In an attempt to attract a more diverse and comprehensive group of potential vendors and suppliers for providing it with goods and services, the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) has joined the Georgia Purchasing Group – a regional purchasing group that helps local governments and authorities post, distribute, and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs), quotes, addendums and bid awards online.
Bidnet Direct’s Georgia Purchasing Group provides notification to registered vendors of new, relevant bids and solicitations, as well as any addenda and award information, from the 22 participating agencies from across Georgia – a list that now includes the HCWA.
According to HCWA officials, the Authority welcomes all potential vendors to register online at www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/henrycountywaterauthority for better access to upcoming opportunities for doing business with the utility – and other public entities in Georgia.
Since joining the Georgia Purchasing Group this spring, the HCWA has become one of the latest participating local government agencies utilizing this system to streamline purchasing. The Georgia Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities, while providing local governments, authorities, and agencies in Georgia a method to minimize costs and time delays associated with the procurement process.
The HCWA now has access to an extensive, expanded vendor pool, thereby enhancing competition without increasing distribution costs. The Georgia Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeting their industry, all addenda associated with those bids, and advance notice of term contract expiration. A robust National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) code category list allows registered vendors the ability to find correct, relevant codes and receive matched opportunities to bid.
“By using the Georgia Purchasing Group, our valued vendors can now access not only our open bids, but those from other municipalities, counties and school districts throughout the state,” says Jeff Allen, HCWA Purchasing and Inventory Manager. “In addition to the time savings we anticipate, our vendors also will benefit from registering in one location for access to all local bid opportunities. We invite all our current vendors to register.”
In addition to joining Bidnet Direct’s Georgia Purchasing Group, the HCWA hosted a Summer Supplier Conference in June to recruit additional local vendors to the fold.
Furthermore, last year the HCWA Board of Directors adopted three resolutions specifically targeting locally based small businesses in and around Henry County. Those initiatives included the (1) Local Sheltered Market Program (LSMP), the (2) Suppler Inclusion Program (SIP), and the (3) Local Business Preference Program (LBPP).
The LSMP reserves certain contracts for goods/services for bidding by local businesses. The SIP targets diverse businesses for participating in the HCWA procurement process, including Local and Small Business Enterprises (LSE), Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE), Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises (VBE), and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE). Finally, the LBPP reaffirms the existing Local Business Preference Program, which was first implemented by the HCWA in 2019.
Finally, HCWA officials note that the utility has benefitted greatly from its membership in the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC), which has provided a positive return on investment, says Tony Carnell, HCWA General Manager.
“We have seen so many benefits from our involvement in the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, mainly from the number of diverse, highly qualified local businesses we’ve been able to develop a relationship with, and who may be able to do business with us, which would be mutually beneficial for the Authority and our community,” says Carnell. “When we can keep our dollars at home by doing business locally, as well as help current and future vendors by improving our procurement process through participation in the Georgia Purchasing Group and GMSDC and such, everybody wins.”
The GMSDC is the state of Georgia’s leading advocacy organization for small business development and supplier diversity. The Council’s primary focus is simple – to certify Minority Business Enterprise firms, help them prepare to engage global supply chains, and then facilitate partnerships with corporations and governments in need of their goods and services.
The HCWA Summer Supplier Conference and the Authority’s participation in the Georgia Purchasing Group and GMSDC are examples of proactive marketing initiatives by the utility that are intended to expand the number of diverse vendors who may benefit from providing goods and services for the Authority, says Carnell.
For more information on doing business with the HCWA, suppliers can call 678-583-2496, or register at www.hcwa.com/about-us/procurementforms.cms. Vendors also can go to: www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/henrycountywaterauthority to benefit from the Authority’s Georgia Purchasing Group affiliation, or contact Bidnet Direct’s vendor support team at 800-835-4603.
Media contact: Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu
