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Small local businesses may think they have no chance at beating out big corporations for lucrative government contracts.

But that’s just not so!

Alandas Dobbins is with the Memphis Office of Resources and Enterprise.

She’s joined by Purchasing Agent, Eric Mayse .

 

  • City of Memphis
  • Vendor Fair
  • Wednesday     9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • LeMoyne-Owen
  • Renaissance Center
  • (901) 544-1848

 

4 Steps to Winning A Bid With City Government If You Are A Small Business

 

1.      Get Registered as a Supplier

a.      Visit http://www.memphistn.gov/  and click on “Supplier Registration”

b.      Submit W-9 form to Purchasing Dept.

c.       Choose Commodity Codes that fit your business

 

2.      Get Notified – Locate Applicable RFQs/RFPs

a.      Receive automatic email notifications based on your registration

b.      Utilize new RFP/RFQ web tool to find relevant bids

 

3.      Get Certified as a Small Business and/or a Minority/Woman-owned Business Enterprise

a.      Obtain certification as a Small Business

i.      MMBC provide Small Business certification for a $300 fee

b.      Obtain certification as a Minority and/or Woman-owned Business Enterprise, if applicable

i.      TSMDC provides Minority certification; Fee = $300

ii.      WBENC provides Woman-owned Business Enterprise certification; Fee = $350

 

4.      Get In the Game – Prepare and Submit the Bid

a.      Conduct pre-bid research

i.      Review bid specifications and requirements

ii.      Utilize Open Records Requests to get pricing information and bid strategy of the current contract holder.

b.      Attend all pre-bid meetings, whether mandatory or not

c.       Complete the bid package correctly and on time.