Contracting with Local Governments

1. Contracting with Local Governments Presented by the Central Ohio Minority Business Association & the Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center J. Averi Frost, Director Columbus MBAC WIFI – COMBA; Pass: 1000main

2. Upcoming Workshops at COMBA • January 3 – Business Basics* • January 8 – Mirrors: Identifying Your Best Self • January 9 – Certification 101* • January 17 – Capability Statements 101 • January 21 – Business Plan Writing Registration available at www.comba.com

3. This workshop will cover: • Opportunities Available • Vendor & Supplier Registration • Code selection • Minority Certifications • Tips to Remember • Tools to Use

4. Types of Opportunities Available with the City City of Columbus Vendor Services links you to all open requests for goods and services and information on the solicitation. Invitation for Bids (IFB)are prepared for materials, supplies, equipment, construction, and general services contracts estimated to exceed $20,000. Formal bids, or Request for Proposals (RFP)/Requests for Statements of Qualifications (RFSQ)s are issued for professional services such as insurance, programming, consulting, and training for contracts exceeding $50,000. Request for Quotes are solicitations for items below these dollar thresholds. Notices are broadcast to registered vendors and bids are accepted online.

5. Types of Opportunities Available with Columbus City Schools Columbus City Schools has opportunities available in the areas of Construction, Professional Services, and Supplies. To begin your process, and to view open solicitations, to bid, and to view purchase orders, you must register on Columbus City Schools’ Vendor Self-Service. Start Here

6. Types of Opportunities Available with Columbus Regional Airport Authority The Columbus Regional Airport Authority has many contracting opportunities for Small Businesses. The Airport Authority routinely purchase general and specialized furnishing and supplies, medical, safety and security products/services, motorized equipment, construction and professional design services. There are also opportunities available in the areas of food, beverage, and retail business.

7. Types of Opportunities Available with Local Universities Ohio State University Purchasing Department • Food (wholesale) • Building Maintenance & Repair supplies • Landscaping • Building Trades • Catering • Supplies • Design & Communication Services

8. Types of Opportunities Available with Franklin County Franklin County (and other regional counties) advertises all of their notices in the Daily Reporter, and on their website. The county purchases goods, such as food (wholesale), construction services, professional services, and security services. The County is committed to working with Small & Emerging Businesses, the commissioners have pledged to make sure small companies have access to County work.

9. Types of Opportunities Available at the State Professional Svcs. Construction, Transit, Automotive, & Agricultural equipment Medical, Dental, Safety & Janitorial Supplies. Food, Food Mgmt. Svcs,. Food Related Equip., Supplies & Svcs. Misc. commodities & svcs. Goods/Services (DAS)

10. Types of Opportunities Available at the State Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) still exists under the OFCC umbrella to tackle issues specific to K-12 schools. Starting in July 2013, OFCC will begin rolling out an electronic bid process. Construction

11. Locating Opportunities • eSupplier Registration • An initiative from the State to make it easier to vendors to work with the state. • A self-service module that allows you to view real-time updates on p.o.’s, invoices and payment information. • Managed by Ohio Shared Services. If you need assistance navigating eSupplier, you can use this aid. You can also call 614-338-4781

12. Locating Opportunities • Vendor Registration • City of Columbus • Columbus City Schools • Columbus Regional Airport Authority • Ohio State University • Franklin County • State of Ohio

13. Locating Opportunities • UNSPSC Codes, NAICS, and NIGP Commodity Codes are incredibly important! • For a variety of opportunities, including Federal, use the Procurement Technical Assistance Center’s (PTAC) Bid Matching Service • Supplier Connection can be used to enter the private market! • Think hyper-local! Suburbs, towns and villages all have budgets and need goods/services too!

14. Minority/Disadvantaged Businesses • Columbus City Schools LEDE • City of Columbus MBE/FBE/HBE/ABE • State of Ohio Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) & Encouraging Diversity (EDGE), administered by DAS • Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, administered by ODOT

15. Tips to Remember • Complete your vendor registrations, AND your Capability Statement! • Contact Procurement Officers in the area you’d like to contract. • Choose your codes wisely! • Make all efforts to be able to accept credit card payments.

16. Tools to Use • Outreach Officers at agencies • State Procurement Contacts • DAS Procurement Managers • Agency Procurement Officers • Agency MBE/EDGE EEO Officers (Updated 3-29-13) • UNSPSC Introduction & Overview Webinar • The MBACs and our Sister Centers!

17. Questions? To schedule an appointment to discuss contracting with the state, please call (614) 252-8005 To view more information about COMBA and the MBAC, click on the logos below!