Selling to the Government

| 5/26/2008

» MyFloridaMarketPlace

The state of Florida’s eProcurement system, MyFloridaMarketPlace, is designed to streamline transactions between vendors and state government entities that purchase goods and services. Businesses register online. Also businesses that want to apply for minority business enterprise (MBE) certification can do so as part of the online registration process.

As of Jan. 1, 2008, more than 94,000 vendors, including 31,000 minority vendors, had registered with MyFloridaMarketPlace, which is part of the Florida Department of Management Services. And 30 state agencies using the system had placed 529,000 purchase orders and spent $4.5 billion.

» Help for Women and Minorities

• Women’s Business Centers
This nationwide network of centers, which are partly sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, helps women start and run successful businesses.

• WomenBiz.gov
The National Women’s Business Council, a bipartisan federal advisory group, sponsors this site. It is designed to help women-owned businesses sell to the federal government.

Resources MyFloridaMarketplace.com dms.myflorida.com (866) 352-3776 Office of Supplier Diversity osd.dms.state.fl.us (850) 487-0915 Women’s Business Centers Delray Beach - flwbc.org (561) 265-3790 Jacksonville - jaxwbc.com (904) 924-1100, ext. 252 Orlando - allianceflorida.com (407) 428-5860 WomenBiz.gov womenbiz.gov Florida Black Business Investment Corporations Tallahassee (850) 224-1800 Daytona Beach (386) 258-7520 Fort Lauderdale (954) 587-3755 Jacksonville (904) 634-0543 Miami (305) 693-3550 Orlando (407) 649-4780 Tampa/St. Petersburg (813) 274-7925 or (727) 826-5785 West Palm Beach (561) 845-8055 Hispanic Business Initiative Fund Orlando - hbiforl.org (407) 428-5872 Tampa - hbiftampa.org (813) 980-2765,

• Florida Black Business Investment Corporations
This consortium of eight regional organizations provides financial and technical assistance to African-American-owned and other minority businesses. The BBIC helps to finance startups and expansions. Financing typically ranges from $50,000 to $300,000.

• Additional assistance
Other entities that can provide helpful information for Florida’s minority-owned businesses include the Black Business Investment Board, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund (with offices in Tampa and Orlando) and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network.

Florida’s web-based purchasing system gives small businesses instant access to information on government contracts.

Tags: Florida Small Business, Politics & Law, Government/Politics & Law