Doing Business with OPPD

The Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) offers a procurement program that may be beneficial to your small business. If your small business has a product or service that will benefit OPPD, it is important to get to know how OPPD contracts are awarded. First of all, the OPPD Purchasing and Contracts Department has the authority to award contracts of $5,000 or more. Purchases less than $5,000 can be made with Visa Procurement Cards. If your small business offers products that are less than the purchase card limit, a contract is likely not for you. However, if you can offer OPPD more, then the following will get you started with doing business with OPPD.

The first step that you must take is to get registered with the OPPD Purchasing & Contracts Department. The registration form is simple to fill out and requires some basic information about your business including ownership and the nature of your business. This form can be acquired at the OPPD offices in Omaha. Once your form has been completed and approved, your company will be placed on a commodity list with other companies that provide similar products or services.

When OPPD recognizes that it has a need for a product or service, it opens its commodities list and references the companies that meet OPPD’s requirements. OPPD will then solicit bids to companies on the commodity list. However, not all suppliers on the list may receive bids. Bids are listed on the OPPD website and can be viewed by going to www.oppd.com/news/contracts/open.htm.

OPPD uses several methods of procurement. The most common is the Sealed Bid. Sealed bids are solicited through a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Quotation (RFQ). In general RFPs are for services only and RFQs are for suppliers of materials only. Sealed bids are awarded to the lowest evaluated bidder and are used when materials or services, used for the production, transmission, or distribution of electricity, exceed $100,000. Sealed bids are not the only procurement method that OPPD uses. Other methods include:

• Informal Competitive Bids
• Contract Procurement
• Direct Purchases

Solicitations will contain all information on materials or services sought by OPPD including any special requirements that must be met by bidders.

All bids must be submitted before the Bid Opening Date by 2 PM at 5th Floor, Energy Plaza East, 444 South 16th Street Mall, Omaha, Nebraska. Late bids cannot be accepted and will be returned unopened. Therefore it is very important that you have your bid properly prepared and ready before the bid opening date in order for it to be reviewed.

If you would like further assistance with contracting with OPPD contact your PTAC consultant. You may also find it worthwhile to visit OPPDs website to review the Contracts for Public Bid section to familiarize yourself with past and present bids and awards. This is also a great place to find opportunities for your business because you may provide exactly what OPPD needs.