To recognize Small Business Month in May, the Montgomery County Office of Procurement is launching a new web-based service to connect vendors with County departments. The Vendor Innovation Portal (VIP) will allow businesses to introduce their company and connect with contacts in the County that could best utilize their goods or services.
The initiative is a positive step in encouraging innovation and finding best value solutions to the challenges faced in government purchasing. Vendors can access the portal at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/PRO/vendor-resources/VIP.html.
“Vendors frequently contact me with innovative ideas that would not only improve outcomes like environmental impact, but they could also save the County money.” said Chief Procurement Officer and Office of Procurement Director Ash Shetty. “The Vendor Innovation Portal provides more opportunities for businesses in our supply pool to communicate directly with the relevant County departments.”
The Office of Procurement has created several recent initiatives to help small businesses. As of April 1, the director designated all informal solicitations under the Local Small Business Reserve Program.
The Local Business Preference Program (LBPP) went into effect in August 2020. LBPP requires a 10 percent price preference for a local business bidding on an Invitation for Bid or an evaluation factor worth 10 percent of the total points for a local business submitting a proposal under an RFP for a contract awarded by the County.
To learn more about all of the local business programs, visit the Procurement website www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pro.
