How To Do Business

DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

SUPPLIER HANDBOOK

2024

Welcome to the Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Purchasing and Property Management Department. The Purchasing and Property Management Department is located within the district’s central office and is where the planning of the purchasing of supplies, materials, equipment, and contracts for services within the district takes place. These goods and services are procured within the statutes of the Federal Government, the State of Georgia, and the Gwin­nett County Public Schools Purchasing policies and procedures.

Conducting business with school districts can be a very rewarding experience when you have a clear under­standing of how they operate. It can also be significantly different from operations associated with the private sector. Our program supports teaching and learning, and we make it our priority to obtain quality goods and services at the lowest reasonable cost while operating at the highest standards of ethical conduct and professionalism. In addition, GCPS values each supplier relationship and strives to create a purchasing atmosphere that is not only transparent but treats suppliers and manufactures fairly and equitably and maximize competition whenever possible.

The purpose of this Supplier Handbook is to provide information to current and prospective suppliers that will make doing business with Gwinnett County Public Schools an effective and efficient process. While this handbook touches on the policies and procedures governing GCPS purchasing practices, it does not encompass every detail of all laws and regulations but provides basic principles of GCPS procurement methods.

Please call or email with any questions pertaining to this handbook, GCPS Policies, Procedures, or processes. We thank you for your interest in GCPS, and we look forward to your participation in our program.

Dear Supplier:

I appreciate your interest in doing business with Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). The Department of Purchasing and Property Management has developed this supplier handbook to assist you in learning how GCPS procures goods and services and how you can sell your offerings to us. In addition, an understanding of our procedures and requirements will help you create an effective relationship with this department, other administrative offices, and schools. Our goal is to provide a means of procurement that offers full and open competition according to the Gwinnett County Public Schools Board of Education policies and procedures and all applicable State of Georgia and Federal contracting regulations.

The Department of Purchasing and Property Management is the central procurement office for GCPS. In this supplier handbook, you will find information on our department, procurement processes and solicitations, immigration compliance requirements, and even tips on submitting a successful proposal or bid using our bid software (Bonfire).

We appreciate your interest in us. Our goal is to deliver procurement solutions that improve performance and reduce costs within approved budgets and organizational constraints. Our ultimate customers are the children in our schools and the support of the Teaching and Learning objectives set by our Board of Education and Superintendent. Working with our suppliers together, we will continue to achieve our business objectives while providing procurement solutions that represent the best value for our school system and the taxpayers and citizens of Gwinnett County.

Sincerely,

Kevin Kriews, NIGP-CPP
Director of Purchasing & Property management Division of Business and Finance
Gwinnett County Public Schools

Background/History of District

GWINNETT County Public Schools, located in the metro Atlanta area, is the largest school system in Georgia and the fourteenth largest in the nation. As a school system of choice, the finest teachers, involved parents, and a supportive community are key elements in the district's quest to become a system of world-class schools. In 2022-23, the school district is serving more than 180,000 students.

Gwinnett County Public Schools provides a quality and effective education for all students by focusing on its core business of teaching and learning. Since its inception in 1996, GCPS’ AKS curriculum has reflected the collective wisdom of thousands of educators and community members who worked together to determine what students need to know and be able to do in order to be successful at the next grade level and in the future.

Vision
Gwinnett County Public Schools will become a system of world-class schools where students acquire the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and careers.

Mission
The mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools is to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and world-class standards.

Gwinnett County Public Schools will...

Goal 1: Ensure a world-class education for all students by focusing on teaching and learning the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum.

Goal 2: Ensure a safe, secure, and orderly environment for all.

Goal 3: Optimize student achievement through responsible stewardship of its financial resources and the proactive pursuit of all resources necessary to meet current and future demands.

Goal 4: Recruit, employ, develop, and retain a workforce that achieves the mission and goals of the organization.

Goal 5: Support instructional and operational needs with technological systems and processes that support effective performance and desired results.

Goal 6: Provide and manage the system's facilities and operations in an exemplary manner as determined by programmatic needs and best management practices.

Goal 7: Apply continuous quality improvement strategies and principles as the way the organization does business.

Mission Vision and Value for the Purchasing & Property Management Department

Mission: To provide support to our local schools and central office staff in the strategic procurement of specialized products and services in support of student learning in a timely manner.

Vision: The Purchasing Department will utilize the most expeditious and cost-effective procurement methods to secure required products and services and maximum value for each dollar spent.

Value: As a public agency, Gwinnett County Public School System adheres to strict laws, rules and ethical practices and is committed to delivering effective procurement service and contracts management. Gwinnett County Public School System employees do not accept personal gifts from suppliers nor conduct purchasing transactions for personal benefit.

The Purchasing department is responsible for the day-to-day management of procurement for products and services. We produce and issues purchase orders for a variety of materials, supplies, equipment, and services, which are necessary for efficient operation of the school system.

Code Of Ethics: Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Purchasing/Property Management Department recognizes purchasing as a profession and adopts the Code of Ethics promulgated by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP).

The GCPS Purchasing/Property Management Department recognizes that the Code of Ethics sets appropriate standards for purchasing and GCPS Purchasing/Property Management Department expects adherence to the Code of Ethics by all employees of the Department.

GCPS Purchasing/Property Management Department recognizes that employees of the Purchasing/Property Management Department are public employees. As such, these employees have the responsibility to uphold the public trust and to refrain from using their position for private benefit.

Therefore, it is the policy of the GCPS Purchasing/Property Management Department that employees shall, in addition to all other expectations and job requirements, refrain from conflicts of interest and avoid the appearance of unethical or compromising practices in business relationships, actions and communications.

Reference: NIGP Code of Ethics

Purchasing Staff

Department Phone: 678-301-6390	Department Fax: 678-301-6284
Purchasing Manager	Traci Herring traci.herring@gcpsk12.org
Procurement Coordinator	Kim Murphy kim.murphy@gcpsk12.org
Senior Buyer	Stephanie Maddox stephanie.maddox@gcpsk12.org
Senior Buyer	Betsy McCurry betsy.mccurry@gcpsk12.org
Senior Buyer	Ann-Marie Serafin ann-marie.serafin@gcpsk12.org
Buyer	Vacant
Buyer	Lisa Muehlberger lisa.muehlberger@gcpsk12.org
Buyer	Roxanne Anderson roxanne.anderson@gcpsk12.org
Procurement Card Administration Specialist	Anita Oakes anita.oakes@gcpsk12.org
Financial Supply Chain Management Specialist	Deepa Patel deepa.patel@gcpsk12.org

List of Solicitation Categories

Betsy McCurry: Audio Visual Equipment, Fleet Maintenance, Furniture: Administrative Furniture, Media Furniture, Classroom Furniture, Industrial Engineering, Media Audio/Video Materials, Security, Technology Consulting/Professional Services , Technology Equipment/Maintenance, Technology Software, Technology Supplies,

Ann-Marie Serafin: Appliances, Art,  Calculators, Consulting/Professional Services, Copiers & Fax Machines, Drama, Family & Consumer Science, Instructional Materials, Lockers, Math, Maps & Globes, Media Library Books, Medical, Metal Shelving, Music, Office Equipment, Office Supplies, Phys Ed/Athletics, Science, School Food Nutrition, Social Studies, Uniforms

Kim Murphy: Building Maintenance, Construction, Custodial, Facilities & Operations, Grounds, Registration,  Subscriptions/Periodicals

General Purchasing Information

Purchasing/Property Management is a Department within the Division of Business and Finance for Gwinnett County Public Schools. Its responsibilities include purchasing the necessary supplies, services, and equipment at the lowest possible cost consistent with the quality needed to meet the District’s requirements in accordance to all applicable laws, policies, and regulations.  The mission and purpose of Purchasing is to provide support to our local schools and central office staff in the strategic procurement of specialized products and services in support of student learning in a timely manner.  As subject matter experts, the end-user is responsible for writing specifications which detail the need or desire. Jointly, the end-user and the assigned purchasing buyer work to finalize the solicitation document. Responses are evaluated against the specifications by both the end-user and assigned buyer. The Purchasing department will issue an award letter to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder(s) for bids and the highest scoring firm(s) for proposals. From this letter, the end-user can place orders per the terms and conditions of the awarded contract.

The Purchasing department is responsible for the day-to-day management of procurement for products and services. We produce and issue purchase orders for a variety of materials, supplies, equipment, and services, which are necessary for efficient operation of the school system. The Districts website, www.gcpsk12.org contains a link to the Purchasing Departments website. This link can be located by clicking on the “About “tab located on the top right of the page.  Once clicking this tab, under the “Organized for Success” click the link for “Business & Finance” and scroll to the bottom where the Purchasing link is located. The Purchasing website provides a wealth of information, including all current solicitations and awarded contracts that should be very informative to potential suppliers. 

Suppliers play a critical role in our effort to provide products and services that satisfy our customers (local schools/user departments) and are a vital link in successfully obtaining the best value.  Most purchases for the district are done using one of two methods: Purchase orders and Procurement Cards. Each school/Department enters its own requisition through GCPS’s online ordering/financial system PeopleSoft. After proceeding through the internal approval process, purchase orders are issued and sent to the supplier via, email, or fax.  The Procurement Card is a VISA card issued by the State Card Program’s award firm. Each local school and user department can make low dollar purchases using this method.   The cards are restricted by dollar limits and commodity codes, and the commodity codes assigned to a business are controlled by the VISA Authorities, which assigns the codes by business type.

Competition Thresholds

All purchases for goods and services with District funding shall be made based on competitive solicitations as detailed below.  Please note that there are exceptions for purchases made in accordance with other provisions of GCPS Purchasing Policies and Procedures.  The complete Purchasing Policies and procedures can be viewed by accessing the Purchasing department s website via the link located on the District’s website: www.gcpsk12.org    

Purchases less than $25,000.00 and not already under contract may be accomplished without multiple quotes.

Purchases from $25,001.00 - $100,000.00 and not already under contract may be made at the local school/department level provided that a minimum of two quotes (Informal Written or Electronic Quote) are obtained. Quotes are to be approved by Principal and assigned Buyer before a purchase order will be issued

Purchases totaling $100,000.00 or more and are not already under contract require a formal sealed bid or proposal with public opening, and requires 2 weeks consecutive of advertisement.  The Purchasing department will issue the Bid/RFP and make every attempt to solicit and obtain at least three responsive and responsible responses. Board approval is required for any award of a Bid/RFP totaling an amount greater than $1,000,000.00.

Solicitation Processes

Gwinnett County Public Schools has various annual contracts in place for frequently used items and services. These contracts are results from bids, proposals, or other legal methods of procure­ment. Contracts allow the district to order products or services directly from the awarded suppliers at already established prices and terms as needed.

The main methods of source selection that GCPS uses are competitive sealed bidding, competitive sealed proposal, and request for quotes.

 

Competitive Sealed Bid

The competitive sealed bid method is used when there are clear and defined specifications available and when cost is the primary basis of the award. Gwinnett County Public Schools or its designees make the final award approvals as specified in the Purchasing Policy and Procedures.

 

Competitive Sealed Proposal

The competitive sealed proposal method is used for the purchase of all goods and services when the competi­tive sealed bid method is neither practical nor advantageous and when cost is not the primary consideration. Generally, competitive sealed proposals are used for professional services, service con­tracts, and highly technical equipment. An evaluation team reviews the proposals according to criteria specified in the proposal document. Gwinnett County Public Schools or its designees then makes the final award approvals as specified in the Purchasing Policy and Procedures.

 

Pre-Bid and Pre-Proposal Conferences

A pre-bid or pre-proposal conference may be part of the procurement process in some instances. The conferences are an opportunity to clarify specifications, answer supplier questions regarding the spe­cific bid or proposal, or to allow the supplier to perform an on-site review and inspection. Most pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences are voluntary, but on occasion some may be mandatory. All questions and information requests must be directed in writing to the appropriate buyer named in the solicitation document to insure that all suppliers have the same in­formation. Any changes to the original bid or proposal will be made in writing in the form of an addendum and will be posted on the district’s website. It is the supplier’s responsibility to obtain any and all addendums prior to submitting a bid or proposal.

To protect the integrity of the solicitation process, individuals, firms and businesses seeking an award of a Gwinnett County Public School’s contract may not initiate or continue any verbal or written communications regarding a solicitation with any School Board Member, employee or other GCPS representative without permission of the Buyer named in the solicitation between the date of the issuance of the solicitation and the date of the final contract award by the Board of Education. Violations will be reviewed by the Purchasing Director. If determined that such communication has compromised the competitive process, the offer submitted by the individual, firm or business may be disqualified from consideration for award.

Supplier Registry

The Gwinnett County Public Schools Department of Purchasing and Property Management has partnered with Bonfire Interactive in creating an online procurement portal that allows suppliers to receive electronic notifications for upcoming bids and RFP business opportunities. As part of this online process, all Gwinnett County Public School Bids and RFP submissions will be created and digitally transmitted using this online portal. Paper versions of Bids and RFP's either mailed or personally delivered are no longer accepted.

All suppliers are invited to register at the online procurement site which is found at http://Gwinnett.Bonfirehub.com. Suppliers MUST be registered within this procurement portal in order to receive notices and download any future solicitation documentation.

How to Submit a Bid or Proposal

1. Follow the instructions set forth in the bid or proposal document. There are specific instructions included in the bids and proposals that are unique to that particular procurement.
2. Any questions regarding the bid or proposal should be submitted within Bonfire’s message center.
3. In order to submit a bid or proposal, the supplier must be able to responsibly meet the minimum requirements set forth in the solicitation and muse be a registered supplier within Bonfire.
4. GCPS reserves the right to make an award determined to be in its best interest, which could in­clude splitting a multi-item bid between suppliers. Therefore, if the supplier is submitting prices that are based on receiving all of the items contained in the bid, the solicitation response should be clearly marked as “all or nothing,” or similar wording. However, such clarification of a supplier’s response may result in the bid being deemed nonresponsive.
5. Suppliers entering into service contracts with the district shall provide an executed affidavit verifying their compliance with O.C.G.A § 13-10-91 (stating they have registered with and are participating in a federal work authorization program).
6. Each supplier shall certify in writing that such supplier has not engaged in any collusive or anti-competitive practices in responding to a solicitation for bids or proposals. A declaration of non-collusion is simply a state­ment made by the supplier which states that the bid or proposal submitted is a bona fide bid that has been prepared independent of other suppliers and is in all respects fair and without collusion or fraud (i.e., price fixing, bid rigging, rotation of award).
7. Formal bids and proposals must be submitted digitally within Bonfire only.
8. The Purchasing Department must receive all bids and proposals by the date and time specified in the document. Late bids and proposals will not be considered

How Bids are Received, Opened & Evaluated

The bids responses are time and date stamped upon receipt and remain locked within Bonfire until the due date and time have passed.

Bids will be electronically opened after the due date and time specified in the solicitation document and the name of each supplier submit­ting a sealed bid is posted on the Gwinnett County Public Schools website.

Bids are evaluated by GCPS and a recommendation for award is determined. The Purchasing Department presents the bid to the appropriate individual for its approval or rejection. The recommendation is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. “Responsive” means the supplier conforms in all material respects to the requirements set forth in the solicitation. “Responsible” refers to the ability to perform as specified. Bids in excess of $1,000.000.00 must be approved by the Board of Education.

An apparent low bidder may not be recommended for award of a bid or contract if the bidder is found to be non-responsible or non-responsive. The supplier can find written justification as to why they were deemed non-responsible or non-responsive on the districts website (www.gcpsk12.org) at the time of award.

Reasons a supplier(s) may be deemed non-responsive or non-responsible may include:

1. Previous supplier performance problems as documented in a supplier performance file.
2. Failure to meet contractual obligations after the award has been made.
3. Failure to conform to required delivery, specifications, or detailed requirements.
4. Submission of a bid or offer in such a manner that would prevent the determination of a firm bid price.
5. Submission of a bid that is contingent upon receiving the award of another bid.
6. Failure to provide a bid surety or meet insurance requirements when specifically required.
7. Submission of solicitation exceptions when not acceptable based on the best interest of the district.
8. A record of financial difficulty and/or business instability.
9. Criminal sanctions, civil sanctions, and/or tax delinquency.
10. Failure to comply with O.C.G.A § 13-10-91 requirements related to the Federal work authorization program.

 

How Proposals are Received, Opened & Evaluated

The proposal response will be time and date stamped within Bonfire upon the Supplier’s submission.

Proposals will be electronically opened after the due date and time specified in the solicitation document.

Only the name of the submitting firms will be posted on the Gwinnett County Public Schools website. No other information will be disclosed, nor shall the proposal be subject to Open Records until after the proposal is awarded.

Proposals are evaluated by an evaluation team. The proposals are scored based on the criteria set forth in the proposal. The evaluation team may create a short list from proposals received, based on the criteria. The top firms may be interviewed and the price, terms, or the scope of work may be negotiated with the highest scoring firm. Once the firm has been selected, GCPS determines the recommendation. The Purchasing Department then submits the recommendation to the appropriate individual for its approval or rejection. Proposals in excess of $1,000,000.00 must be approved by the Board of Education.

Withdrawal of Bid due to Errors

The bidder shall give notice in writing of his claim of right to withdraw his bid without penalty due to an error within two (2) business days after the conclusion of the bid opening procedure. Bids may be withdrawn from consideration if the price was substantially lower than the other bids due solely to a mistake therein, provided the bid was submitted in good faith, and the mistake was a clerical mistake as opposed to a judgment mistake, and was actually due to an unintentional arithmetic error or an unintentional omission of a quantity of work, labor or material made directly in the compilation of the bid, which unintentional arithmetic error or unintentional omission can be clearly shown by objective evidence drawn from inspection of original work papers, documents and material used in the preparation of the bid sought to be withdrawn. The bidder’s original work papers shall be the sole acceptable evidence of error and mistake if he elects to withdraw his bid.  If a bid is withdrawn under the authority of this provision, the lowest remaining responsive bid shall be deemed to be low bid.

Bid withdrawal is not automatically granted and will be allowed solely at Gwinnett County Public School’s discretion.

Bids and Proposal Awards

Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder(s) or the highest scoring firms. The quality of the articles to be supplied, their conformity with the specifications, their suitability to the requirements of Gwinnett County Public Schools, and the delivery terms will be taken into consideration in making the award.

Awards may not be made to a bidder for less than $500.00 when there are multiple awards on a bid.  

Bidders agree that their bids are subject to acceptance at any time within 30 days after opening, unless otherwise stipulated in the bid.

Bid tabulations shall be available at the time of award.

The Board may place additional orders or increase quantities at quoted prices in excess of the original bid with the consent of the bidder and for such period of time as may be agreed upon between the Board and the bidder.  

The Board may accept or reject any or all bids or part of bids and may waive informalities, technicalities and irregularities. The judgment of the Board on such matters shall be final.

GCPS reserves the right to make an award as deemed in its best interest, which may include awarding a bid to a single bidder or multiple bidders; or to award the whole bid, only part of the bid, or none of the bid to single or multiple bidders, based on its sole discretion of its best interest

Tie-Bids

In the event two (2) responsive bids are tied for lowest price and the other terms and conditions of the two (2) bids are substantially the same, the bid shall be awarded to the Women or Minority owned firm. Provided such information has previously been made by vendor.

If both or neither of the tied bidders are Women or Minority owned firms, there will be a formal coin toss conducted by the Director of Purchasing and witnessed by two (2) or more staff.

Contracts

Each bid is received with the understanding that the acceptance in writing by the Gwinnett County Public Schools of the offer to furnish any or all of the commodities or services described therein shall constitute a contract between the bidder and the GCPS which shall bind the bidder on his part to furnish and deliver the articles quoted at the prices stated in accordance with the conditions of said accepted bid. The Request for Bid, Bidder’s Response and a Purchase Order or Contract and its attachments, either attached hereto or by reference, when received by the successful bidder, shall constitute a binding Contract on the terms set forth herein, and the entire Contract, and it is to be interpreted, construed and given effect in all respects according to the laws of the State of Georgia.

Use by Other Agencies

Gwinnett County Public Schools allows for other State and Local Government Agencies within the State of Georgia to buy off this bid at the same prices quoted during the effective term, pending agreement between Bidder and the third-party entity.

Charter Schools – Selected GCPS contracts and pricing have been made available for use by GCPS Charter Schools. Sales to GCPS Charter Schools by the Contractor will be optional and will not be considered when determining award, i.e., it is not mandatory to allow other agencies to participate. It is to be understood, however, that Gwinnett County Public Schools shall not be responsible for any problems that may arise between a GCPS Charter School and the contractor as a result of any sales. Any resulting contract is solely between the supplier and third party GCPS Charter School. Billings for items purchased under this agreement shall be directed to the agency making the purchase.

Bid Protest Procedures

This bid protest procedure applies to challenges to the awarding of bids or contracts by the Purchasing department of the Gwinnett County Public Schools.

 If the protesting party does not submit a bid or proposal the protest must be submitted prior to the date of the bid opening, or prior to the date on which the RFP proposal or quote is due to be received by the Board.   Any protests received after those dates will not be reviewed and considered and will be dismissed as untimely.

For those protestors who did submit a bid or RFP response, their protests must be filed within seven days after the protesting party knew or should have known of the facts giving rise to the protest.  However, no protest will be accepted that is filed more than seven days after the date the notice of award of the contract is posted on the Purchasing Department of the Gwinnett County Public Schools website. Untimely protests will be dismissed.

The date of filing is the date the protest is received by the Purchasing Department.  A protest must be in writing and must be sent to Gwinnett County Public Schools, Purchasing Department, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, Georgia 30024 Attn: Director of Purchasing.

Each protest must specify the reasons the protesting party believes that the solicitation or award was improper.  Issues not raised in the written protest are deemed waived and may not be raised on appeal.  The protesting party may submit with the protest any documents or information deemed relevant.  If the contract has been awarded, the Purchasing Department shall notify the successful bidder or contractor of the protest.  If the protest is received before the contract is awarded and substantial issues are raised by the protest, all bidders and offerors who appear to have a substantial and reasonable prospect of winning the award shall be notified of the protest and the reasons for the protest and they may file their position on the issues with the Purchasing Department, in writing, within five days after receipt of notice of the protest.

Upon the filing of a protest, further action on the solicitation or award shall be stayed, or if the protest is timely received after the award, performance of the contract should be suspended until the protest is resolved.  The Purchasing department may, however, determine that the protest is clearly without merit or that award of the contract without delay is necessary to protect the substantial interests of the Board.  In such case, if the Director of Purchasing determines that the protest is clearly without merit or will substantially harm the Board and does not stay the procurement, he shall immediately issue the decision.

Within 15 days of the receipt of a protest, the Purchasing Department will issue a response.  The response may include any documents or information that the contracting officer or Director of Purchasing deems relevant to the protest.  If additional time is required to investigate the protest, he shall inform the protesting party of the additional time needed to render a determination and obtain the protesting party's consent.  Unless an extension of time has been agreed to, the Director of Purchasing shall issue a final written determination stating the reasons for the decision within 60 days of the date the protest was filed.

The Purchasing Department shall send a copy of the decision to the protesting party and any other person determined to be affected by the decision. If the protest is denied, the decision shall inform the protesting party of its right to file an appeal.  The appeal will need to be sent to Gwinnett County Public Schools, Business and Finance Division, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, Georgia 30024 Attn: Chief F

Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance

The Georgia Illegal Reform and Enforcement Act (E-Verify OCGA §13-10-91) requires contractors and all sub-contractors on Georgia public contracts (contracts with a government agency) for the physical performance of services over $2,499.99 in value to enroll in E-Verify and submit an affidavit that they have registered for and use E-Verify, regardless of the number of employees. A contractor or sub-contractor may be exempt from this requirement if the contractor or sub-contractor has no employees and does not hire nor intend to hire employees for the purpose of completing any part of the public contract. In this case, the contractor must provide GCPS with an affidavit of no employees and a copy of their driver's license (and a driver's license is only acceptable IF it is issued by a state that verifies lawful immigration status prior to issuance). Certain professions are also exempt. Failure to provide this document with your bid submittal may result in bid being deemed non-responsive and automatic rejection.

Emergency Purchase Requirements

In the event of an emergency or potential work stoppage the Superintendent, Chief Financial Officer, or Director of Purchasing shall, within approved limits, authorize purchases through use of informal quotations or other appropriate methods that are in the best interest of the school system. Such purchases shall be made only from budgeted and available funds.

Emergency purchases, above $1,000,000 or which have not been provided for in the budget, may be made if critical to the continued operation of the school system upon approval by the Superintendent. Such action shall be reported to the Board of Education at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Exceptions to Competitive Solicitation Processes

The following items, regardless of amount, shall be purchased upon approval by the Director of Purchasing or a designated purchasing agent:

• Textbooks, films, slides, video materials or other items, newspapers, library books, reference materials, subscriptions, computer software or other instructional media from the publisher, distributor, or agent. (See State Board of Education Rules for specific details for the purchase of textbooks.)
• Tests and test scoring services of a standardized examination from the publisher or licensed agent.
• Agreements for maintenance service from the original supplier or authorized agent of the installed equipment or products if the same cannot be competitively bid.
• Continuance of an existing purchase agreement, bid, request for proposal, time and material contract, rent, lease or purchase order duly authorized by the Board of its agent.
• Additional purchase of like equipment, material, supplies, services, rentals or leases previously approved may be made provided the additional order is at the same or less price. Contractual provisions can be made to provide an inflation/deflation mechanism for price adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index or Producer Price Index for commodities or services.
• Items from an existing contract or bid from another local, state, or federal governmental agency, or from a recognized public oriented Purchasing Cooperative or Consortium.
• Sole Source: Purchases from the only known source or sole distributor may be made within approval limits, provided a reasonable and diligent search has been conducted for other possible sources.
• Single Source: Purchases from a single source may be made within approved limits, per board policy, provided a reasonable justification has been made and approved.

Supplier Code of Ethics

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has upheld and will continue to uphold the highest levels of ethics and integrity in all its affairs. As a district dedicated to the search for truth through teaching and learning, GCPS is committed to excellence and integrity in all its endeavors. In this way, GCPS will maintain the trust and confidence of both the District community and the public. The District’s reputation is one of its most valuable assets. To this end, this Supplier Code of Ethical Conduct serves to emphasize GCPS’s commitment to ethical conduct and compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Persons or entities that do business with GCPS are expected to carry out their business with the District with diligence and professionalism and to comply with the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and fairness.

Suppliers doing business with GCPS shall:

• Understand the dignity and worth of services rendered by your organization and the social responsibilities assumed as a supplier of goods and services to GCPS.
• Avoid attempts to influence GCPS staff with the intent to impair the objectivity or independence of judgment of a purchasing transaction.
• Identify and eliminate participation of any individual in procurement situations where a conflict of interest may be involved.
• Understand the GCPS purchasing staff at no time under any circumstances; accept directly or indirectly, gifts, favors, services, gratuities or other items of value from your organization.
• Adhere to all applicable laws, regulations and procedures to ensure the integrity of the GCPS procurement process.
• Perform or render goods and services in accordance with the agreed upon specifications for which a supplier has contracted with GCPS.
• Constantly strive for the highest standards of ethical behavior, trust, respect, integrity and fairness.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get on the supplier list for Gwinnett County Public Schools to receive bids and proposals?
There is no formal “supplier” list. However, you may also contact the Purchasing Office at 678-301-6298 if you have any questions and all current solicitations are available on the Purchasing page of our website: https://gwinnett.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

Are pre-bid/proposal conferences mandatory?
Occasionally they are mandatory. Every bid/proposal has different requirements, and this information can be found each specific solicitation document.

If I submitted a bid on an annual contract, will I automatically be sent a bid the next time it comes up for bid?
Every attempt is made to send the solicitation to all of the previous suppliers. It is recommended that you visit the districts website to stay informed of new solicitations.

I would like to meet and introduce myself to Gwinnett County Public Schools. Do I need an appointment?
Yes, please contact the appropriate Buyer in the Purchasing department for an appointment.

Are Brand Names used to restrict suppliers from bidding?
Brand names and manufacture model numbers are not for restrictive purposes but to establish an acceptable level of quality unless “no substitution” is clearly stated in the specifications. Specifications used are intended to be open and nonrestrictive. When no reference or change is made on submission by bidder, it is understood that the specific item named in the solicitation document shall be furnished by the bidder. If bidding an equivalent, state manufacturer name and model number. Also, product brochures/specifications should be submitted with bid of the equivalents you are bidding. Failure to include the supportive information may result in the item automatically being rejected. The Board, through its Purchasing Agent, shall be the sole judge in making determination as to the quality. All decisions shall be final.  

Tips to be Successful

1. Register within Bonfire and select commodities codes for your firm’s products and services in which you would like to receive email notification for solicitation opportunities once released.  Suppliers should also check the GCPS’s website frequently to stay aware of current solicitation opportunities. All current bids and proposal are posted on the GCPS Purchasing and Property Management website.
   1. Read and review bid and proposal documents thoroughly. Each solicitation contains information regarding the product/service sought. It also contains information of date/time to submit responses and how solicitation will be awarded (i.e. for bids award is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and for proposals award is made to the highest scoring firm). Failure to follow the instructions and conditions contained in the bid or proposal documents could severely penalize your bid/proposal or even result in the rejection of your response.
2. Allow yourself enough time to submit your response before the specified deadline. Bids or proposals cannot be submit­ted after the deadline within Bonfire and will not be accepted.
3. Familiarize yourself with the bidding and proposal requirements.  
   • References: WE DO CHECK REFERENCES. Provide all contact information requested, verify contact information is current. We prefer to have references respond in writing so be sure to include a valid email address.
   • Samples: Provide samples when required and submit them within the time specified and, unless otherwise specified by the GCPS, at no expense to GCPS.
   • Samples must be tagged with the bidder’s name and Bid Number Unless otherwise specified, and samples not used or destroyed in testing will be returned to the bidder at their request and at their expense.
   • Pricing: Provide pricing in the format requested to allow for purchasing to analyze pricing on an equivalent basis across all participating suppliers.
4. Ask Questions: If you have questions concerning a particular solicitation, submit your questions within the message section of the solicitation on Bonfire, if it is after the questions cut off deadline, email the buyer listed in the solicitation document. Once the bid/proposal deadline takes place, changes to the solicitation requirements can no longer take place. Please Note: During an active solicitation (time of release through award) all communication should be conducted with the designated Buyer.
5. Follow up: To ensure timely receipt of all information, suppliers are encouraged to call, email, etc. to confirm receipt of responses to requests.
   • If you company is not successful on a particular solicitation, follow up to determine why. All files are open for public inspection and our staff is happy to answer any questions.    
6. Establish and maintain a good reputation for providing goods and services in a reliable manner.
   • Suppliers are encouraged to meet with GCPS throughout a contract period. However, suppliers are urged to make an appointment with the appropriate buyer in advance. During our busiest times of the year, it may not be possible for GCPS to meet with suppliers or time allotted for meeting(s) may be limited. Electronic information such as catalogs, product lists, changes, and new product information is always welcome.

Awards and Achievements

To date, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Purchasing and Property Management Department has received the following awards for “Best Practices” in governmental purchasing:

• In 2023 The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) – This is an annual award that GCPS has received for nine consecutive years. GCPS is 1 of 25 school districts nationwide and in Canada to receive this award.