Caltrans North Region Virtual Procurement Fair 

Caltrans Districts 1, 2, and 3 invite you to attend the Caltrans NR Virtual Procurement Fair. This outreach will consist of a series of daily trainings and presentations allowing Department procurement officers and small business vendors to connect. D1, D2 and D3 will be honoring priority purchasing for all attendees for 90 days after the fair.

Day 1  11/10/20 

• Session  1 – 10:00AM – 12:00PM Learn how to do Business with Caltrans & Getting the Most Out of Your Procurement Fair

This session will educate businesses on how they can work with Caltrans under 10,000 dollars when Caltrans uses fair & reasonable purchasing method and a Visa card (CAL-Card) as a payment method. If we are doing business over 10,000 dollars, the business would be paid by a PO from HQ. They will also learn some of the types of commodities and services Caltrans purchases. They will also learn how to become a preferred bidder by obtaining the states free small business and disabled veterans’ business free certification.  Businesses will also learn tips on how to make the most of their time meeting with departmental buyers, advice on how best to present themselves and share info that purchasers really care about and set themselves apart from the competition.

Day 2  11/12/20  Meet the Buyers from Districts 1, 2 & 3 (Eureka, Redding and Marysville) 

During these sessions, businesses will have the opportunity to meet buyers from all Caltrans districts in North Region and learn about their purchasing needs, the goods and services they most often procure, and about the upcoming bid opportunities they are looking for.  A Q&A panel will follow presentations by the buyers.

• Session 2 - 10:00AM – 11:00AM - Session for Administration & Planning Divisions - Office supplies, trainings, software, & janitorial supplies, MRO supplies 

• Session 3 - 1:00PM – 2:00PM - Session for MTC & Traffic Divisions – Radar gun & charger, cables, concrete stakes, electronics, surge protectors, batteries, screws, tape, grease, digital devices, adapters, ports, decals, Trimble Radio Claw 

Day 3  11/17/20 Meet the Buyers from Districts 1, 2 & 3 (Eureka, Redding and Marysville) 

• Session 4 - 10:00AM – 11:00AM - Session for Warehouse & Facilities Division – Tools, gloves, paint, cleaning supplies, screws, light bulbs, batteries  

• Session 5 - 1:00PM– 2:00PM - Session for IT Procurement Division – Hardware, software, licenses, peripherals, toner, copiers, scanners, support services

Day 4  11/18/20 

• Session 6- 10:00AM – 11:30AM - “How to do Business with the State of California” Office of Small Business and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (OSDS)

In this session, OSDS staff will discuss how small businesses and businesses owned by disabled veterans can apply for certification to become preferred sellers in contracting with departments and agencies of the State of California. Topics will include:

• Requirements and benefits of state certification
• Registering and listing your business on Caleprocure to get contacted and solicited for work by the state’s buyers
• Using keywords and UNSPSC codes to list what products and services your business offers
• Finding competitive solicitations to bid on at caleprocure.ca.gov
• How to conduct research on what departments buy your business’s products and services
• Contacting SB/DVBE Advocates – employees in the state who can assist your business in working with their department
• How to ensure your business meets the requirement to perform a Commercially Useful Function (CUF)

At the end information will also be given about the Caltrans DBE Federal certification and where they can learn more about applying for this.

Day 5  11/19/20 

• Session 7 - 10:00AM – 11:30AM - Meet Small Business Advocates from Caltrans and Other Government Agencies 

In this session businesses will have the opportunity to meet small business advocates from Caltrans and approximately 12-15 other State & local agencies. These advocates will provide a brief intro on how they may assist businesses pursue possible procurement opportunities and the types of commodities and services their agencies purchase. This is an opportunity to meet small business advocates who represent state government agencies and gain a contact for possible future business opportunities.

Register Now!