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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Purchasing and Contracting

Procurement Pointers: Creating a Policy That Leads to the Best Ending

March 3, 2026  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

How can local agencies build effective procurement policies? What rules apply to each contract type? When can bidding be waived? Good policy helps staff navigate the procurement adventure with clarity.

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Contracting Keys: ACT to Award Local Government Agency Contracts

January 7, 2026  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

What are the key essentials for a local government to act on when it comes to contracting for public works projects or to acquire equipment, supplies, and services through purchase, rental, or lease agreements with businesses?

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Changes to Federal Procurement Thresholds: What Local Governments Need to Know

November 5, 2025  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Will your agency be using federal funds for a local procurement project? Federal acquisition-related thresholds have changed, and your procurement procedures should be updated to reflect this. This could be good news, especially for agencies using the small works roster process. 

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Simplicity and Streamlining: Using Small Works, Vendor, and Consultant Rosters

September 17, 2025  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

Which rosters should an agency use to contract for engineering services? Which should be used to purchase materials? The complicated world of government contracting is slightly less confusing when an agency knows which roster works best and what it must do to use it. 

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2025 Legislative Session Outcomes for Procurement

July 14, 2025  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  New Legislation and Regulations

New in 2025 are five bills that will broadly impact local government procurement in areas related to bidder responsibility, subcontractor requirements, prevailing wages, and more.

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When the Price Is Right: Price Escalation After Contract Execution

May 27, 2025  by  Julie Nicoll
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

In this ever-changing economic landscape, agencies need to be prepared for possible price increases, even on existing contracts. Learn what proactive steps agencies can take to address potential price escalations after a contract has been executed.

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When the Price Is Right: Planning for Price Escalation in Contracts

May 21, 2025  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

When market conditions are in flux and the costs of materials are rising, how can local governments plan and prepare for price increases in contracts for short and long-term projects? 

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Local Government Contracting and Agreements for Non-Public Works Projects

April 7, 2025  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  Interlocal Cooperation

Local governments may opt for various types of non-public works contracts with other public agencies and private companies. Which contract types work most effectively and under what circumstances?

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Navigating Intents and Affidavits for Prevailing Wages

March 17, 2025  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

What does it mean to be an "awarding agency," and how does this agency confirm that the statutorily required prevailing wage filing requirements are met on public works and applicable maintenance contracts?

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Options for Waiving Retainage and Bonds on Public Works Projects

December 17, 2024  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

Local government agencies can waive or reduce retainage and bond requirements for small works roster contracts and public works contracts under $150,000, balancing efficiency with potential liability.

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Waiving Competitive Bidding Requirements in the Event of an Emergency

September 30, 2024  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  Emergency Management

An emergency can allow an agency to quickly make emergency expenditures, bypassing normal, sometimes time-consuming procedural requirements related to budgeting and contracting, but local government should understand when this is appropriate and what steps to take.

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Introducing MRSC’s New Small Works Roster Manual!

July 10, 2024  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  MRSC News and Updates ,  Purchasing and Contracting

Starting July 1, there are new laws for small works roster (construction) contracts under $350,000, including an option to “direct contract” under $150,000. We’ve published new guidance to explain the requirements, and public agencies will need to adopt new procedures.

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2024 Legislative Session Outcomes for Procurement and Contracting

June 26, 2024  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  New Legislation and Regulations

How will 2024 legislation impact procurement and contracting in Washington? Contractors sanctioned for violating prevailing wage laws may see additional sanctions, prompt payment provisions have been strengthened, and change orders requirements have been updated.

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Using "Why" to Keep Your Policies and Procedures Relevant

April 9, 2024  by  Cheryl Grant
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  Finance Policies ,  Operating Policies ,  Personnel Policies

Policies and procedures can become outdated, irrelevant, or incorrect. By asking "why," local government staff and elected officials can help keep policies relevant through regular cycles of review and updating.  

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“Level Up” to Avoid Bid Splitting

February 21, 2024  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

Bid splitting, or dividing up a public works project into parts solely for the purpose of getting the individual purchase or contract award below bidding requirements, could result in a potential audit finding as well as add costs. Leveling up is one way to avoid a split bid.

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Small Works Rosters Are Changing: Are You Ready?

January 2, 2024  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

Thanks to legislation in 2023, changes are coming to small works contracting requirements for state agencies and local government entities, and these agencies/entities only have until July 1 of this year to prepare.

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Local Governments Can Now Dig Into Free Public Works Training

October 5, 2023  by  Josh Klika
Category:  MRSC News and Updates ,  Purchasing and Contracting

MRSC has received funding to offer training and technical assistance on public works contracting and to help local governments comply with SB 5268, which modifies small works roster requirements, and HB 1050, which expands apprenticeship utilization to municipalities.

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New Public Works Guidance from MRSC

July 11, 2023  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  MRSC News and Updates ,  Purchasing and Contracting

Thanks to state funding and new partnerships, MRSC continues to build its procurement and contracting resources for local governments, including resources on making contracting more inclusive (as well as general best practices) and an updated Small Works Rosters manual.

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2023 Legislative Session Outcomes for Procurement and Contracting, Part 2

June 22, 2023  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Part two of this series covers five new pieces of legislation that impact procurement and contracting, from increased project limits for community service organization contracts to standardized limits for procurement contracts and expanded contractor registration requirements. 

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MRSC, SAO Update Online Contracting Requirements Tool

June 14, 2023  by  Josh Klika
Category:  MRSC News and Updates ,  Purchasing and Contracting

MRSC, with the help of the Washington State Auditors Office, have made improvements to a popular online tool that helps local governments identify and understand their statutory legal requirements for purchasing and contracting. 

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