UofM Inviting Small Businesses to Oct. 9 Seminar  

‘How to Do Business’ to Open Doors to Procurement Process 

October 1 —The University of Memphis Office of Procurement and Contract Services is inviting small businesses in and around the Memphis area to a ‘How to Do Business’ seminar next Wednesday, Oct. 9, on the UofM campus. 

The seminar, which takes place from 9 a.m.-Noon, on the third floor of the Maxine A. Smith University Center, is aimed at providing insight and resources to demystify the procurement process, which has often been thought to take a significant effort to pull off but in reality can be started live on site Oct. 9 just by providing W-9 forms. 

“We are holding this seminar to provide opportunities for the local community to engage with the University of Memphis in a meaningful and substantive way,” said Nick Pappas, executive director of Procurement and Contract Services. “This won’t be an isolated event but part of a continuum that we will offer. We are in the business of creating partnerships.” 

Representatives from the UofM departments of Information Technology Services, Campus Planning & Design and the Physical Plant will be available, providing the necessary requirements for bidding, what the UofM purchases and how to register in the Tiger Buy system. Break-out sessions will take place for each of these three areas, which is what makes this seminar different from typical general vendor fairs. 

There will also be resources available for how to obtain bonding, insurance and capital, with a specific focus on small and minority owned businesses.  

To register for the seminar, which includes continental breakfast starting at 8 a.m., visit https://memphis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Tx4Grh9kUAEzGK. 

For questions, contact Patrick Woods at pdwoods@memphis.edu or 901.678.3755.  

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MEDIA CONTACT: 
Jennifer Godwin 
Director of Media and Public Relations 
jennifer.godwin@memphis.edu 
(O) 901.678.4822 (M) 501.529.7482