BTC Values in Action

Purchasing is dedicated to supporting the College's mission by facilitating the academic and administrative needs in the most economical and efficient manner, and at the highest possible quality while complying with the laws and regulations set forth by the Federal Government, Washington State and Bellingham Technical College.

Responsive

BTC is always open to working with new vendors and providing opportunities to meet our current and forecasted purchasing and contracting needs. If you have not previously done business with us, please send an introductory email to mnelson@btc.edu indicating what goods or services your company can provide. You may also contact us to make an appointment. We will provide any information or forms for you to fill out to be added as a vendor via email. 

Collaborative

As part of this commitment, we provide resources and guidance to help local businesses navigate public procurement processes; not only at BTC, but also with other government entities throughout Whatcom County and across Washington State. Our goal is to ensure that underrepresented and emerging vendors have meaningful opportunities to participate in public contracting, expand their visibility, and build long‑term partnerships within the region.

Student (and Community) Centered

By promoting equitable access and reducing barriers to participation, BTC supports a vibrant and diverse supplier community that contributes to the economic wellbeing of our students, our campus, and the broader community we serve. 

Bellingham Technical College is committed to strengthening economic opportunity within our community by actively supporting small, veteran‑owned, and diverse local businesses. We value the expertise and innovation these suppliers bring and are dedicated to creating fair, inclusive, and accessible pathways for them to work with the College. Many of our graduates go on to open businesses of their own and BTC sees this as another way to support our students in their success.

• Vendor and Outreach Information

  Interested in becoming a vendor to BTC? The Purchasing and Contracts Department assists in creating and maintaining relationships with current and potential vendors and oversees the following: bid solicitation, initiation of requests for proposal, issues purchase orders, and establishment of contracts for consulting services and goods and services.

  BTC's Standard Terms and Conditions apply to all purchase orders, invitations to bid and requests for proposals and requests for quotations, except as noted.

  The College follows all Prevailing Wage on Public Works Act rules and requirements. You can find more information about this in the WA State Prevailing Wage Law booklet. 

  Outreach

  BTC believes in building strong, lasting partnerships with our vendors to drive innovation, efficiency, and success. Our Vendor Outreach Program is designed to create an open, transparent platform for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds to explore procurement opportunities, how to do business with the College, and understand procurement requirements.

  Current Outreach Activities and Events

  • Local, Small & Disadvantaged Business Contractor Outreach Event, Feb. 18, 2026, 4:00-7:00 pm, Bellingham Public Schools District Office

• Supplier Diversity

  You can read BTC's Supplier Diversity Strategic Initiative to learn more about our commitment to ensuring that small, veteran-owned, and service-disabled-veteran owned businesses have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in purchasing and contracting at the College. We strive to increase the depth of our supplier pool by promoting fair and open access to the business community. 

  The College encourages employees to utilize the WA State OMWBE Directory and the WA State DES small and veteran-owned contract database to search for suppliers when researching purchases. 

  To register for the OMWBE Access Equity B2G system or to find helpful resources for your organization, go to Access Equity Help Center . 

  Supplier Diversity Program contact: Melisa Nelson, Director of Purchasing | P: 360.752.8343 | E: purchasing@btc.edu 

  The Office of Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises has indefinitely waived the fees to apply for OMWBE certification (as of 11/13/2025). Please go to the OMWBE certification website for more information.  

  Why certify?

  • Be visible to prime and general contractors.

  • Gain access to valuable government contracts.

  • Network with contractors and government agencies.

• Solicitation Process and Rules

  In order to access any opportunities when the College is inviting bids, all interested vendors should make sure they are registered with Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS). In order to do so, head over to WEBS for Vendors.

  State of Washington and Federal purchasing rules require that purchases over the Direct Buy Limit be competitively solicited in the absence of a contract, funding source mandate, or a sole source justification. The Procurement & Contracts Department is responsible for issuing competitive solicitations.

  The direct buy limit does not apply to catalog orders but does apply to non-catalog, BPO, and non-po invoice even when using a contract.

  The solicitation process is determined by the dollar amount of the purchase including shipping & handling, and excludes tax, and the commodity type.

  • Informal solicitations are those solicitations between $10,000 and $100,000 that require limited competition and do not require advertising. Informal solicitations require quotes from a sufficient number of vendors to validate price reasonableness. Informal Solicitations should be sent to at least 3 vendors and must be in accordance with RCW 28B.10.029. BTC typically posts these opportunities on WEBS (Washington Enterprise Business Solution).

  • Formal solicitations are those solicitations over $100,000 that must be formally advertised and provide broad competition. These solicitations are posted on WEBS, both to comply with state law and to maximize opportunities for small and diverse businesses.

• Current Solicitation Opportunities

  BTC is inviting quotes for the following:

  • BTC-2026-RFQ-001 Steam Turbine Trainer

  • BTC-2026-RFQ-002 Late Model Used Tractor/Truck

  Quotes are due by February 18, 2026, prior to 4:00 pm PT. Late quotes will not be accepted. Please reach out for more information to purchasing@btc.edu. 

• Past Solicitation Results

  Del Medical Digital X-Ray System BTC-2026-IFB-001 - 

  External Grant Evaluation Services BTC-2024-RFP-003 - Awarded to Illuminate Evaluation Services, LLC (bid award sheet)

  Offset and Digital Printing Services BTC-2024-RFP-001 - Awarded Capitol City Press, Consolidated Press, DCG One, Lithtex, and Print NW awarded as preferred vendors (bid award sheet)

  NCSIMUL CNC Simulation and Virtual Machining Software for the Machining Program at BTC. BTC-2024-RFQ-002 - Cognisco Technologies

  Diesel Cylinder Trainer BTC-2023-RFQ-003 - Silverstone Systems LLC

  Auto Collision Cars BTC-2023-RFQ-002 - No award

  Quarterly Schedule BTC-2023-RFP-001 

  Mini Excavator BTC-2022-RFP-002

• Direct Buy Limit

  The dollar limitation set by state law under which purchases may be made without securing competitive pricing (Current Enterprise Procurement Policies | Department of Enterprise Services , RCW 39.26.125).  Departments may submit purchase requisitions indicating suppliers of choice within the direct buy limit without prior approval of the Procurement & Contracts Department. When the ultimate aggregate cost to the department for a service or the purchase of a product over a 12 month period will exceed the direct buy limit, contact the Procurement & Contracts Department for guidance at purchasing@btc.edu.

  Effective January 1, 2013 the direct buy limit for institutions of Higher Ed is set at $10,000 excluding sales tax.

  NOTE: Orders must not be split to avoid competition. For example, if a department intends to purchase 20 each of the same item valued at $2,000 each, the total will exceed the direct buy limit, and unless the department is utilizing a College-approved contract, the Procurement & Contracts Department should be consulted regarding the appropriate buying method. Some exceptions may apply to the purchase of certain items and by order method.

Bellingham Technical College currently has no sole source applications.

BTC's FY26 opportunities are located in the spreadsheet linked below.

State law permits a local government to enter into interlocal agreements with other public agencies in the interest of cooperatively sharing resources for their mutual benefit. RCW 39.34.040 permits a public agency to list interlocal agreements on its website in lieu of having the agreement recorded in the county auditor's office.

The interlocal agreements shown below are posted here to comply with RCW 39.34.040 and may not have been recorded with the Whatcom County Auditor's Office. 

This information set continues to be updated and will be maintained with the most current information available. 

• Cities in Washington

  City of Bellingham Public Library BTC Connection

  City of Bellingham Paramedic Training Program and AAS Degree Partnership

  City of Bellingham Perry Center Land Lease

  City of Bellingham Perry Center Land Lease Amendment No. 1

  City of Seattle Cooperative Purchasing Agreement

• Institutions of Higher Education

  BTC, Skagit College, Western Washington University, and Whatcom Community College Regional Nursing Agreement

  Eastern WA University Education Affiliate Agreement

  Everett Community College Space Agreement (Radiologic Technology)

  Green River College JSP Grant Training Agreement

  Green River College Pooled Enrollment

  Seattle Central College CEC Executive Board Member Travel Reimbursement Agreement

  Skagit Valley College Pooled Enrollment 

  Walla Walla Community College Title III CAD Grant Agreement

  Washington State Institutions of Higher Education Information Sharing

  Western Governors University Affiliation Agreement

  Western Washington University Affiliation Agreement BSN and MSN Programs

  Whatcom Community College Facility Use Agreement

• K12 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Agreements

   

  • Bellingham Public Schools

  • Blaine School District

  • Ferndale School District

  • Lynden-Christian Schools

  • Lynden School District

  • Meridian School District

  • Mount Baker School District

  • Nooksack Valley School District

• K12 Running Start Agreements

  • Bellingham Public Schools

  • Blaine School District

  • Burlington-Edison School District

  • Concrete School District

  • Edmonds School District

  • Federal Way School District

  • Ferndale School District

  • Goldendale School District

  • La Conner School District

  • Lakewood School District 

  • Lummi Tribal Agency

  • Lynden School District

  • Marysville School District

  • Meridian School District

  • Mount Baker School District

  • Mount Vernon School District

  • Nooksack Valley School District

  • Oak Harbor School District

  • Orcas Island School District

  • Stanwood-Camano Island School District

  • Whatcom Intergenerational High School

• Other Government Agencies

  • The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit)

• Ports in Washington

  Port of Bellingham IPZ 1000 F Street Lease

  Consent to Sublease Agreement with Inland NWAGC, BTC, and Port of Bellingham 

• State of Washington

  Arts Commission Acquisition of Artwork Agreement

  Dept. of Enterprise Services (DES) Contract Usage Agreement - K8999

  Dept. Of Enterprise Services (DES) Real Estate Services - K9161

  Dept. of Enterprise Services (DES) Real Estate Services - K9542

  Dept. of Enterprise Services (DES) Energy Program - K9163

  Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Chinook Fish Coop Agreement

  DSHS LEP ESL Agreement - 2465-56481

  DSHS Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

  Public Institutions of Higher Education, DSB, and DVR Collaborative Agreement - 130330

  State Auditor's Office Data Sharing Agreement 

  State Board for Community and Technical Colleges eTutoring Contract No. IAA 2024-25-012

• Whatcom County

  Whatcom County Emergency Services

  Whatcom County Health and Community Services Immunization Clinic MOU 2025-2030

  Whatcom County Health and Community Services Cont. 202401001

   

• Youth Reengagement (Impact) Program

  • Bellingham Public Schools and OSPI

  • Blaine School District and OSPI

  • Ferndale School District and OSPI

  • Lynden School District and OSPI

  • Meridian School District and OSPI

  • Mount Baker School District and OSPI

  • Nooksack Valley School District and OSPI