443-984-2000
Welcome to the Procurement department for City Schools. We are looking for entities that provide quality goods and services at a competitive price and in a timely manner. If your entity is interested in bidding on our projects, use the below information to learn how City Schools procures goods and services. We look forward to doing business with you!
The mission of the City Schools Procurement department is to provide the timely delivery of high-quality goods and services in accordance with fiscally responsible procurement practices and policy.
City Schools Procurement department operates a decentralized purchasing system. Each School and Office initiates their own purchase requests which is then reviewed by the City Schools Procurement team. Schools and Offices determine their own needs, what to purchase, and from whom within approved spending guidance. Although each School and Office makes its own purchasing decisions, all purchases are required to conform to state laws, City Schools administrative regulations, policies and procedures.
Procurement believes in the principle that purchases should be made on the basis of maximum value for dollars spent commensurate with the needs of the School or Office. Best value means reviewing not just the price, but the quality, timeliness, and appropriateness of products and services.
City Schools Procurement department encourages Vendors to contact the various Schools or Offices that may have a need for their goods or services. From the perspective of time and protocol, it is strongly recommended that an appointment be made for such visits. It is the responsibility of the entity to promote their business to our Schools and Offices.
Supporting entities in navigating the process at City Schools is an important part of the Procurement team’s work. Please take the time to review the materials and videos from our “Doing Business with City Schools” series. This Webinar series covers critical topics for entities and is a great first step in learning how best to navigate our policies, regulations, and procedures.
Supporting entities in navigating the process at City Schools is an important part of the Procurement team’s work. Please take the time to review the materials and videos from our “Doing Business with City Schools” series below. This Webinar series covers critical topics for entities and is a great first step in learning how best to navigate our policies, regulations, and procedures.
Entities interested in bidding on opportunity with City Schools should register with eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (procurement.maryland.gov) to receive notifications for open solicitations. eMMA provides information on open solicitations for all local and state agencies and allows each account to set up the types of notifications that are of interest.
Be sure your business is registered AND that you have made your bid notification selections! If you do not select your bid notifications, even if your business is registered, you will not receive notifications about new bids from City Schools!
Category I - Small purchases (less than $10,000)
Schools and offices are authorized to make small purchases of goods and services. Schools and Offices work with the vendor to obtain information such as price, delivery and other terms of the sale. The order will be finalized with the issuance of a Purchase Order from K12Buy.com. The monetary limit for a small purchase is less than $10,000 per purchase of same, similar, or like goods and services. The total amount is inclusive of tax, trade-in, installation, transportation, etc.
Category II – Informal bids (more than $10,000 and less than $50,000)
For the purchase of goods and services costing between $10,000 and $50,000, Schools/Offices are required to get at least two (2) written quotes before purchasing. Schools and Offices work directly with vendors to obtain quotes.
Category III - Formal purchases ($50,000 or more)
Expenditures of $50,000 or more normally require formal competition, public advertisement of the purchase, and approval by the Board of School Commissioners.
Purchase orders are required prior to the commencement of work or the issuance of products.
Services or products cannot be issued until a Purchase Order is received and Vendors are not allowed to commence work without first obtaining a Purchase Order. City Schools Principals or Staff do not have the authority to authorize a vendor to work without a Purchase Order. Vendors who commence work without a Purchase Order are doing so at their own risk and may have their agreement and/or contract terminated if a pattern of non-compliance is observed.
The Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Procurement are the only officials authorized to sign contracts on behalf of City Schools. Principals and other staff do not have contract signature authority and are not authorized to sign agreements on behalf of City Schools.
Fingerprinting for the criminal background check shall be performed by City Schools Office of Human Capital:
200 E. North Ave, Room 110,
Baltimore, MD 21202
Telephone Number: 410-396-8885
City Schools does not award contracts or provide Purchase Orders to employees of the district.
Except as authorized under Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners Policy BCA, Code of Ethics (“Board Policy BCA”), Vendors are prohibited from using the services of City Schools employees or officials (including members of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners) in performing or providing services. Former employees or officials may be used, provided that a 12 month period has elapsed since their last employment at City Schools. All solicitation respondents are required to sign and notarize Appendix G - Ethics Certification.
The Board of School Commissioners and Chief Executive Officer have established ethical standards that must be maintained for all procurements. Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) is committed to a fair and open competitive environment. Businesses are encouraged to participate in City Schools procurements, but we suggest that you first review the City Schools ethics provisions. By executing a contract or agreement, the entity asserts and acknowledges that it has not engaged in any practice or entered into any past or ongoing contract or agreement that would be considered a conflict of interest with the contract or agreement with City Schools.
A more extensive list of our ethical standards is contained in City Schools Procurement Policy DJA, Administrative Regulations DJA-RA (Article 9 – Integrity and Ethics in Public Contracting), and Board Policy BCA and Administrative Regulation BCA-RA. City Schools also maintains an anonymous fraud hotline, 1-800-679-0185. Contractors and City Schools employees are encouraged to report any suspected cases of fraud using this hotline.
A quote or proposal is defined as a document provided to City Schools that 1) details the description of services to be provided, 2) the associated cost for each of those services, and 3) when the services are to be provided. The quote or proposal is prepared and provided prior to the commencement of work and is a part of documentation used when a purchase order is prepared.
An invoice is defined as the document provided to City Schools following the completion of services. The invoice details 1) the services that were provided, 2) when the services were provided and 3) the cost for those services. The invoice needs to correspond to the information provided in the quote or proposal submitted by the vendor earlier. Specific requirements for quotes, proposals, and invoices are outlined below.
More information regarding quote and invoicing guidance
Telephone: (410) 396-8757
Fax: (410) 545.6977
E-mail: purchasing@bcps.k12.md.us
Shabray Matthews, Purchasing Manager
410-396-8831
ssmatthews@bcps.k12.md.us
Keronda Harper, Administrative Assistant
410-396-8757
KHarper02@bcps.k12.md.us
Suzanne Addington, Buyer
410-396-8842
SAddington@bcps.k12.md.us
Stuart Feldman, Senior Buyer
443-984-3389
safeldman@bcps.k12.md.us
Patricia Graff, Purchasing Assistant
410-396-8846
PJGraff@bcps.k12.md.us
Deborah (Debi) Gray, Procurement/K12 Buy Admin
443-984-3545
DGray@bcps.k12.md.us
Katharine Kamieniecki, Senior Buyer
410-396-1799
KMKamieniecki@bcps.k12.md.us
Ted King, Senior Buyer
443-691-8677
trking@bcps.k12.md.us
Patricia Pickett, Senior Buyer
443-984-3390
PGPickett@bcps.k12.md.us
Peter Ruchkin, E-Commerce Manager
410-396-8201
pruchkin@bcps.k12.md.us
Academic, Medical, Student Supplies & Equipment |
Suzanne Addington |
Achievement & Accountability |
Suzanne Addington |
Advanced Learner Programs |
Katharine Kamieniecki |
Air conditioning |
Stuart Feldman |
Armored Car Service |
Patricia Graff |
Athletics and physical education |
Suzanne Addington |
Audiovisual Equipment and Services |
Ted King |
Bottled Water |
Suzanne Addington |
Business Management Services |
Patricia Pickett |
CAO Office Consultants |
Katharine Kamieniecki |
Carpet and Painting supplies |
Stuart Feldman |
Catering |
Patricia Graff |
Cellphones |
Ted King |
Charter Schools |
Patricia Pickett |
Commercial, Industrial Supplies, Tools & Shop Equipment |
Stuart Feldman |
Computers |
Ted King |
Construction agreements |
Stuart Feldman |
Contractual Cleaning Services |
Stuart Feldman |
Control systems |
Stuart Feldman |
Duplicators, Laminators & Fax Machines |
Patricia Graff |
Early Learning Services |
Katharine Kamieniecki |
Electricity and fuel oil |
Stuart Feldman |
Elevator maintenance |
Stuart Feldman |
Engagement |
Katharine Kamieniecki |
E-rate services |
Ted King |
Extended Learning Services |
Katharine Kamieniecki |
Financial Services, Banks, Auditors & Audit Services |
Patricia Pickett |
Flooring |
Stuart Feldman |
Food Service Equipment |
Stuart Feldman |
Food, Juice Products & Services |
Patricia Graff |
Food Paper Products |
Patricia Graff |
Furniture & Lockers |
Suzanne Addington |
Graduation Services |
Patricia Graff |
Grounds & Swimming Pool Maintenance |
Stuart Feldman |
Hazardous Waste Services |
Stuart Feldman |
Human Capital & Benefits |
Patricia Pickett |
HVAC |
Stuart Feldman |
Information technology |
Ted King |
Interpreters |
Patricia Pickett |
Janitorial Supplies |
Stuart Feldman |
Legal Services |
Patricia Pickett |
Lighting |
Stuart Feldman |
Maintenance contracts |
Stuart Feldman |
Non-Public |
Katharine Kamieniecki |
Office Supplies & Paper |
Patricia Graff |
Painting |
Stuart Feldman |
Paving |
Stuart Feldman |
P-Card |
Suzanne Addington |
Pest Control services |
Stuart Feldman |
Playground & Rental Equipment |
Stuart Feldman |
Plumbing |
Stuart Feldman |
Police Equipment |
Patricia Graff |
Postage |
Suzanne Addington |
Printing Services, Printed Forms & Business Cards |
Patricia Graff |
Professional Development |
Patricia Pickett |
Promotional Products |
Suzanne Addington |
Property leases |
Patricia Pickett |
Public Relations and Communications |
Patricia Graff |
Satellite Systems |
Ted King |
Secondary Education |
Suzanne Addington |
Soft Drink Vending |
Suzanne Addington |
Sound & CCTV - Security |
Ted King |
Special Education Contracts |
Suzanne Addington |
Stage Curtains, Drapes, Signage, and Scoreboards |
Patricia Graff |
Student Support & Safety |
Katharine Kamieniecki |
T&L - Humanities, Special Ed, Literacy, Math & Science |
Suzanne Addington |
Telecommunications |
Ted King |
Temporary Help |
Ted King |
Textbooks, Library Books, Supplemental Materials & Instructional Materials |
Suzanne Addington |
Title I |
Patricia Pickett |
Towing |
Stuart Feldman |
Transcription services |
Patricia Pickett |
Transportation Services, Buses & Taxicabs |
Ted King |
Trash removal |
Suzanne Addington |
Travel, Hotel, Conference Registration, and Event Vendors |
Suzanne Addington |
Tuition Reimbursement |
Patricia Pickett |
Uniforms for Staff and Students |
Suzanne Addington |