Purchasing

Mission

The Procurement Team is committed to providing the highest possible level of customer service and responsibility, accountability, and integrity.  We will strive for excellence in all that we do for the betterment of the school district and our community.

Vision

 Through our dedication and service to schools and departments, we will contribute to the educational attainment of each and every Fort Bend ISD student.

Announcements

Coming Soon!!

Fort Bend ISD will soon be transitioning to PaymentWorks to automate and strengthen controls surrounding vendor onboarding for those conducting business with the District.

After the transition, all vendors will be required to register on the PaymentWorks platform via an email invitation from Fort Bend ISD.

Once enrolled, PaymentWorks will allow you to update your vendor account, view invoices pending for payment, and access your payment history.

You will be asked to provide the following information when you receive the email invitation to complete your registration after the transition:

• A valid tax ID (either an Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number).
• For Electronic payments (ACH), you will need to provide your banking information along with a voided check or bank statement.

For questions regarding the transition, please contact us at Inquiry.PaymentWorks@fortbendisd.gov 

Solicitations

On July 1, 2020, Fort Bend ISD transitioned to the Bonfire e-Bidding Portal, which offers a fully electronic process for vendor registration solicitation notifications, and electronic submission of vendor responses.

Please note: Vendors who are not registered with Bonfire will not receive notifications of Fort Bend ISD issued solicitations.  All existing and prospective vendors interested in responding to a solicitation are strongly encouraged to register in Bonfire, our e-Bidding portal. 

Once registered, Fort Bend ISD will send email notifications via Bonfire for any solicitations related to the products or services you selected during the registration process.  

Registration

To register and use the Bonfire e-bidding portal, please follow these instructions: fortbendisd.com/Bonfire Registration

• Need help with registration or have questions about the registration process, please watch the bonfire Vendor Registration Video.
• Bonfire Vendor Support: For assistance with the platform, visit the online knowledge base, browse the FAQ, or reach out to the Bonfire support team at support@gobonfire.com

Completing the registration process does not automatically approve you as a vendor; it simply allows Fort Bend ISD to receive your information and send electronic notification when new solicitations are available for the products or services you have selected.

Updating Bonfire Profiles

To ensure you receive the relevant solicitation notifications, please verify that your Bonfire vendor profile is complete and accurate.  As a vendor, it is your responsibility to keep your profile accurate and up to date. 

General Provisions for Purchasing Solicitations and Contracts

The General Provisions are hereby issued in accordance with the laws, rules, and policies set forth through the Texas Education Code, Chapter 44 and Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD or "District") policy, and may be amended as required by FBISD.  Prospective Vendors are cautioned to read and understand the General Provisions set forth in this document prior to responding to a FBISD Solicitation.  Any exceptions to or failure to follow these General Provisions unless otherwise directed with the Solicitation, may be cause for a Vendors Solicitation Response to be deemed non-responsive and disqualified by FBISD.  These General Provisions will take precedence over the terms and conditions within the Solicitation when they are in conflict unless specific exception is noted within the Solicitation.

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Purchase Procedures

The Purchasing Department serves as the central procurement office of the District and is responsible for managing and administering the District's purchasing and procurement functions in accordance with the authority delegated by the Superintendent, the Board of Trustees, and the Texas Education Agency.  The Purchasing Department is tasked with issuing purchase orders, establishing terms contracts, and procuring goods and services efficiently and cost-effectively while meeting operational needs and regulatory requirements at the local, state, and federal levels.  All purchases within the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) must be processed through the Purchasing Department.

Fort Bend ISD has established a centralized purchasing policy based on CH (Local) and CH (Legal) which can be found here. CH (LOCAL) & CH (LEGAL)

Vendors and District staff understand that no goods or services will be provided without a District purchase order. The Director of Materials Management is responsible for ensuring that the Procurement Policy and Procedures are followed by all District Departments and campuses.  It is strictly prohibited to enter into contracts verbally or without proper authorization, as this constitutes a violation of state law.  Any vendor delivering goods or services to FBISD without a valid purchase order does it at their own risk.  FBISD does not compensate for goods or services provided without the benefit of a properly executed procurement contract.  

Regardless of contract type or submission method, all purchases and contracts must undergo review and approval by the Purchasing/Materials Management Department before services are rendered.  Goods or services provided before receiving a purchase order will be at the vendor's own risk and will be considered a donation to the District.  

Purchase Orders

A properly drawn purchases order is required for all District purchases.  All purchase orders are processed through the Purchasing Department.  We appreciate your help with ensuring that goods are not shipped and services are not performed prior to receipt of a Purchase Order.