Government agencies to be at vendor fair
Vendors interested in doing business with government agencies should not miss the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials Reverse Vendor Fair Trade Show from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Holiday Inn, 860 W. Irving Park Road, Itasca.
More than 35 government agencies will provide all of the "how-to" information needed for vendors to compete for agency business.
Vendor fair organizers will present contract opportunities, introduce business leaders to agency procurement personnel and provide networking opportunities during the event.
At this Reverse Vendor Fair, vendors will have the opportunity to switch places with government agencies and gain a chance to ask the questions they want to ask. The overall outcome should be to build a business relationship with vendors that can result in better service, better communications and better prices.
To date, committed participating local government agencies include representatives from the city of Elgin and the McHenry County procurement and the Division of Transportation.
All participating agencies will be listed in the participant's directory to be given to each vendor and attendees at the fall conference. For the following fee structure, a vendor company can make more than over 35 sales calls in a matter of hours: $200 for 1 person; $275 for two people; $325 for three people; and $25 each additional person.
Admittance fee includes a directory and access to the trade show to browse the tables/displays provided and manned by governmental purchasing entities. Complimentary refreshments will be available during the day, and a free lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Vendor registration: Visit www.iappo.org, download the Reverse Vendor Fair vendor registration form and send your check to the IAPPO RVF Event Chair, IAPPO President Larry Widmer at NWMC, 1616 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Vendors may also call Widmer for details at (847) 296-9200, ext. 28, or e-mail at lwidmer@nwmc-cog.org with any questions.
The Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials Inc., www.IAPPO.org, is a chapter of the National Institute of Govermnental Purchasing. It is a nonprofit organization made up of public purchasing officials throughout the state of Illinois.
Its membership includes representatives from state and local government, as well as special districts and public education agencies who are concerned with professionalism and continuing education in the purchasing profession.
IAPPO, which was chartered Oct. 26, 1977, with a membership of nine, has grown to more than 300 members at present.