New Program Helps Small Businesses Sell Goods and Services to California Community Colleges
April 7, 2005

Contracting with California Community Colleges - Featuring Los Rios Community College District (LRCCD), the first of a series of three prototype courses for small businesses interested in becoming vendors for the district, and the statewide community colleges, was held on March 29, 2005 in Sacramento. Thirty two small businesses participated in the class held at the Sacramento Employee Training Agency (SETA) facility at 925 Del Paso Blvd. where they learned about the purchasing process and networked with LRCCD purchasing staff. The additional courses featuring Los Rios Community College District are scheduled at SETA on April 25, 2005 and May 24, 2005.

“We want small business vendors,” Bill Silvia, Director, General Services, Los Rios Community College District, tells attendees at the March 29 seminar.

The California Community College System is the largest system of higher education in the world. The system has over 2.5 million students, 109 colleges and 72 districts. The system spends over $750 million annually on goods, services and construction. Purchasing is handled independently by each district and in some cases, each college. Therefore, it is important that California small businesses become knowledgeable of the community college purchasing process and responsive to bid requests so they can win competitive bids.

"If we can spend our tax dollars with California small businesses, our state gets added economic benefit," according to Walter Di Mantova, Director, Contract Education and Economic Development, LRCCD.

The Contracting with California Community Colleges 18-month project is made possible by an Industry Driven Regional Collaborative grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Through this project, Los Rios Community College District and the Greater Sacramento Small Business Development Center, in partnership with The Federal Technology Center, are working to increase the capability of small businesses to provide goods and services to California’s community colleges. The goals of this program include increasing competition, saving procurement dollars and enhancing California’s economy by using cost effective and responsive California small businesses. The program includes small business training and counseling on the community college procurement processes and contracting opportunities throughout California.

In August 2005 - May 2006 the Contracting with Community College courses will be offered at various SBDCs statewide. Additionally, procurement counselors from The FTC will provide free one-on-one procurement technical assistance to small business people interested in selling to the Community College System and other government organizations. To schedule a counseling session with one of The FTC procurement counselors, please call (866) 382-7822 toll-free or (916) 334-9388.

For more information, contact:
Dean Eppley
Director, Plans & Special Projects
The Federal Technology Center
4600 Roseville Road, Suite 100
North Highlands, CA 95660
916-334-9388 phone
916-334-9078 fax
866-382-7822 toll-free
Dean@TheFTC.org

Trish Caldwell, Ph.D.
Project Manager
Business and Economic Development Center
Los Rios Community College District
1410 Ethan Way
Sacramento, CA 95825-2205
916-563-3251 phone
916-563-3270 fax
caldwet@losrios.edu