Statewide Contracting Resources

How-to Guidance / Agency Resources

Washington State provides resources to help small and diverse businesses successfully do business with the state. Access official guidance for registration, certification, contracting opportunities, workshops, technical assistance, and training.

Guidance for Doing Business with the State:

Support & Training Resources:

Additional Recommended Resources
• Small Business Liaison Team in Washington state • State Contracts Assistance Network (SCAN) | Department of Enterprise Services (DES)
• Small Business Training and Education Center – Washington State Department of Commerce • Small Business Assistance
• Seattle | U.S. Small Business Administration

Start exploring these resources today to get certified, connect with experts, and take the next step toward doing business with the State of Washington.

FAQs — Expert Answers & Contacts

Have questions about doing business with the State of Washington? Below are answers to frequent questions, plus direct agency contacts.

Key Questions / Answers:

How do I apply for OMWBE certification? State Certification | Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises
Benefits of certification? Access to opportunities, directory listing, supportive programs.
How to register to bid on state contracts? Use Register for Bid Opportunities | Department of Enterprise Services (DES)
Licensing or regulatory support? Contact ORIA ORIA - Home

State Agency Contacts:

Department of Enterprise Services (DES): WEBSCustomerService@des.wa.gov | 3609027400
Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (OMWBE): technicalassistance@omwbe.wa.gov | 3606649750
Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA): help@oria.wa.gov | 18009170043 or 3607250628

For personalized guidance, contact the state agencies listed above.

Opportunities to Stay Connected

Stay informed about contracting opportunities, workshops, and business events from DES, OMWBE, and ORIA.

DES Contracting Opportunities: Bid Opportunities | Department of Enterprise Services (DES)
DES PIE TEAM: Procurement, Inclusion and Equity (PIE) program | Department of Enterprise Services (DES)
OMWBE Updates & Events: Business Resource Newsletter | Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises
ORIA Small Business Updates: Small Business Guidance (Home)

Glossary / Key Terms

Definitions of common terms and certifications for new vendors.

RFP: Request for Proposal – invites businesses to submit proposals.
RFQ: Request for Quote – price quotes on goods/services.
OMWBE Certification: Certification for Minority, Women, or Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.
DBE: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise – owned by socially/economically disadvantaged individuals.
WEBS: Washington Electronic Business Solution – online state contracting notifications.
Small Business: Business meeting size standards defined by OMWBE or DES.
Equity Requirements: Goals/rules promoting participation from diverse businesses.
Subcontracting: Hiring another vendor to perform part of a contract.
Bid Protest: Process for contesting award decisions.
Procurement Code: Rules and regulations governing state contracts.
MWBE Goals: State goals for participation of Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in contracting.

Core Resources / Materials

One-Pager on Equity Contracting – Downloadable materials and videos on the Contracting One-Pager Fall 2025.
Vendor Toolkit Resources – Step-by-step guidance for navigating contracting opportunities. (Vendor Toolkit)

Business Support Organizations in Washington State

Community organizations, technical assistance providers, and contracting support partners.

Community-Based & “By-and-For” Organizations

Tabor 100 – Black-led organization offering technical assistance, business coaching, contracting help, and networking. Tabor 100 -
AHANA (Multi-Ethnic Business Association) – Supports African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American small businesses with training and access to capital. ahana-meba
Black-Owned Business Excellence (BOBE) – Network supporting Black entrepreneurs with resources, programming, and an annual symposium. BOBE.WA
South Sound BIPOC Business Directory – Supports BIPOC-owned businesses with visibility, workshops, and community connections. Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in the South Sound
Carl Maxey Center – Spokane-based Black community empowerment center providing business support through the SBRN. Small Business Resiliency Network | The Carl Maxey Center
India Association of Western Washington (IAWW) – Culturally relevant small business support for South Asian community members. Small Business – IACSWA

Technical Assistance & Contracting Support Providers

Washington APEX Accelerator – No-cost help to navigate government contracting at all levels. Washington APEX Accelerator – Government Contracting assistance for Washington firms
OMWBE – Certification, business resources, and state contracting support. Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises |
WSDOT Diverse Business Programs – Contracting, certification, and technical support for DBE firms. Diverse business programs | WSDOT

Small Business Development & Microenterprise Support

Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – Free business advising, financial planning, and training statewide. Home | SBDC
Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) – Supports micro-businesses with training, resources, and access to capital. Washington State Microenterprise Association
Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) – Culturally relevant, multilingual assistance through statewide community partners. Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) – Washington State Department of Commerce

Regional & Cultural Chambers of Commerce

Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) – LGBTQ+ chamber providing business development and supplier diversity support. GSBA
Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce – Latino business support, events, and bilingual programs. Latino Chamber – LatinoChamber
Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Latino business support in the Tri-Cities region. tchcc
Central Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Serving Yakima Valley and Central Washington Latino businesses. Home - Central Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce