Customer Case Study | Transportation

About Grant County Public Utility District

Grant County Public Utility District (Grant County PUD) is one of the 50 largest public electrical utilities in the U.S. Grant County PUD operates two hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River that generate more than 2,000 megawatts and provides fiber optic communications systems in the region. The utility is experiencing high growth in response to the location of world-class data center facilities in the area.

Challenge

Grant County PUD's contract administrators were used to relying on an in-house developed database to manage vendors on contracts. While they could use the system to search for vendors, they were forced to produce sheets of mailing labels and then copy and mail bid documents. Keeping track of the bidders list was done manually and was further complicated by walk-ins requesting copies of bid documents. The procurement group was convinced that a web-based system would provide significant efficiencies in the reduction of document distribution costs and staff time devoted to these routine tasks.

Solution

eBid Systems deployed an integrated contract sourcing and management system in 2002 that allows Grant County PUD to track contracts from the time a requisition is created, through the sourcing process, and during the contract management period after award. The sourcing functions in the system allow contract administrators at Grant County to access a single web-based system that accomplishes online vendor registration, solicitation posting, document distribution, bidders list management, and contract administration.

Key System Metrics

• Procurement Value: $336 Million
• Number of Solicitations: 407
• Registered Vendors: 2,610

Key Benefits

• 80% of all procurement activity handled through eBid eXchange
• Simplified prequalification of construction and high voltage electrical contractors
• Provided a centralized procurement system for its geographically distributed users