Procurement & Supplier Diversity Services, U.Va.

 

 

We hope you enjoyed VASCUPP's Fall SWaM newsletter (archived here), and that you learned information about some of our member institutions that will help you in your future business dealings.

In this issue of Supplier Diversity News you will learn about recent minority-owned business successes in construction at VCU, cash flow practices from UVA, and construction activities at JMU. Also featured are some helpful hints on seeking business from public institutions of higher education, as well as a report from October's SWaMFest IV, hosted by Old Dominion University.

From all of us at VASCUPP, we wish you and yours all the best in the New Year!

VCU utilizes Construction Management (CM) At Risk for procuring construction services on certain projects. This procurement method has enabled VCU to select minority firms that are qualified to perform the construction services.  In the recent past, two projects were awarded to a minority-owned firm based in Richmond, Virginia: Prestige Construction Group. 

 

Troubling news about the potential impact of the current economy on small businesses is everywhere these days, but you can't let yourself get caught like a deer in the headlights. Vince Lombardi once said, "It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever--the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it."
What can you do to keep your business running during tough economic times?
 

James Madison University has been working hard in the area of Supplier Diversity for the past few years.  The efforts, however, have been primarily focused on typical goods and services purchased by the university.  As have most institutions with large construction projects, we have realized our bottom line numbers relating to supplier diversity are not going to move significantly if we don't have SWaM vendors on our construction projects. 

 

The following 5 tips come from David Gewirtz, Editor-in-Chief of ZATZ Publishing (www.zatz.com):

 

1) If your business is slow, use the time to work on your infrastructure.
 

 A Request for Proposal for CM at Risk for the James Madison University new Bio-Technology Building is expected to be released in late January, 2009.  Please check for this solicitation through the Virginia Business Opportunities (VBO) section of the eVA Procurement System (http://eva.state.va.us).  If you would like the RFP emailed directly to you, please send an email request to:  askeva@jmu.edu.  This construction project is one of several capital projects for James Madison University included in the 2008 Higher Educational Bond Package.  This project offers great opportunities for minority and woman owned subcontractors.  Please plan to attend the mandatory pre-bid for this project to fully understand the size, scope and opportunities that may exist.  The date for the pre-bid will be announced through the Request for Proposal document.