AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: The related video was published in November 2019.
The 2020 Small Business Contracting Forum is coming up, and with it is the opportunity for your small business to earn millions.
On March 4, the forum will bring procurement staff from dozens of City of Austin departments along with other municipal, county and government entities in the region, all with the hopes of connecting with a large and diverse group of smaller vendors.
The second-annual event is free and organized by the City's Purchasing Office. It will provide advice, information and encouragement to help small business owners identify opportunities to go into business with the City and to be more successful when bidding on City contracts.
Sessions at this year's event will cover how to register as an official City vendor; how to create bids, proposals and offers; getting paid; how to meet contracting requirements; a guide to technology procurement; and information about current and future business opportunities.
Businesses that registered at last year's forum have earned millions in contracts. And, this year, organizers want to involve even more businesses.
“Small businesses are at the heart of the Austin community and we hope this event will bring many of them into contact with City departments, some for the first time, so they can find out more about how to become a vendor, how to participate in solicitations and how to be more successful when bidding for contracts,” said City of Austin Purchasing Officer James Scarboro. “The City of Austin is open for business with smaller vendors from all parts of our diverse community.”
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LaTonya J. Pegues, CEO of Austin-based BOAZ Enterprises, was one of last year's attendees. She said attending the vent helped her business successfully provided services to one of the departments.
“Being in business for multiple decades, I have attended numerous networking events with just about every type of government entity. By attending the City of Austin Small Business events, I’ve been made aware of upcoming RFPs and bids, how to provide products or services, and how to do business with the City," she said. “I strongly recommend attending the Small Business Contracting Forum this March, for there may be opportunities to speak directly with the people who know in detail what their departments need to procure, and who knows – it may be exactly what you are selling.”
Some of the City departments expected to attend include:
- Austin Energy
- Austin Public Health
- Austin Public Library
- Austin Water
- Parks and Recreation
- Communications and Technology Management
- Public Works
- Economic Development
- Small & Minority Business Resources Department
External organizations include:
- The University of Texas
- Travis County
- the City of San Antonio
- Lower Colorado River Authority
The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center. To register, click here.
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