DHS helps promote equity through contracting and purchasing

Using the department’s purchasing power to get needed services and help narrow disparities and improve outcomes for all Minnesotans is the purpose behind DHS’ participation in the upcoming Minnesota Small and Disadvantaged Businesses Government Procurement Fair being held in Brooklyn Center April 25. The fair provides a chance for businesses to learn more about what federal and state government agencies buy and how to become certified as a targeted, economically disadvantaged vendor.

DHS’ involvement in the fair makes sense since the department purchases and contracts for millions of dollars worth of products and services, according to Jay Brunner, director of the DHS Procurement, Contracting and Legal Compliance Division. 

“We want to make sure that we have a wide variety of vendors for the agency to choose from,” he said. “In addition, we want to use the department’s buying power to support goals coming out of the Twin Cities Economic Development Summit and our DHS Framework for the Future goal of promoting equity.”

The fair is sponsored by the Small and Disadvantaged Business Opportunities Council (SADBOC), which is a subgroup of the Federal Executive Board located in Minnesota. Federal Executive Boards were established in 1961 by a presidential directive to improve coordination among federal activities and programs outside Washington. A flier with more information about the fair (PDF) is online.