Procurement Readiness Resources
Introduction
Significant progress has been achieved in the training and support of military-connected entrepreneurs over the past two decades. However, these entrepreneurs continue to encounter various challenges in their business endeavors.
Through this initiative, the IVMF and Walmart will collaborate with military-connected businesses to identify obstacles to procurement and other corporate supply chain aspects. With the goal of delivering programming to tackle these barriers and enhance readiness for procurement and the ability to capitalize on opportunities. Programming will assess corporate readiness for procurement and other special focus areas for veteran and military spouse business owners, revealing a path to being procurement-ready in the commercial sector.
Get Ready to Do Business in the Private Sector
IVMF has joined forces with Walmart to deliver tools and resources to help illuminate a path to procurement for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. The resources on the page can help entrepreneurs become procurement ready and realize opportunities within private supply chain. Entrepreneurs can also learn how to strengthen their supply chain and set themselves up for success when meeting with a procurement agent.
Jump to Procurement Readiness Resources
Procurement Webinar Series
Our webinar series grants access to real procurement expertise from both sides of the buyer-supplier relationship. Gain insight into the supplier landscape of how best to craft a vendor profile that signals your readiness. Learn about preparing your logistics and supply chains, so when there’s an opportunity, you’re ready to take advantage of it, and turn it into a successful, long-term relationship.
Want to be procurement-ready? Ready to grow in the commercial sector?
Complete our interest form for more details.
Looking for more resources? IVMF wants to support your procurement-readiness journey, whether your business is growing as a supplier or just trying to get started. Check back often as more resources continue to be added regularly.
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Programmatic & Event Resources
Veteran EDGE
The Veteran EDGE Conference focuses on the opportunities and challenges of growth-stage businesses that are scaling or ready to scale. Over three days, veteran and military spouse business owners, corporate leaders, and stakeholders will network, learn about new opportunities and best practices, and celebrate their successes.
Military Entrepreneurship Forum
IVMF, sponsored by Fiserv, is hosting a regional Military Entrepreneurship Forum. The event offers veteran and military spouse-owned businesses a chance to learn from and network with experts, Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and other resources.
Mission to Marketplace
IVMF, powered by Amazon, is hosting a regional Mission to Marketplace: Entrepreneurship Summit. The event offers veteran and military spouse-owned businesses the chance to learn from experts, access resources, and network with Fortune 500 representatives and fellow entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans
Cutting edge bootcamp style entrepreneurship training program teaching the steps and stages of business creation and business management, with a tailored emphasis on the unique challenges and opportunities associated with being a veteran business owner.
Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP)
The VIP COMMERCIAL training program equips veterans with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to enter or scale in the private sector.
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Understand corporate/private sector procurement process
The procurement process consists of several key stages to identify, pursue, and secure business opportunities with potential buyers or clients.
Below is a general overview of the procurement steps from the supplier’s point of view:
- Identify procurement opportunities
- review and understand requirements
- prepare and submit a proposal or bid
- proposal submission
- evaluation and selection
- contract negotiation
- award of contract
- contract fulfillment
- invoice and payment
- relationship management
- performance evaluation and improvement
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Prepare to do Business with Private Sector
If you’re ready to take this step then you likely already have reached certain milestones with your business and you have a good grasp on the following:
Showcase Your Capabilities.
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Navigating the Procurement Process
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Utilize Supplier Diversity Programs
The right information and resources can make all the difference in the success of your small business. For additional resources, including those listed on this page, visit the COE Veteran Entrepreneurship Resource Library. The COE Library offers original and curated content—articles, videos, infographics, and more—to provide valuable insights and guidance along the way.
Is Your Business Ready to Sell to Walmart?
Open Call is at the heart of Walmart’s commitment to U.S. Manufacturing. This sourcing event presents a unique opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to meet face-to-face with Walmart and/or Sam’s Club merchants, potentially getting their product in front of millions of customers. Open Call offers businesses of all sizes from across the nation a chance at a big break with Walmart.
What Open Call Means For Your Business
This year marked the eleventh annual Open Call event, where entrepreneurs from around the country were given the opportunity to sell their U.S.-made, grown or assembled products on Walmart or Sam’s Club shelves or on Walmart.com.
Finalist from across the nation, representing 48 states, participated in the event. Entrepreneurs from over half of these states received “golden tickets” representing deals, while entrepreneurs from more than 42 states were under consideration for deals. Securing a golden ticket at Open Call grants entrepreneurs an invaluable chance to reach new customers, grow their businesses and create jobs in their communities.
Walmart’s Supplier Inclusion Program
Walmart’s Supplier Inclusion program is designed to support suppliers, including those owned by women, minorities, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and of course, veterans. The program emphasizes the importance of an inclusive supply chain that reflects Walmart’s customers and communities. Access resources, certification guidance, and supply chain opportunities, to help your businesses grow and thrive.
Improving Access to Procurement Through Research
IVMF produces leading research to advance entrepreneurial opportunities, especially procurement opportunities, for veteran and military family entrepreneurs. In collaboration with Walmart, IVMF research empowers veteran and military family businesses by using data to identify and better understand the unique challenges of military-connected entrepreneurs.
By leveraging comprehensive data, facilitating key discussions, and sharing actionable insights, we’re equipping business owners with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of procurement processes and succeed in their ventures. This creates awareness throughout the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, better informing corporate partners, providers, and funders, so they can recognize and remove barriers to procurement readiness.
Explore Our Latest Research Insights
Advancing Military-Connected Entrepreneurship
This research brief combines detailed findings from the Walmart-sponsored “Military-Connected Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Growth, Empowerment & Connectivity Summit” with additional IVMF data insights to recommend action steps for military-connected businesses, ecosystem and corporate partners, and collaboration opportunities.
Military-Connected Small Business Profiles: Access to Capital and Resources Across Revenue Stages
This research brief presents a thorough analysis of the military-connected entrepreneurship ecosystem, detailing the progression of business development from inception to sustainability.
Veteran Certification: Debunking Myths and Streamlining Processes
This paper affirms the continued intent of the IVMF and CVOB to demystify and help streamline the VOB certification process by advocating for the establishment of either one nationally recognized certification, or a unified verification process where all certifying bodies work together towards a reciprocal solution.
Supporting Partner
