MERCHANT BANKCARD SERVICES

The Washington State Office of the State Treasurer is soliciting proposals under RFP 2026-01 for a qualified firm to provide cloud-based Merchant Bankcard Services and electronic payment methods for state agencies. The selected vendor will deliver a SaaS-based solution featuring real-time integration between payment devices and agency gateway systems, secure customer-facing interaction capabilities for electronic signatures and attestations, and centralized reporting for settlement and reconciliation. The system must adhere to strict regulatory and accessibility standards, including PCI DSS compliance, Regulation CC, OFAC regulations, and WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Hardware must also be ADA-compliant, utilizing articulating arms for ergonomic use at service counters. The contract follows a structured timeline with an initial transition period immediately following execution, followed by an initial service period from September 1, 2027, through August 31, 2030. The state maintains the option to extend the agreement for four additional years through August 31, 2034, for a maximum total duration of seven years. Eligible bidders must possess at least five years of experience in major credit and debit card processing and be licensed to conduct business in Washington. Award selection is based on the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, though the state may apply best value criteria. Evaluation includes a pass/fail screening of mandatory minimum qualifications, scored written proposals, and potential oral interviews or demonstrations.