What products and services does City of Traverse City procure?

The City of Traverse City purchases municipal goods, products, contract labor, and services for city operations under its Purchasing and Contracting Policies and Procedures. Vendors should consult the official purchasing policy and individual solicitations for specific scopes and requirements.

Does City of Traverse City use cooperative purchasing or piggyback contracts?

The City of Traverse City permits cooperative purchases: the City Manager or, by affirmative five-member vote, the City Commission may authorize purchases jointly with other governmental units or via state or federal cooperative procurement programs when the public interest is served.

What procurement requirements does City of Traverse City publish for vendors?

The City of Traverse City requires specifications to include contract terms and, when applicable, insurance and bond requirements; every contract must include a non-discrimination clause. Solicitations may include green purchasing clauses and specify disqualification grounds; vendors should review each solicitation for required forms and submission instructions.

How does City of Traverse City approve procurement contracts and awards?

The City of Traverse City sets procurement approval tiers: Department Heads approve up to $2,000; $2,001–$9,000 requires three informal quotes and City Manager approval with Treasurer and Clerk countersignature; $9,001–$17,000 requires sealed bids and City Manager approval; over $17,000 requires City Commission approval.

Where can vendors find procurement policies and standard terms for City of Traverse City?

The City of Traverse City’s Purchasing and Contracting Policies and Procedures (adopted January 18, 2022) is the official policy; it specifies dollar thresholds, sealed-bid requirements, public bid openings, advertising timelines, and awards based on overall best value to the City.

What supplier diversity or local vendor preference programs does City of Traverse City use?

The City of Traverse City’s purchasing policy includes a local-vendor preference directing the City to purchase from responsible Traverse City vendors whenever feasible within Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties; all contracts must include the City's non-discrimination clause.

City of Traverse City

Track open bid opportunities, contracts, public meetings, and key contacts for City of Traverse City.

Buyer type:: City
Location:: Traverse City, MI
Country:: US

City of Traverse City RFPs

Active opportunities open for bidding

2692413111 - Rotary Square RFP
Posted
Oct 6, 2026
Closes
Nov 12, 2026
The work involved in this project consists principally of the following: • 1 LSUM Oval Trellis • 1 LSUM Overlook Trellis • 1 LSUM Stone Block Retaining Wall • 1 LSUM Concrete Retaining Wall, Poured-in-Place
Future Workforce Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness Assessment RFP
Posted
Oct 2, 2026
Closes
Oct 22, 2026
Conduct a comprehensive Future Workforce Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness Assessment. The primary objective of this engagement is to evaluate the City’s current service levels, organizational structure, service deliver models, and long-term staffing capacity. Traverse City seeks actionable, data-driven recommendations that improve operational efficiency, optimize service delivery, and maintain long-term fiscal sustainability while preparing the organization for impending retirements, evolving community expectations, and unique seasonal demands.
Development of a Crisis Communications Plan & Services RFP
Posted
Sep 25, 2026
Closes
Oct 23, 2026
Procurement of a comprehensive, citywide Crisis Communications Plan and on-call strategic communications support services.

Buyer Attributes

Key metrics and characteristics

Census ID
Government ID for mapping buyers across datasets.
194777
Employee FTE
Full-time equivalent employees.
209
Population
Population size to gauge opportunity scale.
15,832
Procurement Hell Score
How easy their procurement process is to navigate. Lower is better.
62 / 100
Propensity to Spend
How likely this buyer is to spend on new technology based on operating budget trends.
CautiousAggressive
Higher is better Unlock
AI Adoption Score
How likely this buyer is to adopt new AI technologies.
ConservativeEarly Adopter
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Startup Friendliness
How often this buyer champions startups and early adoption.
TraditionalStartup-Friendly
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Latest Budget Year
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Operating Budget
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How to Sell to City of Traverse City

Procurement guidance and navigation tips.

Procurement Hell Score
Lower scores indicate easier procurement. Created by Starbridge.
62 / 100
EasyLower is betterHellish
Quick Decision Flow
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- Sole Source: If sale is less than $17,000, use sole source; if over $17,000, expect five affirmative City Commission votes.
- Coops: Frequently procures through BuyBoard, Sourcewell, OMNIA Partners, and NASPO ValuePoint; you can gain access through the Starbridge reseller & contract-vehicle platform — reach out to your Starbridge contact to pursue onboarding.
Agency-specific vendor registration, compliance steps, and approval routing shape the purchasing timeline.
Unlock detailed thresholds, contracting paths, payment terms, and vendor benchmarks for this buyer.
Sole Source
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- City of Traverse City uses sole source occasionally and only with strong justification (proprietary technology, essential compatibility, or unique professional service). Work with the end-user department and the City Manager’s office (acts as Purchasing Agent) to draft and document the justification. For transactions over $17,000, the justification must receive five affirmative votes from the City Commission. If a strong case cannot be made, move to cooperative purchasing.
Agency-specific vendor registration, compliance steps, and approval routing shape the purchasing timeline.
Unlock detailed thresholds, contracting paths, payment terms, and vendor benchmarks for this buyer.
Cooperatives
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- You can get onboarded to the recommended cooperative paths by reaching out to your Starbridge contact through the Starbridge reseller & contract-vehicle platform.
- Traverse City uses cooperative purchasing and explicitly allows it to bypass competitive bidding. Build support with the end-user department to streamline the transaction.
Agency-specific vendor registration, compliance steps, and approval routing shape the purchasing timeline.
Unlock detailed thresholds, contracting paths, payment terms, and vendor benchmarks for this buyer.

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Early Buyer Signals

Board meetings and strategic plans from City of Traverse City

Human Rights Commission for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting
Date: Sep 14, 2026Type: Meeting mention
The commission reviewed printing quotes for the commission brochure and engaged in discussions regarding long-term strategic planning. New business included coordinating an orientation process, planning future events such as suicide prevention awareness initiatives, and the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to research and monitor the impact of Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology, specifically Flock cameras, on human rights and law enforcement practices. Additionally, the commission finalized plans to participate in the Up North Pride Resource Fair and reviewed the current budget and yearly calendar.
Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting
Date: Sep 9, 2026Type: Meeting mention
The Board of Zoning Appeals discussed several requests for exceptions and variances. They approved an exception for a 2-story addition at 826 East State Street, but denied a dimensional variance for the same location. A dimensional variance for a 1-story addition at 840 Bates Street was approved. Additionally, a request for a dimensional variance regarding front yard setbacks for three parcels at 206, 208, and 210 South Cedar Street was denied.
Traverse City Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Key Contacts

Public-sector contacts connected to City of Traverse City.

Leslie SicktermanActing Planning Director / Sustainability Coordinator

*******@************

+1 (***) ***-****

Christine BlackAsset Management / GIS Analyst

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Frequently asked questions

Who manages procurement and purchasing for City of Traverse City?

The City of Traverse City administers procurement through the City Manager's Office. The City Manager oversees purchasing and appoints department heads, and the City's Purchasing Agent, Kim Sheridan (ksheridan@traversecitymi.gov), administers City bids and RFPs through that office.

Where does City of Traverse City post bids and RFPs?

The City of Traverse City posts bids and RFPs on its City Bids & RFPs web page (City Manager's Office) and on BidNet Direct’s MITN Purchasing Group page at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn/traversecity. Vendors should monitor these pages for current solicitations and document downloads.

How do vendors complete vendor registration with City of Traverse City?

Vendors register to access City of Traverse City solicitations through the MITN Purchasing Group on BidNet Direct (www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn). Free registration permits viewing and responding; paid subscriptions add automated alerts and advertising profiles. For assistance call BidNet Direct Vendor Support at 800-835-4603, option 2.

City of Traverse City

City of Traverse City RFPs

2692413111 - Rotary Square RFP

Future Workforce Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness Assessment RFP

Development of a Crisis Communications Plan & Services RFP

Buyer Attributes

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How to Sell to City of Traverse City

Early Buyer Signals

Human Rights Commission for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Traverse City Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

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City of Traverse City RFPs

2692413111 - Rotary Square RFP

Future Workforce Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness Assessment RFP

Development of a Crisis Communications Plan & Services RFP

Buyer Attributes

Find best-fit RFPs — Then Nail the Response

How to Sell to City of Traverse City

Early Buyer Signals

Human Rights Commission for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Traverse City Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

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City of Traverse City

City of Traverse City RFPs

Buyer Attributes

Find best-fit RFPs — Then Nail the Response

How to Sell to City of Traverse City

Early Buyer Signals

Human Rights Commission for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Traverse City Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

Get your 10 highest-intent accounts

City of Traverse City RFPs

Buyer Attributes

Find best-fit RFPs — Then Nail the Response

How to Sell to City of Traverse City

Early Buyer Signals

Human Rights Commission for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Traverse City Regular Meeting

Traverse City Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

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