Support Center

Information

This page connects current and potential City suppliers with guidance and tutorials designed to support businesses and other stakeholders doing business with the City.

Writing a Competitive Proposal

Writing a strong proposal helps suppliers clearly demonstrate how they meet the City's requirements. This section offers tips and best practices to help you submit a complete, competitive proposal and avoid common mistakes during the evaluation process. A good proposal isn't just about having the right product or service. A good proposal will clearly show how you meet the City's specific requirements.

Focus on substance over style

Evaluators want to see your firm's qualifications and ideas—not how beautifully you can package them. Focus on answering the questions completely, concisely, and honestly. Give specific, concrete information and back up your ideas with evidence.

Ask for help (as early as possible!)

Procurement Services is here to help you navigate submitting a proposal and answer any questions you have about a particular RFP.

Call or email your questions to the RFP's Single Point of Contact at least 7 days before the due date to make sure you can get the help you need. We can't guarantee a response if you submit questions less than 7 days before the due date.

Attend the pre-proposal meeting!

A pre-proposal meeting is an opportunity to hear more about an RFP, ask questions, and meet firms looking for subcontractors. Even if the meeting is not mandatory, we recommend all interested proposers attend.

Give yourself plenty of time to submit

Once you finish your proposal documents, it still takes time to upload them to SAP Ariba and submit your proposal. Submit your proposal with ample time before the submission deadline.

Submit! You might have a better chance than you think. If you meet the minimum qualifications of an RFP and submit a complete application, you might have a good chance of receiving a contract!

Didn't Submit a Winning Proposal? Request Feedback! You can request feedback from Procurement Services (such as the assigned Buyer or a Procurement Supervisor).

If you're submitting a response for personal services, goods, or services, use the RFP checklist

Each RFP Proposal includes a checklist to help ensure Suppliers have completed all the necessary information and are submitting a complete application.

Fill out the Proposal Response Packet as a form rather than answering in a separate document. This will help ensure you answer all questions and will make it easier for the Evaluation Committee to review your responses.

Answering directly in the response packet or formatting your responses in a separate document will have no impact on your scores.

Learn about Requests for Proposals

How to Respond to a Bid Opportunity

To compete for contracts, potential suppliers will need to find and respond to bid opportunities. This section provides Supplier Tutorials to help potential suppliers respond. On the first page of each Supplier Tutorial, you will find an estimated completion time, the purpose or overview, a description of the intended audience, and a list of what you'll need before you begin. Supplier Tutorials also include step-by-step instructions with visuals, and information about troubleshooting and support specific to the tutorial.

How to create an account for the Portland Supplier Portal to find and respond to bid opportunities

Create an account for the Portland Supplier Portal

How to respond to a bid opportunity

Respond to a City of Portland bid opportunity

Video to Respond to a City of Portland bid opportunity

Video to Respond to a City of Portland bid opportunity sent to you by email

Post an intent to bid on solicitation from email

Supplier Registration

New Supplier Registration Resources

A detailed listing of all the questions asked in the registration questionnaire is available here:

Download Registration Sections and Questions

PDF Instruction Guides

In English:

Download Supplier Request - Instructional Overview
Download Supplier Registration - Instructional Overview
Download Step-by-step Instructions for Organizations Using an EIN
Download Step-by-step Instructions for Sole Proprietors Using an SSN
Download Step-by-step Instructions for Sole Proprietors Using an SSN: Provide Personally Identifiable Information (SSN & Banking Details) via Relish Application

En Espanol:

Video Instructions

Existing Supplier Re-registration Resources

A detailed listing of all the questions asked in the registration questionnaire is available here:

Download Registration Sections and Questions

PDF Instruction Guides
Download Supplier Registration - How To Re-register Instructional Overview
En espanol:
Reinscripcion de Proveedores
Video Instructions
Supplier Registration Questionnaire - Video instructions for organizations
Supplier Registration Questionnaire - Video instructions for sole proprietors or individuals

Updating your registration

For Businesses & Other Organizations:
How an already-registered organization updates their City registration
For Sole Proprietors & Individuals:
How an already-registered sole proprietor updates their City registration

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I log into my existing SAP Business Network account?

You can log into an existing SAP Business Network account at supplier.ariba.com.

How do I contact the SAP Business Network account administrator for my organization?

Please see instructions at https://support.ariba.com/help. Under SAP Business Network, search for "How do I contact the account administrator for my company?" or "KB0394911".

Can my organization have multiple SAP Business Network accounts?

Please see instructions at support.ariba.com/help. Under SAP Business Network, search for "Can my company have multiple accounts?" or "KB0393460".

How can I be added as a user to an existing SAP Business Network account?

Please contact your organization's SAP Business Network account administrator to be added to your organization's profile.

How do I change the administrator for an Ariba account I cannot access?

Please see instructions at support.ariba.com/help. Under SAP Business Network, search for "How can I change the administrator for an Ariba account I cannot access?" or "KB0394475".

How do I reset passwords or usernames on the SAP Business Network?

Please see this brief video with instructions on how to reset a username or password.

How do I open a support ticket on the SAP Business Network?

These steps will allow users to open a support ticket on the SAP Business Network:

Navigate to SAP Business Network support
Click on "SAP Business Network"
Click on "Contact Us"
Select from onscreen options that best describe your specific issue or need. Eventually, you will see a "create case" button on the bottom right of the screen. You can click that to open a SAP Business Network support ticket.

Alternatively, you can follow the detailed instructions available here:

Download How To Open a Support Case on the SAP Business Network

Where else can I find technical support for SAP Ariba?

Separate from support resources the City provides, SAP Ariba provides many support resources

⁠⁠Schedule a one-on-one session (in-person, virtual, or phone call) with our Support Team or email at SupplierRegistration@portlandoregon.gov.

How Else Can We Help You?

Doing Business with the City of Portland – includes information about what the city buys, how to find and compete for contracts, and register as a city supplier after contract award.
Support Center – provides guidance, tutorials, and technical support for suppliers and potential suppliers.
Additional Guidance for Businesses - includes links to guides and handbooks that explain procurement processes, certifications, resources for contractors, post-award compliance, and links to City codes.
SAP Ariba Frequently Asked Questions – includes answers to commonly asked questions about our new procurement and contracting platform SAP Ariba.
Tips on what we will and won't ask for – our efforts to protect your information.