Doing Business with West Des Moines

The City of West Des Moines is committed to fairness and open competition. Our goal is to make sure taxpayers get the best value for every dollar spent. We encourage all qualified businesses and suppliers to work with us.

How We Buy Goods and Services

Our purchasing system is mostly decentralized. This means that individual city departments are usually responsible for buying the items and services they need.

  • Department Responsibility: Each department follows the City’s central purchasing rules.
  • Citywide Contracts: If a citywide contract already exists for a product, departments must use that contract instead of looking for new bids.
  • Large Projects: We post construction or improvement projects that cost more than $25,000 in the Des Moines Register. We also publish other high-dollar purchases for open bidding.

How to Get Started

The best way to learn about upcoming opportunities is to contact city departments directly.

  • Request to be Added: You may ask a department to include your company when they request quotes, bids, or proposals for what you offer.
  • Make an Appointment: We value your time. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment before visiting in person.

Payments (Accounts Payable)

We process payments every two weeks. Checks or electronic payments are sent out only after they have been approved by the City Council.