Small businesses interested in selling supplies or services to the California Community College System can now takeContracting with California Community Colleges Online Course, a free, self-paced, interactive online class to learn how to contract with the largest system of higher education in the world. The California Community College System has over 2.5 million students, 109 colleges and 72 districts. The system spends over $750 million annually on supplies, services and construction. Purchasing is handled independently by each district and in some cases, each college. In order to be able to win competitive bids, small businesses are encouraged to become knowledgeable about the various community college purchasing processes and procedures and how to be responsive to bid requests.

Contracting with California Community Colleges , brought to you by the California Community Colleges Economic & Workforce Development Program, The Federal Technology Center (The FTC) and the California Small Business Development Program, provides free small business training and counseling on how to sell products or services to California’s community colleges. This program is made possible by an Industry Driven Regional Collaborative (IDRC) grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Through this project, the Los Rios Community College District and the Greater Sacramento Small Business Development Center, in partnership with The Federal Technology Center, are working to provide free training and counseling related to the California community college procurement processes and contracting opportunities.

In addition to the new Contracting with California Community Colleges Online Course, regional in-person classes and one-on-one counseling sessions are scheduled in Cupertino, Walnut, San Diego, Oakland, Hawthorne, and Riverside. These classes are hosted by Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) throughout the state and taught by Instructors/Counselors from The Federal Technology Center (The FTC). Participants can learn about California community college procurement processes and contracting opportunities, network with regional community college purchasing staff, and obtain information about the services of the SBDC.

To enroll in the free online course or view upcoming course dates and locations, small businesses can go online to www.communitycollegecontracting.net. For one-on-one-counseling regarding contracting policy and procedures, strategies for marketing to community colleges, solicitation and proposal reviews, and contract administration assistance, small businesses can contact The FTC at (866) 382-7822 toll-free.