Contact Office of Business Opportunities at 803.545.3950; [email protected]
Contractor & Supplier Diversity
Provides training and support for city initiatives designed to increase local contractor’s capacity to compete for government contracts and other procurement opportunities. We are also responsible for the implementation of the City’s Disparity Study Goals and Objectives. Programs include: Sub-Contractor Outreach; Mentor Protégé; Local Business Enterprise; Columbia Disadvantage Business Enterprise; and Construction Management Training.
Minority Business Opportunity Conference 2018: Wednesday, April 4, 2018
City Held Third Minority Business Opportunity Conference
On Wednesday, April 4, the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities held its third Minority Business Opportunity Conference (Minority BOC) at the Venue on Main. Minority business owners had the opportunity to learn about City efforts to grow the number of companies that they make routine and emergency purchases from. Participants heard from City leaders, learned about the City’s procurement procedures & special programs, and met with City department staff that make purchasing decisions.
Melissa Lindler, Office of Business Opportunities director said, “The purpose of the Minority BOC was to support our Diversity Strategy by providing small businesses and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) with an opportunity to introduce their various products and services while directly interacting with City departments and key purchasing officials to learn more about the City’s procurement process.”
During the Minority BOC, 15 City departments met with over 75 local minority business owners. These owners were able to learn what each City department needed and then discuss products and/or services they are able to provide.
Utilities & Engineering, Public Works, Information Technology, Parks and Recreation and Public Relations were some of the departments in attendance. The services that local businesses offered varied greatly and some of those categories were janitorial services, advertising/marketing, construction, printing, environmental testing, landscaping, consulting, training and catering.
Participants were also given resource guides and other helpful information on available programs/resources that are accessible to them through the Office of Business Opportunities.
The Minority Business Opportunity Conference relates to the City Council’s Envision Columbia Vision Statement focus areas and goals:
•Focus area #1: Attracting & Retaining Talent
•Focus area #5: Economic Prosperity Endless Possibilities
•Focus area #7: Leading the Way in Innovative & High Quality Municipal Services
•Goal #1: Grow opportunities for entrepreneurship, business development and a skilled workforce to achieve a healthy economy.
•Goal #4: Collaborate and partner with entities within the Midlands region to become the state’s prime destination for residents, visitors and businesses.
•Goal #5: Provide high quality municipal services, efficiently, effectively and responsively.
For more information, please contact the Office of Business Opportunities at (803) 545-3950.
Contact: [email protected] or call: 803.545.3049 or 803.545.4185
Contractors! Apply NOW for Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) Status!
Is your business:
1) Located within the Columbia-Orangeburg-Newberry Combined Statistical Area (CSA)
2) A Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Below are the City's CDBE Policy and Program Guidelines.
Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Utilization Policy
Commercial Non-Discrimination and Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) Utilization Policy
NOW AVAILABLE:
Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) Program Guidelines
That's all it takes to qualify for CDBE Status - it's that simple!
Below are links to the CDBE Application Form and current CDBE and DBE Directories:
CDBE Application Form
CDBE Directory - Registered Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Columbia ONLY)
DBE Directory - Registered Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Outside of Columbia ONLY)
eBID NOW AVAILABLE
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL POTENTIAL BIDDERS: Please remember to register for the City's new eProcurement System. All current and new City of Columbia bidders should be registered in the new system.
Please click here to register and/or to review Bid Opportunities: www.columbiasc.ionwave.net
Contact Office of Business Opportunities at 803.545.3950
Photographs by Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee; Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
