What products and services does the City of Arcata procure?

The City of Arcata classifies bid opportunities as Engineering—Construction Projects, Requests for Qualifications for professional services, and Timber Harvests and Sales. The municipal code also identifies procurement categories including equipment, materials and supplies, sales of personal property, and professional consultant services.

Does the City of Arcata use cooperative purchasing or piggyback contracts?

The City of Arcata authorizes cooperative purchasing: the Purchasing Agent may join cooperative purchasing plans with other governments or purchase from other governmental agencies when doing so serves the City's best interest (Arcata Municipal Code Sec. 2412).

What procurement requirements does the City of Arcata publish for vendors?

Arcata's municipal code defines the 'lowest responsible bidder' standard—ability, capacity, skill, and facilities—and requires any bid security specified in a solicitation; insurance, bonding, licensing, and other compliance items are set by each solicitation, so vendors must review solicitation terms.

How does the City of Arcata approve procurement contracts and awards?

The City Manager is the Purchasing Agent; sealed bids and open-market awards go to the lowest responsible bidder and sales of personal property to the highest responsible bidder (Arcata Municipal Code). Purchases over $75,000 and certain consultant contracts require City Council award or approval.

Where can vendors find procurement policies and standard terms for the City of Arcata?

Procurement policies and standard terms for the City of Arcata are codified in the Arcata Municipal Code, Title II—Administration, Chapter 4—Fiscal Administration. That chapter sets purchasing authority, sealed-bid and open-market procedures, consultant procedures, thresholds, award rules, and exemptions.

City of Arcata

Track open bid opportunities, contracts, public meetings, and key contacts for City of Arcata.

Buyer type:: City
Location:: Arcata, CA
Country:: US

City of Arcata RFPs

Active opportunities open for bidding

Fall 2026 Online Auction for Sale of Surplus Property RFP
Posted
Sep 29, 2026
Closes
Oct 14, 2026
The City of Arcata will auction surplus assets, including used furniture, electronics, and equipment, online from September 29 through October 13, 2026. Bidding takes place through GovDeals; items are sold as-is and where-is, and the City may reject any or all bids. Winning bidders must pay within five days of award and collect items within 10 days of payment, and bidder registration is free and open to the public.
Fall 2026 Online Auction for Sale of Surplus Property
Posted
Sep 29, 2026
Closes
Oct 14, 2026
The City of Arcata will auction surplus assets, including used furniture, electronics, and equipment, online from September 29 through October 13, 2026. Bidding takes place through GovDeals; items are sold as-is and where-is, and the City may reject any or all bids. Winning bidders must pay within five days of award and collect items within 10 days of payment, and bidder registration is free and open to the public.
11th and B Bank Stabilization Project
Posted
Sep 23, 2026
Closes
Oct 15, 2026
Work includes 1 LS earthwork (500 CY of excavation); 1 LS clearing and grubbing; 86 CY class ii aggregate base; 38 tn hot mix asphalt (type a) - 3" thick; 100 LF minor concrete, curb and gutter, 1.5'; 50 L minor concrete, 4" sidewalk; 367 SF minor concrete, 4" sidewalk (thickened edge); 40 Lpaint - red curb; thermoplastic traffic striping - 6".

Buyer Attributes

Key metrics and characteristics

Census ID
Government ID for mapping buyers across datasets.
123103
Employee FTE
Full-time equivalent employees.
130
Population
Population size to gauge opportunity scale.
19,047
Procurement Hell Score
How easy their procurement process is to navigate. Lower is better.
58 / 100
Propensity to Spend
How likely this buyer is to spend on new technology based on operating budget trends.
CautiousAggressive
Higher is better Unlock
AI Adoption Score
How likely this buyer is to adopt new AI technologies.
ConservativeEarly Adopter
Higher is better Unlock
Startup Friendliness
How often this buyer champions startups and early adoption.
TraditionalStartup-Friendly
Higher is better Unlock
Latest Budget Year
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Operating Budget
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Includes fiscal year calendars, procurement complexity scores, and strategic insights.

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How to Sell to City of Arcata

Procurement guidance and navigation tips.

Procurement Hell Score
Lower scores indicate easier procurement. Created by Starbridge.
58 / 100
EasyLower is betterHellish
Quick Decision Flow
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- Sole Source: Only if your solution is truly unique/compatible with existing systems; work with the City Manager’s office to document justification.
- Coops: Frequently procures through Sourcewell, BuyBoard, CMAS, and OMNIA Partners; you can gain access through the Starbridge reseller & contract-vehicle platform — reach out to your Starbridge contact to pursue onboarding.
Agency-specific vendor registration, compliance steps, and approval routing shape the purchasing timeline.
Unlock detailed thresholds, contracting paths, payment terms, and vendor benchmarks for this buyer.
Sole Source
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- City of Arcata (CA) rarely uses sole source. Use only if your product is verifiably the only one that can meet the need or is uniquely compatible with existing systems, per Municipal Code Section 2407(b). If this high bar is met, work directly with the City Manager’s office (Purchasing Agent) to document the justification. Expect high scrutiny and exception-only approval. Otherwise, pivot to a cooperative contract or plan for a formal competitive bid.
Agency-specific vendor registration, compliance steps, and approval routing shape the purchasing timeline.
Unlock detailed thresholds, contracting paths, payment terms, and vendor benchmarks for this buyer.
Cooperatives
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- Arcata actively uses cooperative purchasing to bypass formal bidding when appropriate and is authorized to do so under Municipal Code Section 2410. Engage the City Manager (Purchasing Agent) and the requesting department to route the purchase through a cooperative. Reach out to your Starbridge contact through the Starbridge reseller & contract-vehicle platform to gain access to the recommended path.
- Recommended (accessible through Starbridge):
Agency-specific vendor registration, compliance steps, and approval routing shape the purchasing timeline.
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City of Arcata Contracts

Track vendor wins and renewal opportunities

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata
Effective: Jul 1, 2021Expires: Expiration date locked.
This document is Amendment No. 1 to a Professional Services Agreement between the City of Arcata and GovInvest, Inc., which was originally executed on March 17, 2020 (Purchase Order number 43280). This Amendment becomes effective on July 1, 2021, and specifies compensation for fiscal year 2021/2022 for the Pension Module, not to exceed $7,000 annually plus annual CPI. The agreement, as amended, will remain in full force until June 30, 2022.
GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata
Effective: Sep 23, 2022Expires: Expiration date locked.
This Professional Services Agreement between the City of Arcata and GovInvest Inc., effective from September 23, 2022, to September 30, 2023, outlines financial forecasting consulting services. GovInvest Inc. will assist the City of Arcata with financial forecasting around forward-looking employee costs, including reviewing current financial positions, developing a forecast model, identifying mitigation strategies, and supporting budget presentations. The total compensation for these services will not exceed $7,000.
GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata
Effective: Mar 17, 2020Expires: Expiration date locked.
This Professional Services Agreement, effective March 17, 2020, is between the City of Arcata and GovInvest Inc. for actuarial software and consulting services. GovInvest will provide its Pension Module software and implementation services. The initial term runs until June 30, 2021, with a total contract value of $11,000 for this period, comprising a $4,000 one-time implementation fee and a $7,000 annual licensing fee. The agreement outlines the scope of work, compensation, performance standards, insurance requirements, and other general terms.
GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata
Effective: Jul 1, 2023Expires: Expiration date locked.
This document represents Invoice #2023-4545 from GovInvest Inc. to Arcata, City of, for an Annual Pension Module Subscription Fee. The total amount due is $7,797.62, covering the service period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The document also includes a payment voucher for this invoice.

Early Buyer Signals

Board meetings and strategic plans from City of Arcata

City of Arcata Energy Committee Special Meeting
Date: Jun 15, 2026Type: Meeting mention
The committee received a presentation from the City Building Official regarding Title 24 of the California Building Code, covering the Energy Code and CALGreen standards. An update was provided on the City's Excessive Residential Electricity Users Tax. Additionally, members discussed a letter concerning the Equitable Decarbonization Program and reviewed updates from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, specifically regarding the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan and future staffing structures. A committee member also inquired about potential conflicts regarding their interest in serving on the Redwood Coast Energy Authority's Community Advisory Committee.
City Of Arcata Strategic Arts Plan 2022-2025
Date: Jan 1, 2021Type: Strategic Plan
The Arcata Strategic Arts Plan (ASAP) provides a roadmap for supporting and developing arts and culture within the City of Arcata. It aims to achieve six core goals: equitably increasing public arts, ensuring access to quality arts education for all residents, making Arcata financially viable for artists, strengthening connections between Humboldt State University and the community through arts, leveraging the plan to secure arts funding, and formalizing the partnership with Playhouse Arts as the Local Arts Agency. The plan seeks to elevate Arcata's arts and cultural life, addressing community needs, fostering lifelong learning, and promoting diverse, accessible, and inclusive arts experiences.

Key Contacts

Public-sector contacts connected to City of Arcata.

Tabatha MillerAssistant City Manager / Finance Director

*******@************

+1 (***) ***-****

Ian MionBuilding Inspector

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Frequently asked questions

Who manages procurement and purchasing for the City of Arcata?

Procurement for the City of Arcata is administered by the City Manager, who serves as the Purchasing Agent under Arcata Municipal Code Chapter 4. The City is governed by a five-member elected City Council and handles procurement directly rather than through another jurisdiction.

Where does the City of Arcata post bids and RFPs?

The City of Arcata posts bids and contract opportunities on its official Bids and Contract Opportunities portal: https://www.cityofarcata.org/Bids.aspx. The portal offers text/email subscriptions for notifications, and notices are also published in a local newspaper of general circulation.

How do vendors complete vendor registration with the City of Arcata?

Vendors register for City of Arcata opportunities by contacting the City’s Purchasing Office to be added to the Bidders' List maintained by the Purchasing Agent (Municipal Code Sec. 2401), or by subscribing to the city bid portal for text or email notifications.

City of Arcata

City of Arcata RFPs

Fall 2026 Online Auction for Sale of Surplus Property RFP

Fall 2026 Online Auction for Sale of Surplus Property

11th and B Bank Stabilization Project

Buyer Attributes

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How to Sell to City of Arcata

City of Arcata Contracts

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

Early Buyer Signals

City of Arcata Energy Committee Special Meeting

City Of Arcata Strategic Arts Plan 2022-2025

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

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City of Arcata RFPs

Fall 2026 Online Auction for Sale of Surplus Property RFP

Fall 2026 Online Auction for Sale of Surplus Property

11th and B Bank Stabilization Project

Buyer Attributes

Find best-fit RFPs — Then Nail the Response

How to Sell to City of Arcata

City of Arcata Contracts

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

Early Buyer Signals

City of Arcata Energy Committee Special Meeting

City Of Arcata Strategic Arts Plan 2022-2025

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

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City Of Arcata Forest Management Committee Minutes

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City of Arcata

City of Arcata RFPs

Buyer Attributes

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How to Sell to City of Arcata

City of Arcata Contracts

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

Early Buyer Signals

City of Arcata Energy Committee Special Meeting

City Of Arcata Strategic Arts Plan 2022-2025

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

Get your 10 highest-intent accounts

City of Arcata RFPs

Buyer Attributes

Find best-fit RFPs — Then Nail the Response

How to Sell to City of Arcata

City of Arcata Contracts

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

GovInvest Inc. at City of Arcata

Early Buyer Signals

City of Arcata Energy Committee Special Meeting

City Of Arcata Strategic Arts Plan 2022-2025

Key Contacts

Frequently asked questions

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City Of Arcata Forest Management Committee Minutes

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