Procurement of proposals from qualified developers for the purchase and development of two city-owned properties: former Highland View Elementary School and former Washington Lee Elementary School.
Buyer Attributes
Key metrics and characteristics
Census ID
Government ID for mapping buyers across datasets.
114559
Employee FTE
Full-time equivalent employees.
300.1
Population
Population size to gauge opportunity scale.
16,418
Procurement Hell Score
How easy their procurement process is to navigate. Lower is better.
62 / 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.
Sole Source:Rare for non-emergencies—deprioritize; pivot to coops or a formal bid.
Coops:Frequently procures through Virginia Statewide contracts (DGS/eVA), VITA IT contracts, NASPO ValuePoint, or 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.
City of Bristol, VA rarely uses sole source for non-emergency procurement. Deprioritize this route and redirect efforts to cooperative purchasing or prepare a highly competitive bid response. No specific dollar thresholds were provided.
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.
City of Bristol, VA does not appear to use cooperative purchasing today, but you can position these co-ops as another option. Reach out to your Starbridge contact to gain access through the Starbridge reseller & contract-vehicle platform.
Recommended (accessible through Starbridge):
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.
Full playbooks include agency-specific workflows, thresholds, and vendor benchmarks.
Early Buyer Signals
Board meetings and strategic plans from City of Bristol
City of Bristol, VA City Council City Council Meeting
Date: Aug 25, 2026Type: Meeting mention
The council meeting addressed several key items, beginning with comments regarding a recent public safety incident and the passing of a notable American figure. The meeting proceeded with the formal recognition and promotion of several police department staff members, with subsequent discussion on the department's response to a critical incident. Presentations included an overview of the 911 Day of Service program by the Boys and Girls Club of the Mountain Empire. Additionally, the council discussed the Fiscal Year 26-27 performance contract for Highlands Community Services, focusing on updates regarding federal fund management, financial reporting, and IT security requirements.
City Council of Bristol City Council Meeting
Date: Sep 8, 2026Type: Meeting mention
The council discussed various community events, including the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion and an upcoming community observance for the 25th anniversary of September 11th. A proclamation recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion was approved. The council also held a second ordinance reading to amend the city code regarding zoning, specifically to change the permitting process for data and call centers from by-right to special use permits to ensure greater oversight and public input. Finally, a supplemental appropriation of funds was approved.
Key Contacts
Public-sector contacts connected to City of Bristol.
How does City of Bristol approve procurement contracts and awards?
The City of Bristol’s Purchasing Policy sets approval thresholds: disbursements over $5,000 require written Chief Financial Officer approval and disbursements over $10,000 require written City Manager approval. Changes to spending or purchasing limits require City Council approval, and the Procurement/Property Department administers procurements and awards.
Who manages procurement and purchasing for City of Bristol?
The City of Bristol’s Procurement/Property Department (the municipal Purchasing office) manages procurement and purchasing for the city. The Purchasing Policy establishes procedures; the department administers solicitations, purchase orders, and vendor inquiries—see the City Purchasing page for contact details.
Where does City of Bristol post bids and RFPs?
City Council of Bristol, Virginia Regular Meeting
Date: Jul 28, 2026Type: Meeting mention
The City Council meeting included updates on local events, such as the Bristol Rhythm championship game, National Night Out, and the Bucktown Classic. The council addressed issues regarding political yard sign regulations and zoning map amendments for properties on Goodson Street, including plans for residential rehabilitation. Additionally, the council issued a proclamation honoring Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable upon his retirement and discussed an invitation to bid for crushed stone and sand materials.
Extracted from official board minutes, strategic plans, and video transcripts.
Meeting signals
Know what buyers discuss before RFPs drop
Track City of Bristol meetings, strategic plans, and budget discussions before the public bid appears.
The City of Bristol posts bids, RFPs, addenda and notices on its official Purchasing pages (Purchasing Bids & RFPs and the City Bids listing). Submissions must be time-stamped/received at the Procurement Office (Room 208, 300 Lee Street); consult the Bids & RFPs page for postings and instructions.
What products and services does City of Bristol procure?
The City of Bristol commonly procures public works materials and services (asphalt, crushed stone, Portland cement concrete, deicing salt), landfill/solid‑waste services and equipment, engineering and construction professional services, and fire apparatus or vehicle financing. See the Purchasing/Bids pages for current category listings.
Does City of Bristol use cooperative purchasing or piggyback contracts?
City of Bristol’s Purchasing Policy authorizes use of Virginia Department of General Services / Division of Purchases and Supply (DGS/DPS) state term contracts as available contract vehicles. This allows the City to utilize state contracts in place of separate local solicitations where applicable.
What procurement requirements does City of Bristol publish for vendors?
City of Bristol’s Purchasing Policy requires purchase requisitions and purchase orders by threshold, records retention for quotations, invoice submission timing, and procurement‑card procedures. Specific insurance, bonding, licensing, and other compliance requirements are detailed in each solicitation’s documents and must be reviewed by vendors.
Where can vendors find procurement policies and standard terms for City of Bristol?
City of Bristol’s Purchasing Procedures / Purchasing Policy, published on the City website, is the authoritative source for procurement thresholds, competitive methods, requisition/PO rules, and procurement‑card rules. Vendors should consult this policy and the Purchasing page for standard terms and references to Virginia law and state contracts.