We have made a series of significant changes in our contracting practices to make our process more accessible. We want to make sure that every qualified vendor who wants to do business with DPS, can do business with DPS.

We now:

• Have an open, or “rolling”, prequalification process

• Encourage Partnerships and Joint Ventures in our Project Notifications

• Coordinate focused events to connect decision makers with local businesses

• Formed partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration to allow better access to bonding for local small businesses

• Distribute the upcoming construction schedule at the annual Reverse Trade Fair conducted in October

• Host additional workshops to support companies through the package preparation and submittal process

Along with these changes to our process, we have also made important language and requirement enhancements to our RFP process to eliminate perceived participation barriers and make the process clear for all potential vendors:

• Extended work history window

• Project type requirement clarifications

• Extended timeline to demonstrate ability to meet bonding capacity

• Encouragement of joint ventures and partnerships

• Better define scope of projects in pre-proposal announcements