Recently, the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) of Portland, Oregon, procured a laboratory information management system (LIMS). Despite the size of this initiative, the PWB was able to regularly incorporate the contributions of over 35 PWB stakeholders from various departments and levels throughout the entire project lifecycle. In addition, the PWB was able to successfully assimilate its LIMS consultants into its participatory environment. Working as a team, the PWB stakeholders andconsultant successfully achieved the project objectives. This paper describes how the PWB overcame the challenges of participatory management during its LIMS procurement.