Contract Procurement

Sam Updike, DBE Supportive Services Specialist

Contracting with the government can be a daunting experience. It is difficult to know where to begin, which is why DBE Supportive Services is here to help! Our contract procurement services help businesses identify Request for Proposals and Bid opportunities that apply to their business. This month’s newsletter will focus on the benefits of creating a Bid Match profile, and how to best get started.

The first step in the Bid Match process is the creation of your profile. A description of your business is needed to identify the correct government opportunities. To accurately describe the work that your business performs, a combination of NAICS codes and key words are used to filter through the opportunities becoming available. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by the federal government to categorize industries and to identify the activities that a business participates in. Your search can also be narrowed by specifying the states you wish to work in.

Once your profile has been created, you will begin receiving emails informing you about new “articles” that fit the set parameters. These articles are new RFPs, Bids, or small business set asides that are based on the description you created for your business. Not only is this a chance to compete for these opportunities, but it also gives businesses a look at their competition. Knowing what a winning bid looks like will tell you if your business is able to compete for these contracts. It is a great idea to reach out to winning bidders to see if they need to subcontract any of the work they were awarded.

With the right tools and resources, contracting with the government can become an exciting and rewarding opportunity for your business. By setting up a Bid Match profile, you’ll ensure you never miss an opportunity that aligns with your expertise. DBE Supportive Services is here to guide you every step of the way. If you're ready to get started, reach out to DBESS Specialist Sam Updike at supdike@emdc.org.

Come Join Us!

February Luncheon & Tour of Precast Maine

February 26th, 2025

11:30am-1:00pm

Precast of Maine 139 Main St, Topsham, ME

More info here

Join the National Association of Women in Construction for a tour of the Precast of Maine facility in Topsham for a luncheon meeting. We will have the tour followed by a lunch and membership meeting. For those attending the tour you will need to bring PPE; Vest, hard hat, hard toe ankle shoes, safety glasses, sturdy pants and shirts with sleeves!

Spokeswomen Winter 2025

February 25th to April 15th, 2025

4:00pm-6:00pm

Online

More info here



Spokeswomen is a facilitated peer group designed to help female entrepreneurs become more persuasive and effective communicators for a wide range of situations. Through this highly interactive 8-week online program, participants will gain clarity and develop their own personal style of speaking about their business. Each session is an opportunity to practice storytelling through a range of speaking scenarios, all with a supportive sounding board of female entrepreneurs who provide feedback and encouragement. Spokeswoman Winter 2025 is a transformative experience for female entrepreneurs to hone their communication skills, boost their confidence, and connect with like-minded individuals.