Big Opportunities-Bold Partnerships Session 3: Where to Look-What to Know

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 September 2025 through March 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 April 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.

Finding the right opportunity at the right time can make all the difference. During Session 3 of the Big Opportunities.Bold Partnerships series you will be guided through where and how to uncover contracting opportunities at the university level. From navigating procurement websites to setting alerts and tracking opportunities in eVA. Participants will walk away with actionable strategies for staying ahead of the competition.

Session Objectives:

• Provide an overview of how university procurement works behind the scenes
• Provide information on how to locate contracting opportunities using university procurement platforms and eVA.
• Help participants understand how to evaluate solicitation details to determine fit for their business.

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