Purchasing Department – Bids, Vendors & Procurement Policies

Welcome to the Town of North Kingstown's Purchasing Department

The Purchasing Department oversees procurement for goods, services, and construction in accordance with state laws and Town ordinances. Our goal is to ensure transparency, fairness, and best value in the use of public funds.

View current Requests for Bids and Proposals.

Overview of the Bidding Process

In accordance with Rhode Island state law and local ordinance, the Town is required to solicit public bids for:

• Construction projects over $22,000
• Goods or services over $10,700

All bids are opened publicly at the time stated in the solicitation and are available for public inspection. Bid results are posted online and can also be requested by contacting the Purchasing Office at (401) 294-3331, ext. 142.

Bids are advertised on both the Town of North Kingstown website and the Rhode Island State Purchasing website.

Important: All addenda and updates are posted exclusively on these two websites. It is the sole responsibility of bidders to monitor both sites for changes. No updates will be posted within 48 hours prior to the bid opening.

Information for Vendors

Vendors interested in doing business with the Town may contact the Purchasing Office at (401) 294-3331, ext. 142 to inquire about current and future opportunities.

To be added to our vendor list or to receive notifications for relevant bids, vendors may submit a letter of interest to the Finance Department/Purchasing Office, specifying the type of goods or services offered. You may also sign up for bid notifications online.

Award Process

Once bids are opened, the requesting department evaluates submissions to determine the lowest responsive and responsible bidder (for goods) or the most qualified firm (for services). Recommendations are submitted to the Purchasing Office, which then places the award on the Town Council’s agenda.

Final award decisions are made by the Town Council. Once approved, the successful vendor is notified and must meet all contract requirements before a purchase order or contract is issued.

Prevailing Wage Requirements

Under state law, all construction projects over $1,000 are subject to Rhode Island prevailing wage requirements. The latest wage scale is included in bid documents and obtained from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.

All contractors and subcontractors must submit certified payrolls. No payments will be processed until all payroll documentation is current and verified.