Press Releases

University of North Dakota’s official press release archive.

UND to host 11th Annual North Dakota Government Procurement Fair

The North Dakota APEX Accelerator (formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Center), operating under the University of North Dakota Center for Business Engagement & Development, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, are sponsoring the Annual North Dakota Government Procurement Fair. The Procurement Fair will be an in-person event on Tuesday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UND’s Memorial Union.

“This marks the 11th year of North Dakota’s Government Procurement Fair. There are always changes in how to sell goods and services to government agencies including our universities. Many North Dakota businesses adapt and innovate to service this market sector,” said Dave Kleppe, ND APEX program manager. “If you are interested in selling to the local, state, or federal government market, this event will assist your business with getting started in government contracting. It will also be informative to those already selling goods or services to government agencies.”

This free event will feature workshops on topics such as growing your business by accessing the government marketplace. Another session will get into specifics about doing business with federal and state emergency services. A popular aspect of the event is meeting government purchasing representatives, government large prime contractors looking for subcontractors and suppliers, as well as resources for small businesses.

Why attend? Previous attendees have felt it is very valuable, have met new contacts and received contracting updates, with 92% of attendees recommending this event. Plus, attendees have stated:

“Great info, extremely helpful, much appreciation to all involved. … I appreciated the variety of speakers and information offered. Lots of great information.”

To register or for more information on the workshops or exhibitors, visit the event website.

About the APEX Accelerators: The APEX Accelerators, formally known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), was authorized by Congress in 1985 to expand the number of businesses capable of participating in government contracts. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the FY 2020 ordered the PTAP to move to Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)); and the DoD Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) began to manage and operate PTAP with a new name, APEX Accelerators, effective FY 2023. The APEX Accelerators program focuses on building a strong, sustainable, and resilient U.S. supply chain by assisting a wide range of businesses that pursue and perform under contracts with the DoD, other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors. Learn more on the national association’s website or APEX Accelerators – accelerating the mission. This APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.

State funding is provided by the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

About the Center for Business Engagement & Development: The ND APEX Accelerator is hosted by the University of North Dakota with leadership provided through the Center for Business Engagement & Development (CBED) operating under the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. CBED is UND’s business outreach hub and oversees the ND Small Business Development Centers, the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas, and the ND APEX Accelerator. Learn more on the department’s website.