Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 27, 1993 TAG: 9305270369
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-17 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY WALKER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We're just like any other business, in that we need supplies to operate," said Laura Bullock, community affairs officer for VDOT's Salem district.
Some of those supplies are purchased in mass quantities by VDOT buyers in Richmond. But supplies are also purchased locally in each of VDOT's nine districts.
For instance, the Salem district had to buy large amounts of film to document the destruction caused by the flood of 1985. "You may be working on a project, and you've got to have it right then," said Pat Bruce, office service specialist for the Salem district's Equal Employment Opportunity office.
The Salem district, which encompasses 12 counties, annually spends maybe $5 million to $6 million on goods and supplies, said George Ferrell, district administrative support coordinator. That doesn't include construction contracts.
Much of VDOT's budget comes from the federal government, with strings attached. The federal government requires VDOT to do a certain amount of business with companies owned by disadvantaged people, said Kathy Gregory, EEO personnel analyst with the Salem district. Women and minorities are classified as disadvantaged.
Statewide, VDOT's goal is to do 12 percent of its construction business with women and minorities. "We surpass that every year," Gregory said.
In the past two years, "our people have done a tremendous amount of work in identifying minority and female vendors," Ferrell said.
Still, VDOT has not been able to reach every minority- or female-owned business. "One of the problems we found is that there's not really a network we can call," Gregory said. "We realized in order to appeal to minorities and females, we would have to do a general public appeal."
To publicize business opportunities with VDOT, the Salem district held a Procurement Fair on May 13. The event was open to everyone, but women and minorities were especially encouraged to attend.
Would-be vendors had the opportunity to talk with representatives from VDOT divisions including general procurement, right-of-way, location and design, information systems, bridges, residency, materials, equipment, building and grounds, and traffic.
Literature described items and services needed by VDOT, such as office equipment, septic systems, drafting supplies, structural steel, asphalt, truck parts, carpentry services, fertilizer and hard hats.
"We've got something here for just about all types of businesses," Bruce said.
Signing the register were representatives from 45 small businesses, 31 large business, 22 female-owned businesses, and five minority-owned businesses, Bruce said.
VDOT provided information on how to become certified as disadvantaged. To qualify, a business must have at least 51 percent minority or female ownership.
Linda Vining owns 51 percent of A&S Electrical Contractors; her husband, an electrician, owns 49 percent. "My husband was a sole proprietor for about two years before we incorporated," Vining said.
"He sold me half the business because I was having trouble getting a job, being handicapped and a female."
Vining, who has partial sight, works on a computer with the help of adaptive equipment from the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped. "Mostly I handle the books, write checks, write up some of the proposals and send them out, and different office duties," she said. The Vinings run the business out of their home on Avendale Avenue, off Williamson Road.
Vining had never dealt with VDOT before attending the Procurement Fair. "It was very helpful, and I thought the fair was very well organized," she said. "I was really impressed." Vining plans to submit bids for VDOT electrical work.
While VDOT encourages bids from minority and female vendors, it is required to accept the lowest qualifying bid regardless of who owns the business, Bruce said.
Bruce was encouraged by the turnout at the fair.
"We very much think it was a success and we definitely want to have one next year," she said.
For more information on becoming a VDOT vendor, call George Ferrell, 387-5482, or Kathy Gregory, 387-5552.
by CNB