Bristol Reporter

New Bedford, Massachusetts – The City of New Bedford has joined the Massachusetts Purchasing Group BidNet Direct and will be publishing and distributing solicitations on BidNet Direct’s online platform. The City joined the purchasing group in March and will utilize the system to streamline the purchasing process including bid management, bid distribution, and vendor relations.  The transition of the City’s larger procurement solicitations to an online platform will allow for greater efficiency, expand the City’s access to a greater pool of vendors, further promote competition, and increase savings.

The City of New Bedford invites all potential vendors to register online by visiting http://www.bidnetdirect.com/massachusetts/newbedford. Registered vendors can access open bids, related documents and files, additional addendum, and award information from the City and all participating agencies. Vendors can also be re-directed to BidNet from the Purchasing Department’s webpage https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/purchasing/.

The City of New Bedford Purchasing Department has recently made significant strides to update and digitize its operations, said Director of Purchasing Molly Gilfeather Rodriguez.

“Our team has worked diligently over the past three years to leverage digital technologies in an effort to modernize all City purchasing operations. This is the final step of our three-year plan; every function of our department can now be performed electronically and remotely,” she said. “An online bidding platform enhances the visibility of the City’s bid opportunities, allowing greater competition in the public bidding process and ultimately, cost savings to the City.”

“This is an excellent example of leadership in the Purchasing Department continuing its work to improve the accessibility, ease, and efficiency of the public bidding process to the benefit of the City, its vendors, and those interested in working with the City of New Bedford in the future,” said Chief Financial Officer Michael Gagne.

About BidNet Direct:

BidNet Direct, powered by MDF commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. BidNet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Massachusetts Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers.

Original source can be found here.