Get to know the Participating Buyer at Go Beyond 2024

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) is Tennessee’s largest higher education system, governing 13 community colleges and 27 colleges of applied technology, with over 200 teaching locations. TBR is a separate system from the University of Tennessee system. However, TBR does collaborate and coordinate with both the UT System of Higher Education and the State of Tennessee in procurement and contracting activities. TBR’s Purchasing and Contracts Office oversees system-wide procurements and contracts, including local ones for the System Office. Individual campuses primarily handle their local purchases. However, the TBR System Office becomes involved under specific circumstances: purchases exceeding $250,000.00 require routing and approval by the System Office, and institutions can request the System Office to conduct procurements or process contracts. Amid a new direction, the Tennessee Board of Regents has enhanced its procurement and contracting practices to streamline processes, ensure compliance, and maximize efficiency. This involves leveraging technology, fostering collaboration among campuses, and actively seeking cost-saving opportunities. The TBR Purchasing and Contracts Office plays a pivotal role in implementing these initiatives, facilitating seamless coordination, and providing guidance to support the TBR's evolving objectives.

The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE) is the State of Tennessee’s certification agency for diverse business enterprises. We are the central point of contact to assist diverse and small for-profit businesses to compete successfully in State procurement and contracting activities.

The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 58,000 students statewide; produces about 13,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 445,000 alumni around the world.

Located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee the Y‑12 National Security Complex is a premier manufacturing facility dedicated to making our nation and the world a safer place and plays a vital role in the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Security Enterprise. Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates Y-12 and the Pantex Plant located in Amarillo, Texas in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The mission of the USACE Memphis District: Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides subcontracting opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. If your business can provide quality products and services on time and within budget, we want to talk to you!

The City of Knoxville understands the importance of encouraging Small, Minority-, Women-, Service-Disabled, and Veteran-Owned business participation in the procurement process. The Purchasing Department actively seeks out opportunities to cultivate relationships with local small businesses and makes a concerted effort to ensure that such companies have the information necessary to compete for City business. Resources such as brochures, quarterly newsletters, and the City's procurement website provide an invaluable introduction to the process of doing business with the City and help connect businesses with potential projects of interest. The Purchasing Division also takes part in a number of networking and outreach events throughout the year that enable small business owners to meet face to face with City personnel. In addition, the City's Small Business Specialist can meet with individuals in the Purchasing Office to discuss future opportunities or address any concerns or questions that might arise. For more information on outreach events or to schedule an appointment, please contact Pamela Cotham, Assistant Purchasing Agent - Small Business Outreach, at 865-215-4032 or PCotham@knoxvilletn.gov.

Arrative’s team is comprised of seasoned professionals with strong backgrounds in the GovCon arena. We use our expertise to provide our clients with the support needed to succeed as a government contractor by helping them with their finance, accounting, compliance and HR functions.

MNPS is the 42nd largest urban school district in the nation. The consolidated city-county district covers Nashville and Davidson County, an area of about 525 square miles. MNPS serves students from more than 112 different countries, speaking more than 80 different languages. MNPS has evolved over the years into one of the most racially, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse school districts in the country. The district is comprised of 160 plus schools, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, alternative schools, special education schools, and charter schools. MNPS is also proud to have the region’s first Big Picture High School, as well as offering high schools implementing themed-based Academies and a Middle College High School that offers dual high school and college enrollment. The school district is led by a nine-member elected Board and its appointed Director of Schools. Funds for the system's operation are approved and provided by the Metropolitan Nashville City Council, as the Board has no taxing authority. Further information on MNPS is available at its website: www.mnps.org.

Black & Veatch is an employee-owned engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a 100-year legacy of innovations in sustainable infrastructure.