accessWORKS: Procurement Connection

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will create economic opportunities for British Columbians. Businesses owned by people with disabilities, social enterprises, entrepreneurs with disabilities, and the organizations who offer support to them, must be positioned to anticipate and then capture these opportunities. 

VANOC, its partners, sponsors, suppliers and licensees are wise to partner with businesses owned and operated by people with disabilities. The partnership not only exemplifies a commitment to social responsibility—one of VANOCs key sustainability commitments — it simply makes very good business sense!

It’s All About Connection 

There are primarily two opportunities that can lead to economic partnerships between the disability business community and VANOC, its partners, sponsors, suppliers and licensees. First, businesseses owned and operated by people with a disability can bid directly on VANOC contracts or can sub-contract to VANOC suppliers and licensees. Secondly, they can seek to become suppliers or sub-contractors to VANOC Sponsors. Becoming connected to sponsors and/or suppliers either directly or through sub-contracting establishes a relationship that can last long after 2010.

Create the Connection

accessWORKS understands the nature and capacity of the products and services provided by the disability business community and helps business owners to creatively consider the ways in which their business could successfully compete as a supplier to the Olympics or an Olympic Sponsor. We will work to identify the needs of VANOC and its sponsors, suppliers and licensees, transform their needs into opportunities for the disabled business community, and create a connection that results in a business solution that make good sense for all.

If you are a member of the disabled business community and are ready to make the procurement connection it is time to become a member of the accessWORKS businessNETWORK.  Members are encouraged to login to the ‘members-only’ section for exclusive access to valuable resources and to view a summary of current procurement opportunities with VANOC and associated sponsors and suppliers. If you have not registered to become a member of the businessNETWORK, please register here or contact Maggie Vilvang, Project Officer 604.629.1409 or via email:  maggiev@accessWORKS.ca

If you are a business owner interested in tapping into the talent and skill of the disabled business community click here for more valuable information.