The Waxahachie ISD Business Office periodically invites vendors to submit sealed proposals throughout the fiscal year for the purpose of compiling approved vendor lists. These opportunities are organized by specific categories and announced at various times to ensure compliance with Texas law, which requires governmental entities to solicit sealed, competitive bids by category whenever total annual expenditures exceed $50,000.
The approved vendor lists are developed locally and used alongside vendors from purchasing cooperatives of which the district is a member. This provides employees with a pool of pre-approved vendors to request quotes from when making purchases.
In addition to requests for inclusion on approved vendor lists, the district also seeks competitive bids from vendors for specific projects that may arise during the year. These projects are not always anticipated in advance and are addressed according to the district’s needs and timing.
All bid opportunities—whether for vendor lists or specific projects—are published in the Waxahachie Daily Light, the Waxahachie Sun, and posted on the district website as they become available.
The Texas Legislature, through House Bill 1295 enacted in 2015, added §2252.908 to the Government Code. This law stipulates that a governmental entity or state agency cannot enter into certain contracts with a business entity unless that entity submits a disclosure of interested parties to the government at the time a signed contract is submitted. This requirement became effective on January 1, 2016.
As the Board of Trustees adopts approved vendor lists for advertised categories, all vendors must comply with this statutory requirement before conducting business with Waxahachie Independent School District.
