Welcome to the Central Arizona Project (CAP) eBids Application.
The Central Arizona Project (CAP) relies on a wide range of goods and services to support its operations and maintenance of the aqueduct system. This information is provided to help suppliers and contractors understand how to do business with CAP.
Who Purchases For CAP?
Engineering Services Department: Handles procurement related to general construction as defined under Arizona Revised Statute Title 34.
Contracts and Procurement Services Department (Purchasing): Manages the procurement of goods, services (excluding general construction), and professional services.
Procurement Principles
CAP's procurement activities are governed by CAP's Administrative Policy - Purchasing and Arizona Revised Statues with the goals of:
- Securing needed products and services at the right time and price.
- Ensuring quality and value.
- Promoting fair and open competition.
Purchases Over $100,000
These are typically conducted through:
- Invitations for Bids (IFBs) – Awarded to the lowest-priced, responsive, and responsible bidder.
- Requests for Proposals (RFPs) – Evaluated on best overall value considering price, qualifications, and other criteria outlined in the solicitation.
Competitive processes generally take about four (4) weeks for solicitation and another 4-6 weeks for evaluation and award.
All IFBs and RFPs are publicly advertised in newspapers (Maricopa County, and if necessary, Pinal or Pima counties) and posted on CAP's eBids website.
Vendors are encouraged to register on CAP's Vendor/Contractor Registration page to receive automatic notifications of opportunities.
Purchases Up to $100,000
- Purchases between $10,000 to $100,000 – Generally handled through Requests for Quotations (RFQs). The quotation process takes from three (3) days to two (2) weeks to complete. Awards are made to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting specifications.
- Purchasing Cards are typically used by CAP staff for purchases less than $10,000.
Cooperative Purchasing
To support efficient and cost-effective procurement, CAP participates in cooperative purchasing agreements with various governmental agencies. These agreements allow CAP to use competitively solicited contracts developed by other public entities for commonly needed goods and services, helping to reduce duplication of effort and achieve better pricing.
CAP is a member of the Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (SAVE) and may also utilize contracts available through organizations such as the State of Arizona, GSA, OMNIA Partners, and Sourcewell when appropriate. When using cooperative contracts, CAP does not conduct a separate solicitation process.
For more information about available cooperative contracts or participation opportunities, please contact CAP's Purchasing Department.
Additional Considerations
- Unauthorized Purchases: Any purchase should be made using one of the described methods. Any other type of transaction may be unauthorized. Questions may be directed to the Purchasing Department for a determination if the purchase is appropriate.
- Conflict of Interest: No employee or Board member of CAP shall supply CAP any equipment, material, supplies or services, unless pursuant to an award of a contract after a public competitive offer.
- Code of Ethics: CAP is a member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) and adheres to its Code of Ethics.
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