The Montgomery County Office of Procurement will host its annual Procurement Fair from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the East County Community Recreation Center, located at 3310 Gateshead Manor Way in Silver Spring. The fair is free. Advance registration is full, but walk-in registration will be available on the day of the event.
View details on Eventbrite.
The fair will give vendors an opportunity to learn about upcoming public contracting opportunities, hear from local procurement officials, and connect with other businesses. Panel discussions will cover certification for minority-, female-, and disabled-owned businesses, and upcoming procurement opportunities.
Representatives from Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, WSSC Water, and the City of Rockville will share procurement best practices and highlight upcoming opportunities.
“For too long, government contracting felt like a closed loop, but events like the Procurement Fair and other changes help open doors for small, minority, veteran, and women-owned businesses,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our Office of Procurement has worked very hard to increase the dollars we spend locally and their efforts are evident. If you’re a local business owner, I urge you to consider attending. These are jobs and opportunities that stay right here in the County, benefitting everyone.
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According to the County’s fiscal year 2026 MFD annual report, Montgomery County awarded more than $306 million in contracts to certified minority-, female-, and disabled-owned businesses, representing 21.38% of the $1.43 billion in eligible contract dollars. The County also awarded $155 million in contracts through the Local Small Business Reserve Program.
“Our annual Procurement Fair is a great way for vendors to learn about our Local Business Programs and our Minority, Female and Disabled-Owned Business Program (MFD),” said Office of Procurement Director and Chief Procurement Officer Ash Shetty. “For the fourth consecutive year, the MFD Program set a new record, awarding over $300 million in contracts to certified MFD vendors.”
For more information about the fair and County contracting programs, visit the Office of Procurement website.
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Media Contact: Grace Denno, grace.denno@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-9959
Read the original article at mcgov
