FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Missouri Association of Public Purchasing (MAPP) will host a "reverse vendor fair" and two workshops in conjunction with its annual state conference Thursday, May 14 at University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. Vendors will have the opportunity to meet with City of Springfield Division of Purchases, Greene County, City Utilities of Springfield, Springfield Public Schools, MoDOT, Missouri Department of Corrections and other state, county and municipal agencies. “We are calling this a 'reverse vendor fair' because this time, it’s the public agencies that will have display booths, allowing vendors to introduce themselves and their products or services,” says City of Springfield Buyer and Surplus Coordinator Kara Daniel. “This is a great opportunity for vendors throughout the state to have access to multiple public entities in one location.” The following agencies have signed up to be at the fair:
- MoDOT
- Missouri Department of Corrections
- Missouri Division of Purchasing and Materials Management
- Missouri Judiciary
- Missouri Office of Equal Opportunity
- Missouri Veterans Commission
- Missouri State University
- Ozarks Technical Community College
- City of Columbia
- City of Springfield
- City of Nixa
- City of Independence
- City Utilities of Springfield
- Springfield Public Schools
- Greene County
- Boone County.
Daniel said MAPP hopes 50 to 100 agencies will have a presence at the fair. Registration is $110 per vendor and $25 for each additional attendee until March 20 and includes a boxed lunch and two vendor workshops: “Selling to Government,” presented by Allen Waldo with Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, and “How to Become M/WBE Certified,” by Celeste Metcalf of the Missouri Office of Equal Opportunity. After March 20, rates are $125 per vendor and $30 for each additional attendee. For more information, please contact Todd Cox, buyer, City of Springfield Division of Purchases, at 417-864-1708 or tcox@springfieldmo.gov.