March 20, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - More and more business today is conducted online, but not every business uses computers. So, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Supplier Diversity and the Department of Procurement have teamed up with the Birmingham Public Library to make vendor applications and notices of contracts more accessible to disadvantaged small business owners who don't have access to computers.

Through this new partnership, disadvantaged small business owners who are interested in doing business with UAB can now visit one of 20 Birmingham Public library locations to log onto a computer, where they can download the applications needed to enter their bids on contract opportunities at UAB. Disadvantaged businesses include businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans and the disabled.

The service is free. Librarians are on hand to help the business owners download and print copies of the forms.

This new offering is especially beneficial to small contractors in the construction industry who often do not use computers, said Albert D. Herbert, RT(R), Ph.D., executive director of the UAB Department of Supplier Diversity.

"This is a bold step in a positive direction to increase UAB's accessibility to business opportunities in procurement," said Terry W. Justice, executive director of the UAB Department of Procurement.

Access forms at www.minoritydev.uab.edu/VenderApp.asp. For more information, contact Ken Johnson in the UAB Department of Supplier Diversity at 205-934-8762.

The UAB Department of Supplier Diversity was established in 1987 to ensure that all suppliers have access to and knowledge of the university's procurement system.