Vendor FAQS
How do vendors get on DIR's Web site?
DIR does not maintain a vendor list, but a contracted vendor Web site. If there is sufficient customer demand for a product or service, DIR establishes performance-based contracts with vendors to provide the product or service. Customers who contact DIR determine this demand. When DIR plans to establish a contract, the process is as follows:
- DIR posts a Request for Offer (RFO) on the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) page for specific IT products or services, based on customer requirements. The posting specifies the products and/or services needed and may include a sample contract and other supporting documents.
Note: DIR does not notify vendors when RFOs are posted. It is the vendor’s responsibility to check the ESBD site to find these notices.
- Interested vendors generally have 14 or more days to prepare and submit RFO responses to DIR.
- DIR reviews the responses to determine the best value(s) for the state as defined by the Texas Legislature.
- DIR then negotiates contracts with one or more vendors. On occasion, DIR may determine that it is in the state’s best interest to cancel an RFO and not award a contract.
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What do vendors need to offer DIR?
DIR expects to receive the vendors' best pricing, since all state agencies, cities, counties, and other local governments, public school districts, and public colleges and universities can buy through the DIR contracts. Based on the state's anticipated volume, vendors need to offer DIR deep discounts from their list price. Those discounts must apply to all DIR customers,
regardless of their size, which means that a small agency would receive the same base discounts that a large agency would receive, although entities buying large quantities should be able to negotiate deeper discounts through the DIR contracts.
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What are the benefits of working with DIR?
Because DIR has completed the competitive bid process required by the state, customers can quickly and easily buy IT products and services from DIR-contracted vendors. Vendors rarely need to respond to individual bid invitations or negotiate contracts, which saves vendors significant time and money. Also, vendor product information is displayed at DIR-sponsored trade shows as well as on DIR Web pages that link to vendors’ Web sites.
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Can HUB/MWBE vendors participate?
DIR strongly encourages Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) and Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) vendors to respond to RFOs. The Comptroller of Public Accounts' Texas Procurement and Support Services Division (TPASS) manages the HUB Program. For information on how to become a HUB, call TPASS at 512-463-4000 or visit the HUB page.
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How do vendors become DIR resellers for specific manufacturers?
DIR selects new hardware and software resellers approximately every two years, based on the expiration dates of the current contracts. DIR posts RFOs on the ESBD for various product lines. Resellers must be authorized to sell the appropriate manufacturer/publisher’s product. All interested authorized resellers for those products should respond to the postings.
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What is the Go DIRect program?
The Go DIRect Program
allows customers to purchase items directly from a vendor with whom DIR has a contract. This streamlines the entire order process and allows customers to receive their orders more quickly. Customers receive pricing and other information directly from the Go DIRect vendor and issue their purchase orders directly to the vendor, not to DIR. Most DIR contracts are Go DIRect. For non-Go DIRect purchases, customers make purchase orders payable to DIR and send orders directly to DIR.
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