City Taps Technology to Broaden Vendor Reach, Increase Competition
City Taps Technology to Broaden Vendor Reach, Increase Competition
The City of Philadelphia has long sought improved methods to increase bid competition and publicize contracting opportunities among small and minority-owned businesses. Recognizing that the Internet offered lower cost methods of reaching greater numbers of vendors, the city sought a technology solution to tap the Internet and achieve its procurement goals.
William Gambell, the city’s procurement commissioner, looked to Seattle-based Onvia for assistance.
The company collects current and historical procurement data from 65,000 government agencies nationwide, and makes it available to 17,000 subscribers, many of which are small businesses. The company-maintained database has amassed more than 2 million procurement records in its seven-year history. Onvia sends data about the most current procurement opportunities to its subscribers daily, based on their specialties and geographic interests.
“The City of Philadelphia welcomes bids from all qualified vendors, and the increased bid competition resulting from QuoteWire will bring us new business opportunities with companies of all sizes,” says Gambell.
