Big Opportunities-Bold Partnerships Session 1: VA's Procurement Landscape

Big Opportunities. Bold Partnerships. is a collaborative initiative between Radford University, Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD), designed to help small businesses better understand and access procurement opportunities in higher education. The initiative consists of a six-part virtual workshop series, running from June 2026 through October 2026 and will provide vendors with practical guidance on navigating Virginia’s eVA procurement system, connecting with buyers, uncovering contracting opportunities, marketing effectively, and responding to bids and proposals. The series will culminate in November 2026 with an in-person Meet the Buyers event (date and location TBD), where attendees will have the opportunity to network directly with purchasing professionals from Radford University, Virginia Tech, the Virginia Community College System, and other area colleges and universities.

We’re kicking off the Big Opportunities. Bold Partnerships series with a comprehensive introduction to Virginia’s procurement process. This session will explain how the Commonwealth purchases goods and services, walk participants through the eVA procurement portal, and highlight the benefits of and process for obtaining SWaM certification. Attendees will gain the tools they need to begin exploring contracting opportunities across state agencies and institutions of higher education.

Session Objectives:

• Provide an overview of Virginia’s procurement framework and purchasing processes.
• Provide an overview of how to navigate the eVA portal to identify and pursue opportunities.
• Explain the benefits of and application process for SWaM certification.

If you have questions about this event, please contact Kathy Deacon by email at kathy.deacon@sbsd.virginia.gov.