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Bureau of Purchasing: Business Center

The Bureau of Purchasing is now open to the public Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Bid specifications can be picked up, and bids can be dropped off directly at the Purchasing, Room 105-A. Bid openings will still be held via Zoom video conference until further notice.

BidNet Direct

The City of Rochester now participates in the Empire State Purchasing Group using BidNet Direct as its electronic bidding service. All new City bids will be posted and available only on the BidNet website. From the BidNet site, vendors will be able to:

  • Register to view all City bids for free, or for a small annual fee, and receive e-mail notifications of City bids.
  • View and download all bid documents and addenda at no cost. 
  • Find bid results and contract award information
  • Submit bids electronically for most City bids (excluding public works bids). 

For an annual fee of $108, BidNet also offers vendors the option to receive email notifications of any upcoming City bids. 

More information on BidNet

 

BidNet vendor registration instruction

The Purchasing Bureau within the Department of Finance is charged with the timely and efficient procurement of quality goods and services at the lowest cost for the City's departments and agencies. The Bureau is also responsible for disposing of surplus property.

Where We're Located

The Purchasing Bureau is located in room 105-A of City Hall (30 Church St) in Downtown Rochester, on the corner of Church and Fitzhugh Streets. You can get to Fitzhugh Street by taking the Plymouth Avenue exit from 490 to Church Street. When traveling west from Syracuse, turn left at Plymouth Avenue. When traveling east from Buffalo, turn right at Plymouth Avenue. Downtown parking is available at several locations near City Hall.

To contact the City's Purchasing Bureau, call 585-428-7041 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, except on holidays.

City Bid Offerings

City bids are posted and made available whenever a new City bid or addendum is issued.   

 City bids advertised may be viewed and downloaded from BidNet 

Bid advertisements are also published in The Daily Record (Rochester) and posted in the Bureau of Purchasing, City Hall, Room 105-A.

Bid specifications for standard goods and services contracts with the City may be downloaded from BidNet at no charge. Copies of these bid specifications may also be obtained from the Bureau of Purchasing, City Hall, Room 105-A, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Holidays.

Bid documents for public works contracts are now available on BidNet for free download. They may still be viewed or purchased in hard copy from the Bureau of Purchasing or the following contract service companies:

Builders Exchange 
180 Linden Oaks, Ste 100       
Rochester, NY 14625 
Phone: (585) 586-5460
 Map		Dataflow
320 N Goodman St, Ste 200 
Rochester, NY 14607 
Phone: (585) 271-5730
 Map

 Any addendum issued for a City of Rochester Invitation to Bid will be posted to BidNet. 

How to...

Surplus Sales and Auctions

The Bureau of Purchasing sells used and obsolete City equipment through public auctions. More information 

Rochester Schools Modernization Program

To view bids related to the Rochester Schools Modernization Program (RSMP), click here.

Incentive Program for Public Works Contracts

The City of Rochester will provide an incentive program for hiring City residents residing in certain City zip codes for public works contracts for which the final contract price is an amount of $50,000 or more.  More information.

More About Purchasing

  •  Purchasing Law
  •   MWBE: Meeting Community Needs-Minority and Woman Business Enterprises (MWBEs) are important to the City. 

Questions?

For more information about doing business with the City, call 585-428-7041 or email Cheryl.Whitman@cityofrochester.gov.