Oklahoma State Suppliers Expo sees record growth, fosters key partnerships

Oklahoma’s 2024 State Suppliers Expo, held Sept. 25 and 26 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, reached a record-high attendance, drawing nearly 700 participants representing more than 500 companies. The two-day event focused on networking and education, with the goal of bridging gaps in communication between the public and private sectors and fostering deeper understanding about business opportunities with the state.

Organized by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), which oversees the state’s procurement activities, the expo helped 121 companies facilitate the supplier registration process, an essential first step toward securing government contracts.

"The expo creates a unique opportunity for current and potential suppliers to meet with multiple agencies under one roof and learn how to do business with the state,” said State Purchasing Director Amanda Otis. “It not only opens doors for businesses but also provides the state with a wider range of suppliers, ensuring the best value for taxpayer dollars."

In 2023, the state spent over $673 million partnering with the private sector,* reflecting the extensive range of business opportunities. From supplying essential classroom materials like pencils to implementing large-scale technology solutions like licensing software, the state’s needs span a wide array of industries.

The expo welcomes companies of all sizes but can be an especially helpful tool for local Oklahoma companies looking to grow their businesses and contribute to better public services in their home state. Companies that attended the 2023 State Suppliers Expo last October have conducted an estimated $4.8 million in business with state agencies – $4.2 million of which was spent with Oklahoma companies.

Chandler Miles, talent acquisition consultant for JoCo, a staffing and recruiting agency based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said it was JoCo’s first year attending the expo. The goal – engage with agencies and promote their IT staffing services available through their newly secured statewide contract.

“We were just awarded the statewide 1025 contract, and so we [attended the expo] to try to get some business, get our name out and just meet some people,” she said. “Everyone [was] super nice and easy to talk to and very, very helpful, so we appreciate it.”

MIPRO Consulting has attended the expo for three years. While MIPRO already does business with some state agencies, Practice Director Sam Sisler said the expo provides the opportunity to engage with potential new customers as well as reconnect with existing ones.

“We really like the opportunity to get with multiple agencies and hear about what’s going on with them,” he said. “We do business with a number of agencies today, but it’s always good to speak to others that we may not have had the opportunity to talk to or catch up with ones that we’ve worked with in the past.”

A key feature of the 2024 expo was the Oklahoma Business Matchup, a new segment that allowed companies to participate in pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings with state procurement representatives, offering a unique networking opportunity for businesses to pitch their services directly.

This year’s expo also provided educational opportunities through key segments like the State of Construction Breakfast, the State of Technology Luncheon and a full day of breakout sessions.

At the State of Construction Breakfast, OMES Capital Assets Management Administrator Nathan Wald and his Construction and Properties team discussed opportunities to partner on construction projects such as building renovations and HVAC system replacements. These partnerships play a key role in maintaining state buildings, ensuring they’re modern, functional and comfortable for tenants.

During the State of Technology Luncheon, State CIO Joe McIntosh led a panel discussion that centered on the impact of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on the health and human services sectors of government operations.

Breakout sessions on Day 2, led by experts from OMES Central Purchasing, the National Association of State Procurement Officials and others, provided practical guidance on bidding for state projects, finding statewide contracts and joining national cooperative agreements. These sessions also highlighted industry-specific requirements and key resources for small and disadvantaged businesses.

Visit Oklahoma.gov/StateYourBusiness to learn more about the State Suppliers Expo, and view the 2024 photo gallery for additional photos. For more information about becoming a state supplier in Oklahoma, check out the Doing Business with the State of Oklahoma flyer.

*This amount excludes agency purchases outside the oversight of OMES Central Purchasing.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services provides financial, property, purchasing, human resources and information technology services to all state agencies, and assists the Governor’s Office on budgetary policy matters. Our vision: Provide excellent service, expert guidance and continuous improvement in support of our partners’ goals. For more information, visit oklahoma.gov/omes.

OMES Central Purchasing performs procurement functions and provides oversight of state agencies' procurement activities as defined by the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act (74 O. S. §85.1, et seq.), and ensures fair and equitable processes for procurement functions resulting in timely delivery of quality products and support services.