Entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in selling products or providing services to the Miami-Dade government have several opportunities in October to learn how to navigate the county's contracting system.
The Miami-Dade Strategic Procurement Department is running its Vendor Academy, a program that provides training on vendor registration, contracting processes, and the use of the electronic portal INFORMS.
The October agenda includes a vendor onboarding session on October 9, another for networking and opportunities with County departments on October 16, and a specific virtual workshop on how to do business with Miami-Dade on October 29.
First opportunity: Vendor Onboarding on October 9th
The next Vendor Onboarding session is scheduled for Friday, October 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
These sessions are designed to explain the various procurement processes used by Miami-Dade and to guide businesses in navigating the INFORMS electronic portal.
The County advises that the schedule for these activities may be subject to change, so those interested should check the updated information on the Vendor Academy page before participating.
Another day to explore contract opportunities
The calendar also includes a Vendor Matchmaking event on Friday October 16th, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
These sessions provide an introduction to the benefits of working as a Miami-Dade supplier and the contracting opportunities available with various County departments.
The goal is to connect local businesses with the public procurement system and facilitate access to the resources that can help them compete for contracts.
Virtual workshop to learn the entire process
The most comprehensive activity of the month is scheduled for October 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., under the name Doing Business with Miami-Dade County.
According to Miami-Dade, the workshop will explain the benefits of doing business with the County, the vendor registration process, and how to navigate the e-Supplier portal, including submitting bids.
The activity is featured in the official calendar of virtual workshops and provides a registration link from the Vendor Academy page.
How can a company start selling to Miami-Dade?
The first step is to use the County's vendor system.
Miami-Dade manages its electronic purchasing processes through the INFORMS Supplier Portal, where companies can register and check contracting opportunities.
The system allows users to search for tenders, submit bids electronically, and manage supplier information.
Miami-Dade states that a company must be fully registered before it can formalize a contract or receive an award from the County.
The use of the INFORMS electronic system is free for suppliers.
What information does the registry require?
The registration process begins with basic information about the company, such as its legal name, tax identification number, address, and contact details.
To complete the process, depending on the situation of each company, documents such as the local business tax receipt if the business has a physical address in Miami-Dade, company formation documents, the W-9 form, and IRS documentation confirming the trade name and tax identification number may be required.
The County also recommends keeping the business profile up to date and correctly selecting the categories of goods or services offered, as this information is used to communicate contracting opportunities to potential suppliers.
What types of contracts does Miami-Dade offer?
The County uses different procedures to purchase products and contract services.
One of the most common is the Invitation to Bid (ITB), where price usually holds primary importance. There are also processes such as Request for Proposals (RFP) and Request for Qualifications (RFQ), where factors like experience, methodology, technical ability, and company background can be evaluated.
Businesses can review both open opportunities and planned processes for the future from the Miami-Dade procurement platforms.
An alternative for businesses seeking new revenue
The events arrive at a particularly challenging time for many small businesses in South Florida.
Accessing the public procurement market does not guarantee the acquisition of a contract, but it represents another avenue that small businesses interested in diversifying their clientele can explore.
Miami-Dade also provides training resources throughout the year to explain registration, small business certifications, contracting rules, and how the INFORMS system operates.
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