Partnering with Small Businesses
The Water Authority works with small businesses to procure goods and services that support the essential work of the agency. The Small Contractor Outreach and Opportunities Program, known as SCOOP, is designed to maximize small business participation on Water Authority contracts and procurements.
If your company is interested in doing business with the Water Authority, following a few simple steps will help you begin to position your company to win a piece of the Water Authority contracting pie:
- Review goods and services the Water Authority typically solicits competitive proposals and bids.
- Register your company with Bidnet’s California Purchasing Group, which serves as the Water Authority’s online vendor portal.
- View current and upcoming contracting opportunities.
SCOOP Resources
With an emphasis on outreach and partnering, rather than on goals or quotas, the SCOOP program has resulted in significant small business inclusion in all procurement sectors, including construction, professional services, maintenance and non-professional services, and materials, supplies and equipment.
This objective is met through outreach activities such as networking, training, and technical assistance. SCOOP facilitates the development and reinforcement of skill sets that small businesses need to partner, bid, and perform successfully on Water Authority projects.
SCOOP Forms & Documents
Business Resources
- Professional & Community-Based Organization Outreach List – Updated October 2023.
- San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center, also known as Procurement Technical Assistance Center, assists San Diego small businesses in how to do business with federal, state and local government agencies. This assistance is provided at no cost to the small business owner. The center is funded by local government agencies and the Department of Defense.
- System for Award Management was created as a one-stop repository of vendor data for the U.S. government to avoid administrative duplication and allow contractors to take responsibility for the accuracy of their business information by supplying it directly to the government through a single registration.
- State of California, Department of General Services is the State of California’s Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise, which provides programs and certifications.
- San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center helps businesses grow and succeed through no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses.
- Public Agency Consortium Ad Hoc Committee is a partnership of public agencies in the San Diego region focused on increasing bidding opportunities and the likelihood of success of small businesses on public agency contracts. The partnership includes the Water Authority, California Department of Transportation, San Diego Association of Governments, City of San Diego, County of San Diego and other regional and local public agencies and others committed to assisting and educating small businesses on working with public agencies.
- National Institute of Governmental Purchasing classifies products and services procured by government agencies. Register with The Network to identify relevant NIGP codes and locate other small businesses via NIGP code.
Water Authority’s Online Vendor Portal
Vendor Registration via Bidnet’s California Purchasing Group
The Water Authority utilizes Bidnet’s California Purchasing Group as its online vendor portal. Registration is free regardless of company size.
Registration in Bidnet’s California Purchasing Group provides access to solicitation documents (Notices Inviting Bids, Requests for Proposals) posted by the Water Authority and other participating public agencies. In addition, participants will receive automatic email notifications when solicitations are posted that are relevant to their profile.