HVBF Monthly Meeting - Information Systems Roundtable
Thursday, July 10, 2003, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Host:

Loyola College in Maryland

Attending:

Charyl Dayton, Visions, Inc.
Rick Gray, Clifton Gunderson LLP
Ginny Hoefner, System Source
Harris Mager, Verizon Communications
Mary Kraft, Mary Kraft Associates
Rob Macdonald, Smith Content
Renaldo Ng, URS Corporation
Paul Obrecht III, Blue & Obrecht Realty LLC
Mark Robertson, NuTec Design Associates
Lee Sandler, Madison Capital
Walter Schneider, Lighthouse Consulting Inc.
Greg Stone, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP
Bob Williams, Maryland Department of Economic Development

Chairman Mark Robertson welcomed those attending and opened the Roundtable. Each person attending introduced themselves and their company.

A special welcome to Charyl Dayton representing Forum Chairman Rick Webb who was busy golfing. Rick Gray was a first timer from Clifton Gunderson. Rob Macdonald attended to learn more about the Forum and is a prospective member. Lee Sandler was a returning prospective member.

Mark introduced David Spitzer, Administrative Officer of eMaryland Marketplace, a division of the Maryland Department of General Services. The Department purchases equipment, real estate, construction services, facilities, commodities, vehicles and other “stuff” for the State.

Bidding was formerly done through prepared specifications that were mailed to possible bidders. EMaryland Marketplace maintains a website www.emarylandmarketplace.com that replaces that inefficient system with bidding and purchasing on line and in real time. From an original 6 buyers and 96 users, the website now joins the state agency buyers with 2,600 vendor users. There are more than 5,600 bidders to the state. The goal is to include them all on the web based system with all agencies purchasing for Maryland. Participation is voluntary but the benefits are obvious.

Vendors may choose one of two fee-based subscriptions. The $ 225 annual fee subscription gets you emailed invitations to bid on products or services you have registered during your application process. Any changes to the specifications are emailed to subscribers.

Some state agencies presently using eMaryland Marketplace are MDOT, SHA, General Services and many of the Counties. Some agencies advertise only while others advertise and receive bids.

There are two modules on the website: Bid and Catalog. The Bid module is supported by subscription fees as described above. The Catalog module is supported by a 2% fee on purchases made from registered vendors.

There are as many as 170 solicitations listed on the site at any one time.

Discussion was lively. For questions about eMaryland Marketplace contact David Spitzer at david.spitzer@dgs.state.md.us.