Meet the Buyer event to help Detroit based, minority owned, small businesses connect with city purchasers

It's a chance to connect and network with City procurement specialist. The City of Detroit's Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) is hosting its Third Annual Meet the Buyer Procurement forum, an interactive event that will connect buyers from various City departments with local vendors and suppliers. The event is part of a continued effort by OCP to outreach to Detroit-based, minority owned and small businesses.

Meet the Buyer is a free, in-person event 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Monday, November 25 in the 13thfloor Erma L. Henderson Auditorium at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC).

Those attending are required to register here.

One objective of this event is to help small businesses understand and ask questions about the governmental procurement processes, connect with City procurement buyers, and get information on the latest open bid opportunities. There are dozens of open bid opportunities related to the goods and services provided by City government. Attendees will have a chance to speak one-on-one with procurement specialists, set up an Oracle profile and register as a supplier if they aren't already.

"We are excited to offer this third Meet the Buyer event to give businesses a chance to interact face-to-face with our City department buyers. All are welcome, especially our small, minority-owned Detroit-based businesses who may be unfamiliar with our procurement processes," said Sandra Yu Stahl, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Chief Procurement Officer.

"This is a great opportunity for businesses to ask questions about specific bids, connect with buyers from various departments and even register as a vendor with the City. This is part of our ongoing effort to connect with small, minority-owned, Detroit based businesses to make them aware of all the bid opportunities across City departments," said LaTonia Stewart-Limmitt, Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Contracting and Procurement.

Some current open bids include:

• Court Reporting & Transcription Services

• City Council Promotional Novelty & Apparel Items

• Construction and Demolition Department - plumbing supplies

• Denby-Whittier Neighborhood Framework Study and Implementation Plan

See details about these and other bids on the Office of Contracting and Procurement's website.

Businesses with questions should contact Ciarra Williams at [email protected].

Attendees should register HEREto attend.