The Harris County Purchasing Agent oversees the procurement of goods and services, with Harris Health Procurement Services as one of its three major divisions. If you're interested in doing business with Harris Health, please register your firm on Bonfire. The Harris County Purchasing Department uses Bonfire to manage suppliers and facilitate the online distribution and submission of proposals. Please visit the Harris County Bonfire Portal to register your business and seek future opportunities.
Purchases Less than $250,000 (Informal Procurements)
Purchases of goods and services for less than $250,000 are managed by an assigned purchasing professional, who will allow for as much competition as practical, consistent with the Purchasing Department procedures, User Department requirements, dollar value of procurements, and, with respect to Purchases of Items related to direct patient care, patient welfare. Pricing and delivery terms are required to be provided at the time informal quotes are submitted. The Purchasing Department's goal is to meet departmental needs effectively while securing the best value at a fair and reasonable price for Harris Health.
Purchases $250,000 and over (Formal Procurements)
Formal Procurements are used by the Purchasing Department when purchases are estimated to be equal to or greater than $250,000. The assigned purchasing professional shall utilize the most suitable procurement method for these requests, utilizing options such as Request for Proposals (RFP), Competitive Sealed Proposals (CSP), and Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Each project will be formally published in Bonfire and the Houston Chronicle, Friday edition, in the Classified Section under Bids and Proposals. Vendors are encouraged to download the solicitation documents from Bonfire to review the timeline, requirements, and submit any questions before providing a formal response. Please note that proposals submitted after the published due date will not be accepted.
Group Purchasing Organizations and Cooperatives
Harris Health leverages various Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) and Cooperative Purchasing Program contracts to effectively support User Departments, as deemed appropriate by the Purchasing Agent. These agreements provide significant advantages, including cost savings and improved efficiency, by consolidating purchasing volume and utilizing that collective power to negotiate better discounts with manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors.
Contractor Diversity
Harris Health strives to engage with prime contractors and subcontractors that represent the diverse businesses in our community. We will ensure that historically underutilized Minority-and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) receive a fair and equal opportunity to participate in our procurement processes. M/WBEs are encouraged to contact the Contractor Diversity page for more information on Harris Health’s certification requirements, upcoming opportunities, and how we are building a more inclusive and representative supplier community.
Harris Health Information
To learn more about Harris Health, including our mission, services, and organizational policies, we invite you to visit our main public website at www.harrishealth.org. There, you’ll find comprehensive information about our health system, governance, compliance standards, and other important resources for prospective partners and vendors.
Vendors interested in doing business with Harris Health can visit the Vendor Relations page to learn about Harris Health’s Code of Conduct.
For additional information regarding our Harris Health Procurement Services Division, please review the approved Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual.