Small and mid-sized businesses face big challenges when competing for contracts with large corporations. The paperwork required to qualify as an approved supplier can soak up huge chunks of employee time that must be replicated in different formats for each large potential customer. Recently six very large companies took notice of this problem and have stepped up to create a system that will help smaller companies compete for their business. At stake is an estimated $150 billion in supply contracts.

AT&T, Bank of America, Citigroup, IBM, Pfizer and UPS have all agreed to standardize and simplify the application process required for qualified small and mid-sized U.S. suppliers. The participating companies have established a free, public website to be named “Supplier Connection” at www.supplier-connection.net that will provide a single, streamlined electronic application form. Small vendors need only complete the application form once to potentially become suppliers to the participating companies. They will be able to more easily connect for opportunities to sell services, marketing, food, human resources and construction, among others.

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