PROCUREMENT SOFTWARE BUILT FOR WATER & WASTE WATER AGENCIES

PlanetBids is a higher education procurement software platform designed to help colleges and universities manage purchasing from initial planning through solicitation, evaluation, award, and public accountability.

Used by public-sector organizations nationwide, PlanetBids replaces manual and fragmented processes with a single, centralized platform that supports compliant, transparent, and well-governed procurement.

HOW WE HELP

PlanetBids brings the full procurement lifecycle into one secure platform so water and wastewater agencies can reduce risk, improve oversight, and move faster on critical infrastructure and operational needs.

With PlanetBids, utility teams can:

  • Plan and publish procurement opportunities using consistent, policy-aligned processes.

  • Engage suppliers and collect secure, digital submissions.

  • Collaboratively evaluate responses with full documentation.

  • Award contracts confidently and maintain audit-ready records.

HOW WE HELP

son and dad washing their hands
female foreman using a radio

PlanetBids brings the full procurement lifecycle into one secure platform so water and wastewater agencies can reduce risk, improve oversight, and move faster on critical infrastructure and operational needs.

With PlanetBids, utility teams can:

  • Plan and publish procurement opportunities using consistent, policy-aligned processes.

  • Engage suppliers and collect secure, digital submissions.

  • Collaboratively evaluate responses with full documentation.

  • Award contracts confidently and maintain audit-ready records.

HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT

PlanetBids is built for the unique needs of public sector agencies operating under strict regulatory, compliance, and budgetary constraints.

Instead of focusing on a single piece of the process, PlanetBids supports procurement from requisition to award, helping utilities streamline purchasing while staying compliant and transparent.

This gives water and wastewater agencies a unified system they can trust, replacing outdated paper-based methods and disconnected tools.

 

HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT

Bid Spec Library - Classifications
Bid Spec Library - Classifications

PlanetBids is built for the unique needs of public sector agencies operating under strict regulatory, compliance, and budgetary constraints.

Instead of focusing on a single piece of the process, PlanetBids supports procurement from requisition to award, helping utilities streamline purchasing while staying compliant and transparent.

This gives water and wastewater agencies a unified system they can trust, replacing outdated paper-based methods and disconnected tools.

 

HOW PLANETBIDS COMPARES TO OTHER PROCUREMENT PLATFORMS

Most procurement tools only cover part of the process, like bid postings or vendor databases, forcing utility agencies to stitch together multiple systems.

PlanetBids takes a comprehensive approach:

  • Manage requests, solicitations, submissions, evaluations, and awards in a single system.

  • Apply standardized, auditable workflows across every purchase.

  • Reduce risk from fragmented tools and manual workarounds.

The result is a streamlined, transparent, and easily auditable procurement process from start to finish.

HOW PLANETBIDS COMPARES TO OTHER PROCUREMENT PLATFORMS

man in front of a laptop logging to PlanetBids app
man in front of a laptop logging to PlanetBids app

Most procurement tools only cover part of the process, like bid postings or vendor databases, forcing utility agencies to stitch together multiple systems.

PlanetBids takes a comprehensive approach:

  • Manage requests, solicitations, submissions, evaluations, and awards in a single system.

  • Apply standardized, auditable workflows across every purchase.

  • Reduce risk from fragmented tools and manual workarounds.

The result is a streamlined, transparent, and easily auditable procurement process from start to finish.

THE UTILITY PROCUREMENT PROCESS

PlanetBids supports each stage of procurement for water and wastewater agencies. By managing it all in one place, utilities can simplify purchasing and ensure strong oversight, whether sourcing treatment equipment, professional services, or construction contracts.

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Planning & Solicitation Creation

Prepare and publish opportunities with standardized, regulatory-compliant processes.

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Vendor Discovery & Outreach

Expand reach with centralized listings and automated notifications.

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Bid Submission

Collect secure, timestamped submissions digitally.

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Evaluation & Review

Enable collaborative, transparent scoring with full documentation.

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Award & Notice

Finalize awards clearly, with audit-ready records and notifications.

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Transparency & Records

Organize procurement documentation to meet public records and audit requirements.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Centralized Solicitation Management

    Create, manage, and publish solicitations, addenda, and bid openings from one place.

  • Process Automation

    Shorten procurement cycles and reduce administrative burdens.

  • Secure Digital Submissions

    Ensure fair and consistent vendor participation with time-stamped electronic bids.

  • Scalable Processes

    Standardize procurement workflows across engineering, operations, and finance departments.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Complete Audit Trails

    Capture every action from solicitation to award, supporting audits and transparency.

  • Submission Controls

    Enforce time-based access and submission policies.

  • Policy-Aligned Workflows

    Customize reviews and approvals to reflect board policies or procurement ordinances.

  • Central Record Storage

    Store all procurement files in one searchable, secure location.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Process Visibility

    Track procurement activity across the agency to support transparency and ratepayer trust.

  • Structured Evaluations

    Provide consistent, documented scoring for all stakeholders.

  • Clear Award Records

    Maintain transparency with clear award documentation and public access tools.

  • Public Accountability Support

    Organize data for public records requests, board reporting, and regulatory compliance.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Opportunity Discovery

    Centralized postings improve visibility and vendor participation.

  • Simplified Participation

    Digital, no-cost registration and submissions lower barriers for small and specialized vendors.

  • Consistent Vendor Experience

    Make participation clearer and more accessible to all suppliers.

  • Participation Insights

    Track engagement to support competition, equity, and local vendor goals.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Shared Platform

    Enable unified procurement across engineering, operations, and finance teams.

  • Role-Based Access

    Ensure everyone from project managers to finance has appropriate system access.

  • Central Oversight

    Maintain governance while enabling decentralized participation.

  • Enterprise Scalability

    Support growing procurement needs across large utilities or multi-plant districts.

TOP PROBLEMS WE SOLVE

Water and wastewater agencies face complex procurement challenges, ranging from aging infrastructure needs to environmental compliance, limited budgets, and multi-stakeholder oversight. PlanetBids is designed to help address these challenges head-on.

Procurement Operations

Compliance & Audit Readiness

Transparency & Accountability

Supplier Engagement & Diversity

Cross-Departmental Alignment

TOP PROBLEMS WE SOLVE

Water and wastewater agencies face complex procurement challenges, ranging from aging infrastructure needs to environmental compliance, limited budgets, and multi-stakeholder oversight. PlanetBids is designed to help address these challenges head-on.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Centralized Solicitation Management

    Create, manage, and publish solicitations, addenda, and bid openings from one place.

  • Process Automation

    Shorten procurement cycles and reduce administrative burdens.

  • Secure Digital Submissions

    Ensure fair and consistent vendor participation with time-stamped electronic bids.

  • Scalable Processes

    Standardize procurement workflows across engineering, operations, and finance departments.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Complete Audit Trails

    Capture every action from solicitation to award, supporting audits and transparency.

  • Submission Controls

    Enforce time-based access and submission policies.

  • Policy-Aligned Workflows

    Customize reviews and approvals to reflect board policies or procurement ordinances.

  • Central Record Storage

    Store all procurement files in one searchable, secure location.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Process Visibility

    Track procurement activity across the agency to support transparency and ratepayer trust.

  • Structured Evaluations

    Provide consistent, documented scoring for all stakeholders.

  • Clear Award Records

    Maintain transparency with clear award documentation and public access tools.

  • Public Accountability Support

    Organize data for public records requests, board reporting, and regulatory compliance.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Opportunity Discovery

    Centralized postings improve visibility and vendor participation.

  • Simplified Participation

    Digital, no-cost registration and submissions lower barriers for small and specialized vendors.

  • Consistent Vendor Experience

    Make participation clearer and more accessible to all suppliers.

  • Participation Insights

    Track engagement to support competition, equity, and local vendor goals.

How PlanetBids helps

  • Shared Platform

    Enable unified procurement across engineering, operations, and finance teams.

  • Role-Based Access

    Ensure everyone from project managers to finance has appropriate system access.

  • Central Oversight

    Maintain governance while enabling decentralized participation.

  • Enterprise Scalability

    Support growing procurement needs across large utilities or multi-plant districts.

HOW WE HELP YOUR STAFF

PlanetBids is designed to support everyone involved in procurement.

three people talking in front of a laptop

Procurement Teams

  • Reduce time spent on paperwork and repetitive task.
  • Maintain audit-ready documentation effortlessly.
  • Gain real-time visibility into procurements and project timelines.
people working on a laptop

Departments & Evaluators

  • Evaluate bids efficiently and securely.
  • Access timelines, deadlines, and review history in one place.
  • Follow easy, standardized review processes.
woman smiling if front of a laptop

Leadership & Oversight

  • Access real-time procurement data for board and regulatory reporting.
  • Support ratepayer transparency and budget justification.
  • Make well-documented purchasing decisions aligned with policy.

TOP QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED

Does PlanetBids support the full procurement process?

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Yes. PlanetBids supports procurement from solicitation creation and vendor outreach through submission, evaluation, and award.

Is PlanetBids designed for higher education and public-sector requirements?

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Yes. The platform is purpose-built to support public-sector governance, compliance, and transparency.

Can PlanetBids help increase vendor participation?

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Yes. Automated notifications, simple registration, and digital submissions make it easier for vendors to participate.

How does PlanetBids support audits and compliance?

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PlanetBids provides complete audit trails, centralized records, and configurable workflows aligned to policy.

Can PlanetBids support multiple campuses or departments?

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Yes. PlanetBids is designed to scale across complex institutions.

How long does implementation take?

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Most institutions can launch quickly with guided onboarding and support.

How is PlanetBids priced?

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Pricing is based on institutional size and needs. Customized quotes are available.

What results can institutions expect?

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Institutions typically see faster procurement cycles, improved compliance confidence, and reduced administrative workload.

GET STARTED

PlanetBids helps water and wastewater agencies modernize procurement with a system purpose-built for public sector compliance and operational complexity.

If your agency is evaluating procurement software to improve efficiency, regulatory compliance, and vendor engagement, PlanetBids is a proven partner. Request a demo to see how we can support procurement across your entire utility.

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