Vendor Information

TABC wants to do business with vendors like you. Our Purchasing Department is dedicated to helping businesses in and out of Texas navigate our contracting opportunities. The team also identifies correct procurement methods required by statute, saves the state valuable funds and efficiently serves TABC customers.

We encourage you to contact the Purchasing team at purchasing@tabc.texas.gov or TABC Headquarters for any questions or concerns. Check out the resources below to learn more.

We try to use the advantages of a competitive marketplace whenever possible, regardless of a contract’s dollar amount. These are our general guidelines for purchases.

• Under $5,000 (Goods and Services): These are non-competitive and do not require bids. If the purchase is for a computer or telecommunications good or service, the item/service must be purchased from an existing Texas Department of Information Resources competitively bid contract, regardless of dollar limit.  
• $5,000.01 to $25,000 (Goods and Services): Require three informal bids: one from a certified minority-owned business and one from a certified woman-owned business. 
• $25,000 to $100,000 (Goods and Services): Must be solicited through Comptroller’s Office’s Statewide Procurement Division (SPD) Open Market bidding procedures. Delegation required to exceed $50,000. 
• Over $100,000 (Goods and Services): Upon delegation, must be solicited using the SPD’s Open Market bidding procedures.

We want to help vendors understand the process for doing business with our agency. If you’re interested in becoming a TABC vendor but aren’t sure where to start, check out the guidance and resources on this page.

For questions, contact our Purchasing Department at purchasing@tabc.texas.gov or TABC headquarters. Our team recommends you schedule all appointments in advance and limit sales calls to 30 minutes.

• To become a state vendor, register your company for the State of Texas Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL). State agencies are required to use the list to identify businesses to solicit their procurement opportunities when purchasing goods and services.  
• If you qualify, register as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB). The HUB program requires state agencies to award procurement and contracting opportunities to women and minority-owned businesses certified as HUBs by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.  

Ensure all your information stays current. Having outdated information could result in missed opportunities. 

Check for bid opportunities: Visit the Texas Smart Buy website to see all bid postings for state agencies, including TABC. When you find a posting that interests you, follow the instructions for bidding and make sure you read all documents attached to the bid carefully. 

Build a relationship: Marketing your business to various entities is one of your strongest attributes.  

• Get the word out about your company’s qualifications and state certifications with the CMBL or HUB.  
• Build a clientele relationship with state agency purchasers and HUB coordinators. You can see a list of HUB coordinators and other resources on the Comptroller’s website.
• Maintain a good reputation with our Purchasing Department for the goods and services you provide. Competitive pricing counts, but performance and reliability in the delivery of your goods and services is equally important. 

Get to know us: TABC is largely a field organization with a headquarters in Austin and regional, district, outpost and Ports of Entry offices throughout Texas and along the border of Mexico. Visit our About Us and Divisions pages to learn more about what TABC does for Texas. 

• We make most purchases through our Purchasing Department located at TABC headquarters. TABC buys various goods and services that are identified by commodity class codes in the Texas Comptroller’s Commodity Book.
• Many of our field offices also purchase consumable supplies with the State of Texas Procurement Card. They can use the Voyager Fleet card to purchase vehicle maintenance and repair services, including fuel and other vehicle products.  

The agency assumes no liability for purchases made unless they are made in accordance with current purchasing regulations, including an authorized signed agency purchase order, before securing any good or service. 

Learn about purchase orders: All chosen vendors need to have a signed TABC purchase order to supply goods or services to the agency, unless a purchase is made with the State of Texas Procurement Card or the Voyager Fleet card. When we send you an official purchase order, it will have: 

• Authorized purchase order number. 
• Invoice information. 
• Delivery information. 
• Dollar amount. 
• Item description. 
• Signature of a certified TABC purchaser.

TABC buys the following goods and services from vendors who contract with us.  

The Texas Government Code (2054.126(d) and 2261.253) requires TABC to post information about certain active contracts, including those worth more than $100,000. You can see this information in our Contract Transparency Report.

• Audio/visual equipment and supplies 
• Automobiles, including equipment, supplies and fuel 
• Computer equipment and supplies 
• Duplicating equipment and supplies 
• Educational equipment and supplies 
• Laboratory equipment, supplies and chemicals 
• Law enforcement equipment and supplies 
• Office machines, furniture equipment and supplies 
• Photographic equipment and supplies 
• Printed booklets, forms and materials 
• Safety equipment and supplies 
• Software 
• Specialty items and materials 
• Telecommunications equipment and supplies 

• Computer equipment maintenance
• Consulting and professional services
• Educational/training services
• Insurance services
• Office machine maintenance
• Telecommunications maintenance 
• Telephone answering services
• Temporary employment services

Senate Bill 20 (84th Texas Legislature) requires state agencies to post each contract the agency enters for the purchase of goods or services from a private vendor that:

• Was not competitively bid, and the statutory or other authority authorizing the use of noncompetitive bidding procedures.
• Was competitively bid, and the request for proposals related to that contract.

TABC stands with Texas’ commitment to promoting full and equal business opportunities for all businesses. The Statewide Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program aims to increase contracting opportunities for minority and woman-owned businesses that want to do business with state agencies, including TABC. 

TABC makes a good faith effort to use HUBs in construction, services (including professional and consulting services) and commodities purchases. If you have questions about TABC’s HUB Program, contact our HUB coordinator at 512-206-3264 or purchasing@tabc.texas.gov. 

A Historically Underutilized Business must be at least 51% owned by a person who is a member of one or more of the following groups: 

• Asian Pacific Americans  
• Black Americans  
• Hispanic Americans  
• Native Americans  
• American women of any ethnicity  
• Service-disabled veterans with a service-related disability of 20% or greater 

The HUB must also meet the following criteria: 

• Must be a U.S. citizen. 
• Must be a for-profit entity that has not exceeded the size standard prescribed by 34 TAC §20.294
• Principal place of business is in Texas.  
• The 51% owner lives in Texas, has a proportionate interest and demonstrates active participation in the control of the business, operations and routine management. 

Getting your business certified as a HUB is free, but you’ll need to apply through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts first. You’ll submit a HUB certification application and supporting documentation, affirming under penalty of perjury that your business qualifies as a HUB. 

Apply to be a HUB and learn more on the Comptroller’s website.

The Texas Legislature requires each agency to make a good faith effort to assure that HUBs receive a portion of all contract dollars. During the fiscal year, TABC is expected to strive to meet the following HUB goals: 

• 23.7% for professional services contracts (architects, engineers, accounting, financial and medical services). 
• 26% for other services contracts (legal, maintenance, repair, janitorial, printing, deliver, waste disposal, communications and many other services). 
• 21.1% for commodities contracts.