How to Use Statewide Contracts
Common goods and services
Search current contracts to see all available goods and services.
State agencies are required to use statewide contracts
If a statewide contract cannot fulfill a state agency’s needs, the agency may purchase from a vendor that is not on contract and document the reason. We expect agencies to use discretion and sound judgment when making this decision as this will be taken into consideration during the delegation of authority process.
Sign up to use statewide contracts
Before you can use the state’s purchasing power, your organization must sign a contract usage agreement.
- Check that your organization is not already on our list of organizations with current contract usage agreements.
- Download and print the contract usage agreement. Send these documents as separate files and unlocked. Using DocuSign locks the files and prevents us from signing.
- Government entities must use the contract usage agreement (Word, 78 KB).
- Public Benefit Nonprofit entities must use the contract usage agreement for PBNPs (Word, 78 KB) and include:
- IRS confirmation of 501(c) 3 status
- Washington Secretary of State Corporations and Charities System filing print out — search for your organization at "Corporation Search"
- Statement of funding source(s) (e.g., local, state or federal) — show who provides you funds, the term dates and dollar amounts. See page 2 section 2b of the CUA Nonprofit form for details.
- Send a scanned copy of your signed contract usage agreement and any supporting documentation to: CUA@des.wa.gov or mail to
DES CUA
ATTN: Contracts Resource Center
Box 41408
Olympia, WA 98504-1408 - You will receive a copy of the completed agreement via email.
Costs associated with statewide contracts
There is no cost to sign a usage agreement.
Price lists are provided for each statewide contract. Prices should be considered maximum or ceiling prices and are based on lower-volume purchases. Check your invoice against the price list to make sure you are not charged more than the contract price. Additional discounts may be available based on order quantity, manufacturer or dealer incentives, or other competitive factors. Contractors are allowed to charge less than the stated contract price.
The Enterprise Services statewide contracts vendor management fee funds the costs for contract establishment and administration, product and price auditing, purchasing assistance, and online access as well as all services and administration DES performs under RCW 39.26. Vendors submit activity reports and management fees as outlined in the contract on a quarterly basis to DES.
Make a purchase from a statewide contract
After you sign a contract usage agreement:
- Use our Contract Search to find a contract. You can also search contracts with small, diverse, or veteran-owned businesses.
- Identify a vendor on the contract you wish to use.
- Contact the vendor and include:
- The contract number you wish to use
- The contract name
- Your customer number
Stay up to date on statewide contracts news
Create a profile in our Customer Communication Profile database and update your contact information and interests to receive information about contract user agreements and your business needs. This information will not be shared with vendors.
We also recommend you subscribe to Contracts Connection, our semimonthly email newsletter with statewide contracts news and updates.
About statewide contracts
DES manages a statewide program to help governments and certain nonprofits buy goods and services through statewide contracts and cooperative agreements. These are the laws authorize us to establish statewide contracts:
- Title 200 WAC Department of Enterprise Services creation, roles, and authority of DES
- RCW 39.26.050 Procurement of Goods and Services - Washington state law on procurement of goods and services
- RCW 39.26.060 Cooperative purchasing
- RCW 39.26.080 Procurement policy — Director's responsibility and authority — Statewide contracts
Related links
Contact us
Statewide Contracts Usage Agreement Service Desk
Phone 360-407-2210
Email cua@des.wa.gov