LAUREL, MD (October 16, 2000) - eMaryland Marketplace, the State of Maryland's new Internet-based procurement system, is revolutionizing the way State buyers do business. The Web site (www.emarylandmarketplace.com) is also expected to deliver significant, in-your-pocket savings for the State - as much as $12-20 million annually. And while the State will economize, vendors who participate in eMaryland Marketplace will realize cash and staff time efficiencies.

     To introduce the business community to the new online purchasing service, companies from Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Southern Maryland have been invited to send representatives to Laurel on October 25 to attend the D.C. Metro area unveiling of eMaryland Marketplace. The conference, with two sessions - 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - at Capitol College's Avrum Gudelsky Memorial Auditorium, will allow businesses to learn how eMaryland Marketplace will provide them with significant savings.

     "eMaryland Marketplace is the first public procurement system of its kind in the country," said Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Peta N. Richkus. "This new system provides an efficient means to improve the business community's access to State procurement information. It also provides greater opportunities to small and minority businesses, secures competitive prices for the State, and enhances the efficiency and timeliness of the procurement process."

     eMaryland Marketplaceallows DGS to move forward on one of Governor Parris N. Glendening's top priorities, which is to make Maryland the national leader in delivering government services over the Internet.

     Using the new e-commerce system, State purchasers can post competitive bid information online. Also from their computers, they can order from vendor catalogues - office products, toilet paper and even ice melt. eMaryland Marketplace is expected to speed transactions, reduce costs for paper, postage, printing and copying for the State and its vendors.

     Participating businesses - especially small and minority businesses - will gain exposure to a larger number of opportunities. The State will benefit not only from process improvements but from lower prices resulting from increased competition, aggregate buying power, and greater vendor efficiencies.

     eMaryland Marketplace levels the playing field in the purchasing arena by allowing buyers to conduct business transactions and communications with vendors of any size over the Internet. Beginning with procurement of commodities costing less than $25,000, State agency buyers will use eMarylandMarketplace to perform the functions that have traditionally been accomplished using paper methods and manual entries into the State's financial information systems.

     It's the same job, but the tools are changing dramatically.

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DIRECTIONS:

From Washington, DC and points south of Laurel, MD:
Take the Baltimore/Washington Parkway (Exit 22 North off I-95) to the Beltsville Powder Mill Road exit. Turn left onto Powder Mill Road then turn right onto Springfield Road. Follow Springfield Road for one mile. Capitol College is on the right.

From Baltimore, MD and points north of Laurel, MD:
Take the Baltimore/Washington Parkway (Exit 7 South off I-695) to the Beltsville Powder Mill Road exit. Turn right onto Powder Mill Road then take the first right onto Springfield Road. Follow Springfield Road for one mile. Capitol College is on the right.

PARKING: Parking is available near the Gudelsky Memorial Auditorium.

CONTACT:

Dave Humphrey, Director of External Affairs
DGS Office of External Affairs
410-767-4652
E-MAIL: Dave.Humphrey@dgs.state.md.us

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