City of Seguin: Expanding Competition and Modernizing Procurement

Seguin, one of Texas’s oldest cities, is a rapidly growing hub in Guadalupe County with a strong economy built on manufacturing and education. Like many historic communities, Seguin understands the importance of embracing modernization to serve its residents and businesses.

Situation: Paper Bids and Limited Competition

When Ashley Bruns joined the City of Seguin’s purchasing team in 2023, the city was still accepting only paper bids that had to be physically dropped off. The process discouraged vendor participation, resulting in only a handful of bids, sometimes as few as three or four, for each solicitation. Fewer bidders meant higher costs and limited competition.

“We were only accepting paper bids,” Bruns recalled. “We weren’t getting a variety of responses, and that meant we were paying more. My goal was to get more bids in, more competition, and save money for the City.”

The lack of vendor access meant the City of Seguin not only struggled with competition but also faced rising costs with every cycle. “When bids went out, there was always a huge increase,” said Bruns. “We needed a way to open things up and level the playing field.”

Solution: A User-Friendly Digital Platform

At the TxPPA procurement conference, Seguin started exploring several providers. Cost, ease of use, and vendor accessibility were top priorities. Many systems required heavy setup or complex build-outs. SOVRA stood out with a user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and a straightforward transition to digital bidding.

“As soon as we were done with training, I was able to go in and immediately start updating bids,” said Bruns. “Within six months, we were completely digital, including vendors submitting proposals and bids.”

SOVRA also provided vendor-facing resources that eased the transition: printed registration guides, step-by-step instructions, and media toolkits to spread the word on social channels. “We thought it would be hard for our vendors to get on board, but we actually had no issues,” Bruns noted. “By the end of six months, it was just the norm.”

Outcomes for Seguin

• More Competition, Better Value
  The results were immediate. Seguin now receives double or triple the number of bids compared to its paper-based past. A long-standing transformer contract that used to attract just four vendors now brings in nine, sometimes sixteen, including responses from outside Texas and even overseas.
  
  “We used to think three or four bids was good,” said Bruns. “Now we’re consistently seeing much higher numbers, and that competition keeps our costs steady and predictable.”
  
  Instead of unpredictable spikes, pricing has leveled. “We’re not necessarily seeing big decreases, but we’re not seeing huge increases either,” Bruns explained. “It’s plateaued. We know what to expect, and that helps us budget with confidence.”
• Stronger Recordkeeping and Transparency
  Where filing cabinets once overflowed with paper, SOVRA now provides a centralized, digital record. Open records requests are fulfilled in minutes with a simple download, rather than hours of searching, scanning, and emailing.
• Streamlined Workflows
  Procurement no longer needs to manage every step of the process. Departments can review and respond to vendor questions directly in the system, freeing purchasing staff to focus on higher-value work.
• Responsive Support
  From implementation to daily use, Seguin highlights SOVRA’s customer service as a differentiator. “Even during a live bid opening, I was able to call and get immediate help,” Bruns shared. “That level of support has been amazing.”