GERMANTOWN, MD (March 12, 2001) - In the continuing effort to strengthen Maryland's position as a national leader in the high-tech economy, the Department of General Services (DGS) has invited Montgomery County businesses to see first-hand the State's new Internet-based procurement system, eMaryland Marketplace. Two free conferences will be held in the Globe Theater of the High Technology and Science Center at Montgomery College's Germantown campus on Tuesday, March 20 at 9:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m.
eMaryland Marketplace 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 well as vendors who participate.
To introduce the business community to the new online purchasing service, companies from Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Washington, D.C. have been invited to send representatives to Germantown to attend the eMaryland Marketplace conference.
| "The State has adopted eMaryland Marketplace and continues to increase its use of the Internet for procurement," said William E. Culen, Director of the DGS |
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| Office of Procurement and Contracting. "By attending these conferences, businesses can learn how this new technology provides an efficient means to improve their access to State procurement information. eMaryland Marketplace provides greater opportunities for small businesses, secures competitive prices for the State, and enhances the efficiency and timeliness of the procurement process." |
eMaryland Marketplace allows 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. By 2004, it is projected that 80 percent of the goods and services contracts solicited by State procurement officers will be fulfilled by vendors participating in eMaryland Marketplace.
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 businesses - gain exposure to a larger number of opportunities. The State will benefit not only from process improvements but also 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 eMaryland Marketplace to perform the functions that have traditionally been accomplished using paper methods and manual entries into the State's financial information systems.
DIRECTIONS
The Germantown Campus is located in upper Montgomery County, just east of I-270.
Take I-270 to Exit 15A East (Route 118). Continue to the traffic light at Observation Drive; turn right. Follow the campus driveway (15 mph) to the visitors' parking lot on the right. Parking is in the far lot on the right under the large globe.
The campus is also easily accessible from the Shady Grove Metro station via the County's Ride-On bus.
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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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