[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: City Purchasing switches to free eProcurement system

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marilyn Starke
Purchasing Agent
(573) 874-7687


City Purchasing switches to free eProcurement system

COLUMBIA, MO (January 25, 2012) - The City of Columbia Purchasing Division announces a cost-saving move and new partnership with Public Purchase, a Web-based eProcurement service. In order to continue to receive bid notifications for the city, existing vendors and new vendors will need to register on the new website.

Public Purchase provides to government agencies and their vendors the most comprehensive and easy to use Web-based eProcurement system available. The Public Purchase eProcurement system was designed exclusively for use by government agencies and their vendors. It is compliant with all federal and state regulations which set forth the required procedures for City of Columbia Purchasing and is free to vendors and to the city. In addition, Public Purchase gives vendors access to bid opportunities with other government entities. All of this is provided at no charge to vendors or the city. This move will save the city in excess of $14,000 annually.

For the last six years, the Division of Purchasing has utilized an eProcurement, Web-based system called Ionwave. This system allowed the city to modernize its bid process and accept electronic bids. Over the years, other companies emerged offering eProcurement services and Public Purchase is one of those firms. The advantage of Public Purchase is that the service is free to the city and to the vendors.  Vendors can pay a fee for additional services if they choose, but viewing and bidding on Columbia goods and services is completely free. The purchasing agent, Marilyn Starke, learned about Public Purchase while attending the national purchasing conference last year in National Harbor, Maryland.

City vendors received their first email notifications of this change yesterday and will continue to receive notices weekly through February. City bids will be placed on the new system beginning March 1 and services with lonwave will end April 1. Training sessions will be offered to the public several times in February to ensure a smooth transition to the new service. Additionally, vendors will be asked to participate in test bids in the coming weeks to practice before the system goes live.

Registration is a two part process, and bidders may register on the new system at any time by following this link: http://www.publicpurchase.com/gems/columbia,mo/browse/home. After the initial registration on Public Purchase, a short registration specifically for Columbia can be done at this link: http://www.publicpurchase.com/columbia,mo. Other Missouri municipalities have or are in the process of migrating to Public Purchase as well, such as Lee's Summit, Kansas City and Independence. Olathe, Kansas, has utilized the system for almost two years and found it to work very successfully.


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