Contract Ready Cohort: Institutional Vendor Certification Program

Are you interested in becoming a vendor to large institutions?

Join our Contract Ready Cohort to learn how to navigate the paperwork, get your finances in order, and successfully secure contracts with government agencies, universities, healthcare systems, and other anchor institutions in our region. Upon completion of the 6-session program, cohort members will earn their Contract Ready: Institutional Vendor Certification.

Dates: May 21, 2025; June 18, 2025; July 16, 2025; August 20, 2025; September 17, 2025; October 15, 2025

Location: Dennis Wicker Civic Center, Sanford, NC

First Session: Understanding and Finding Contract Opportunities - May 21, 530-730pm: This introductory session establishes relationships among participants while providing a comprehensive overview of how to find and interpret solicitation opportunities with the federal government and with local institutions—namely counties, municipalities, universities.

Participants will also learn about essential certifications needed to qualify as vendors.

Other topics the program will cover include:

Financial Readiness and Funding Resources: Preparing your financial documents, understanding contract payment terms, exploring and getting ready for external funding options through CDFIs and other financial partners.

Insurance and Bonding Essentials - Learn the critical insurance coverages and bonding requirements that institutions demand, plus strategies to obtain them affordably while meeting all compliance standards.

Marketing Your Business to Institutions - Develop targeted marketing strategies that showcase your capabilities to procurement officers, including effective networking approaches and creating compelling capability statements that stand out.

Strategic Hiring and Team Development - Assess your readiness to expand your workforce, develop effective hiring and onboarding systems, and learn strategies for finding qualified talent to support your business as you take on institutional contracts.

Attend all 6 sessions to earn a Contract Ready: Institutional Vendor Certification.