Get in Line: Municipalities open for business

Business owners will have the opportunity next month to meet with dozens of local municipalities to learn about the bidding process for the sale of products and services.

Purchasing officials with the city of Springfield, Greene County, Springfield Public Schools, Ozarks Technical Community College and the city of Nixa will be seeking sellers of goods and services, as well as contractors, at an Osage Beach event hosted by the Missouri Association of Public Purchasing.

For example, Springfield’s purchasing division procures some $50 million in services per year ranging from audit services and automobiles to police gear, mowing work and fitness equipment, according to the city’s website.

MAPP Secretary Kara Daniel, who also works as a buyer for Springfield, said the event will give business owners information about how they can submit bids to municipalities.

“Really, the whole premise is to help vendors do business with governmental entities,” she said, calling the event a “reverse vendor fair” because the agencies will operate booths instead of the businesses. “The goal is put ourselves out there to help vendors.”

Ideally, Daniel said the event would increase Springfield’s database of businesses notified when a bid goes out.

Twenty-seven organizations have signed on for the April 20 event that coincides with MAPP’s annual state conference at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. MAPP is seeking 50-100 agencies to participate.


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