UC Davis Health Procurement, Supply Chain Management present: 5th Annual Small Business Expo

UC Davis Health Procurement and UC Davis Supply Chain Management are excited to host its Annual Small Business Expo at Oak Park Community Center on Thursday, May 22. This year’s expo will mark the fifth anniversary since the inaugural expo in 2020, which had to be transitioned to a virtual expo during the Covid pandemic.

In the last five years, the organization has made great strides in increasing opportunities for small and diverse suppliers, which has resulted in double-digit growth in spending from fiscal year 2023 to date and increasing the pool of small and diverse suppliers. In addition to connecting prospective suppliers with various departments, we will also be hosting educational workshops.

We are dedicated to advancing supplier diversity through initiatives like the Small Business First (SB1st) program and our Economically and Socially Responsible Spend goals. As part of our Anchor Institution Mission (AIM) and in collaboration with the local community, UC Davis Health is focused on hiring local, buying local, investing local, and volunteering local.

This year’s event will focus on connecting small and diverse business owners with UC Davis departments from both the campus and UC Davis Health. The goal is to expand the supplier pool, help meet Small Business First targets and support our local communities.

How the Event Works 

Department representatives will have tables at the event, while small and diverse suppliers will circulate to learn more about the goods and services each department requires. Suppliers will also have the opportunity to showcase their offerings. In addition to departmental tables, we will offer educational workshops for small businesses to better understand how to work with UC Davis. Over 150 small businesses are already registered!

Did You Know?

You can avoid RFPs by shopping small! The Small Business First (SB1st) program ensures that all non-construction UC contracts and procurements between $10,000 and $250,000—when not covered by existing strategic agreements—are awarded to Small Businesses or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, per BUS-43. For more information, visit the Supplier Diversity intranet site under the Programs tab.

Get Involved

Departments with upcoming projects are encouraged to register for a table at the event. Space is limited, so please register early. Do you know a local small or diverse business interested in participating? Whether it's your department or an interested business, please contact us at HS-SmallBusinessFirst@ucdavis.edu for more information.

Check out the newly updated Supplier Diversity intranet site for further details!