education Only: Institutions of higher education must file sole source and emergency contracts only when state funds are greater than 50 percent (%) of the total contract consideration.

Checking the Status of Your Filing: Agencies and institutions of higher education can view the status of their filings by visiting their Filing Queue in the SSCD.

Filing justifications

Outlines to help with the sole source and emergency contract and amendment filing process:

• Emergency contract justification template
• Late filing justification sample
• Sole source contract justification template
• Sole source amendment justification template
• Sole source exempt contract template
• Legal notice template