The City of Carmel’s adoption of OpenGOV, a state-of-the-art procurement software, will revolutionize the city’s bid process, fostering a more open and competitive bidding environment while reducing administrative costs and waste generated by a paper-based bid process.
The new system is set to launch in January 2025, ultimately benefiting contractors, residents and taxpayers alike through a more efficient bidding process.
Finkam
“Currently, our bid process is somewhat restrictive,” Mayor Sue Finkam said. “This makes it challenging to access information and results in a limited pool of recurring bidders, which hinders competition. With OpenGOV, we are providing a more efficient and accessible tool for interested vendors, city team members and the community.”
The implementation of OpenGOV addresses several critical challenges for the city. Previously, each department managed its own procurement process, resulting in inefficiencies. Vendors had to pay for access to bid documents, putting smaller businesses at a disadvantage, and there were significant costs associated with the paper-based process.
The OpenGOV system provides multiple advantages for contractors, streamlining their interaction with the city’s procurement process including simplified registration, easy online access, electronic submissions and a cost savings. For residents, the OpenGOV system offers a more efficient and cost-effective approach to managing city projects.
Quinn
“OpenGOV offers a guided, step-by-step process designed specifically for government needs,” Carmel City Clerk Jacob Quinn said. “Automated processes will bring significant time savings and reduce administrative burden. Comprehensive lifecycle management will allow us to capture solicitation lifecycles in a single location, for a more organized procurement. Thanks to our administration, and specifically the city’s purchasing analyst, Andrew Greeson, for the adoption of this software and diligence in getting it implemented.”
The City of Carmel joins other major jurisdictions such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Orange County, and Orlando in leveraging OpenGOV to transform their procurement processes. This initiative underscores Carmel’s commitment to transparency, efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
To sign up to become a registered vendor and receive notifications of upcoming opportunities, visit the City of Carmel’s OpenGOV portal. There is no cost to register or use OpenGov. You may also contact Jacob Quinn at jquinn@carmel.in.gov or Purchasing Analyst, Andrew Greeson at agreeson@carmel.in.gov.