Market Research & Supplier Engagement (New Seminar)
Conducting Pre-Solicitation Research Lawfully, Fairly, and Effectively (with AI Assist)
Sound public procurement decisions begin long before a solicitation is issued. Yet for many local governments and school districts, market research and supplier engagement remain informal, inconsistent, or avoided altogether due to uncertainty about what is permitted under public procurement law and what may expose the agency to audit findings or bid protests.
This seminar is designed to provide procurement professionals with a clear, defensible framework for conducting pre-solicitation market research and supplier engagement activities in a manner that is transparent, fair, and legally supportable. The course focuses on practical application and risk management, helping agencies move from reactive purchasing to informed procurement planning—without compromising competition or integrity.
Participants will learn how to:
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Conduct meaningful market research to understand available solutions, pricing structures, and market conditions
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Engage suppliers prior to solicitation without creating unfair advantages or the appearance of favoritism
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Distinguish permissible market research from impermissible bid tailoring
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Document pre-solicitation activities in a way that supports transparency, consistency, and audit readiness
A key emphasis of the course is how market research improves solicitation quality. Poor scopes of work, ambiguous specifications, and unrealistic timelines are often the result of insufficient upfront research. This seminar demonstrates how structured market research leads to clearer solicitations, stronger competition, fewer change orders, and better contract performance.
The seminar also introduces the responsible and controlled use of artificial intelligence as a support tool in the market research process. Rather than focusing on technology demonstrations, the course addresses how AI can be used appropriately to:
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Identify market trends and potential suppliers
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Analyze publicly available information
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Support early scope development and risk identification
Equally important, the course addresses the limits of AI use in public procurement, including ethical considerations, records retention, transparency, and the need for human judgment. AI is presented as an assistive tool—not a decision-maker—and its use is framed within the context of public accountability.
Throughout the seminar, participants will work through examples, scenarios, and practical checklists that reflect real-world procurement challenges faced by municipalities and school districts. The emphasis is on what procurement professionals should be doing today to strengthen planning, reduce risk, and improve outcomes—before the bid is ever advertised.
Who Should Attend
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Municipal and school district purchasing officials
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Procurement and contract management staff
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Department heads involved in planning procurements
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Finance and administrative officials
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Agencies seeking to improve solicitation quality and competition
Why This Seminar Matters
Many procurement issues—protests, delays, poor vendor performance—can be traced back to inadequate pre-solicitation planning. This seminar equips agencies with the knowledge and tools to ask better questions earlier, engage the market responsibly, and issue solicitations that are clearer, fairer, and more successful.