Frequently Asked Questions

Invitations to bid are for purchases that are expected to have a value of $50,000.00 or more. Invitation to bids can be downloaded from the Purchasing website or through Bid Sync. Advertisements for bids can be found in the Court Index Press.

The award of bids is not solely based on lowest price. Consideration is given to the product that is most suitable for the task or project as well as the cost. It is our obligation to procure the best products at the best price to effectively serve the residents of Hamilton County.

If you have any questions about the purchasing process, or would like additional information please e-mail Jill Williams  .

Hamilton County has approximately 4500 employees in 30 separate departments. The Purchasing Department is responsible for all purchasing in Hamilton County. Additionally, the Purchasing Department is offering its services to other political subdivisions within the state. This program is called the Master Bid Service. Hamilton County is permitting Master Bid members to “piggy back” on opportunities bid by the County and we are independently soliciting quotes on behalf of our Master Bid Clients as well.

The basic rules for procurement in Hamilton County are as follows:

• Three price quotes are required for any purchase valued at $1000 to $49,999.
• At $50,000 County Departments are required to competitively bid for services.
• If the value of the order is over $1,000, the department must give the vendor a purchase order before the order can be placed.
• These basic rules may be different when making purchases with federal funds or grant funds.
• Departments are permitted to use State Term pricing and GSA pricing or the pricing of associations that the County belongs to such as NACO. Permission to utilize these services comes from Section 9.48 of the Ohio Revised Code.
• The general rules for procurement are based on the County’s Purchasing Manual, Section 307.86 of the Ohio Revised Code, and the Code of Federal regulations as applicable.

Bid Sync is a tool that allows Hamilton County to electronically post and distribute bid and quote information. This system is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week from any computer that has internet access.

To register for Periscope S2G, call 1-800-990-9339 or visit www.bidsync.com  

What does this mean for you?

• Instant access to information when you want it
• Greater access to the individuals who are buying, when they want to buy
• Bid History
• Notification of when a bid is posted that meets your commodities

There is no charge for Hamilton County solicitations. Responders will receive notification of all postings made by Hamilton County for the commodity selections made.

Or visit County Bid Opportunities to view Hamilton County’s current bids.

If you see something you are interested in, you can also request a free bid packet by emailing [email protected]  

Advertisements for bids can also be found in the Cincinnati Court Index Press.