DFW Event Brings Statewide Opportunities to HUB Vendors

This yearly event generates millions in state agency and higher-ed business: The Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council’s (DFW MSDC) Spot Bid Fair and HUB Expo.

The expo and fair bring in more than 1,000 businesses ranging from small IT resellers to construction to food services, all seeking to do business at the state level.

By the numbers, at least 85 public-sector entities — state and higher ed — send their Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program managers and experts along with purchasing and procurement representatives who can educate business owners through the contract process. In 2019, the event helped garner more than $10 million for attendees, the minority council's leadership said this week.

Texas has more than 15,000 HUBs, according to the State Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA). These are businesses that are owned and operated by minorities, women or qualifying service-disabled veterans.

State agencies with biennial budgets of more than $10 million have designated HUB coordinators who are equal to procurement directors, according to Texas Statute 2161. These coordinate training programs, report to the comptroller and help match HUBs with key agency staff.

HUBs must go through the state certification process, and they may do business one-on-one with SLED entities or join forces with a larger vendor or even a Fortune 500 company as subcontractors. The goal of the DFW MSDC is to use state resources to facilitate these processes and to create networking and learning opportunities so these businesses can grow.

“The purpose [of the state’s HUB program] is to give everyone an equal opportunity chance at government spending, whether that be a state university or any government entity,” statewide HUB program manager Linda Rogers said during the opening session. “We're here to support you. We want to do business with you.”

Rogers said the CPA’s reporting for the first half of FY 2024 is going to be released soon and shows that Texas HUBs generated more than $1 billion in statewide expenditures, which is up by more than 13.3% from the same period last year.

Rogers encouraged attendees to take advantage of the CPA online resources, as well as this event’s 1,000-plus bid opportunities.

Examples of technology spot bids include a $29,154 Ubuntu operating system for the University of Texas at San Antonio, an Android digital kiosk for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, printers for the Texas Legislative Council, and HP toner cartridges and Dell products for various entities.

The DFW MSDC event spans two days each May and includes educational sessions starting with the CPA, followed by the Department of Information Resources and other public entities. The afternoon includes a University of Texas System overview of construction opportunities.