Business vendors invited to City of Sarasota vendor forum

Event set for Nov. 9; Oct. 31 the deadline to RSVP

Sarasota City Hall is on First Street in downtown Sarasota. File photo
Sarasota City Hall is on First Street in downtown Sarasota. File photo

Vendors interested in doing business with the City of Sarasota are invited to attend an informational Vendor Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., the city has announced.

Representatives of the city’s Purchasing Division will discuss proposed measures to streamline the city’s procurement process, so doing business with the city will become more efficient, a news release says.

The forum’s location will be decided on the basis of the number of vendors interested in attending the event, the release points out. No fee will be charged for participation, the release adds. Individuals are asked to RSVP by the end of business on Monday, Oct. 31. To RSVP click here.

“This will be a meet-and-greet where we can talk with vendors,” said Purchasing General Manager David Boswell in the release. “We’d like to share plans we have in the works to make the process less bureaucratic. That includes reducing the number of original copies required for an executed contract, streamlining how some change orders are handled and other procedures,” he added in the release.

The procurement process ranges from purchasing office supplies to contracting for architectural services and construction engineering, the release explains. “Observing and adhering to State of Florida government procurement laws can be complex,” the release points out.

Approximately 1,800 vendors have downloaded information about doing business with the City of Sarasota, the release notes.

“Anyone who currently is doing business with the City of Sarasota or would like to in the future should attend this forum,” Boswell said in the release. “We’re committed to making this the best procurement operation it can be for businesses and for the city.”

The Procurement Division plans to hold vendor forums at least once a quarter, the release adds.