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Quick Links: Interested in working with VANOC, but unsure about the process?
Download the RBC Guide for Business Opportunities in the 2010 Winter Games (updated February 2008)
Sign up for free Email Notification of 2010 Business Opportunities
Check out Bid Winners and consider sub-contracting
Register for the next 2010 Business Opportunities workshop.
Sign up for the 2010 Commerce Centre Newsletter
View the 2010 Business Opportunities Timeline
Still unsure? Join us for an informal get together to answer any 2010 related business questions and identify potential needs of the business community. For more information, click here.
Interested in Success Stories?
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Where are the ‘Olympic’ opportunities? In a word EVERYWHERE! They’re yours for the taking! And it’s not too early to be thinking about them.Consider that roughly 350 contract opportunities have already been posted on the 2010 Commerce Centre website. Thousands more private and public contracts will be awarded via this site by 2010.
That means there are opportunities just around the corner for those businesses ready to take advantage of them. VANOC will spend roughly $2 billion indirectly in the run-up to 2010. The organizing committee needs products and services from a wide variety of sectors. This is very small shopping list of its needs: barricades, cleaning and waste removal, housekeeping, laundry services, portable kitchens, security.
Now think outside the box. There are also parallel business opportunities to be found. Some of these goods will need to be stored, transported, installed, prepared and serviced. Is that something your business could do?
Think too of the potential in licensing Olympic brands. In previous Games, licenses have been granted for things like: balls, children’s clothing, ear warmers, posters and greeting, cards, stationary, toys, wine. History tells us that licensed memorabilia is a big seller with Games visitors looking to bring home a special reminder of their time. But that’s just VANOC and that’s just the Games period. There are hundreds more opportunities associated with the Games. For example, in Whistler the test events will be the mini-versions of the big event. VANOC will begin the test events next year at the three Whistler venues. These test events will require some of the same goods and services needed for the Olympic and Paralympic period, just on a much smaller scale. In addition to the test events, there are several different organizations that need specific goods and/or services, such as Olympic sponsors, the media and the athletes. Training athletes, for example, need access to massage and therapeutic services, nutritional supplies, and entertainment. Sponsors need everything from signage and event management services to unique gifts for their clients. The media, which will descend on Whistler in full force, require technical services but also things like translation services and transportation.Remember that Canadian companies, and perhaps locally based companies in particular, have an added advantage. At the Sydney 2000 Summer Games, Australian companies won more than 80 per cent of the Games-related contracts. It could be the same story here.Opportunities like these mentioned above could be yours for the taking. Be creative and do your planning, stay informed and be ready to move when the opportunities arise.
How to sell to VANOC
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that just because you have a small or medium sized business you’re too small for VANOC. If anything, history of past Games shows us that opportunities abound for those kinds of businesses. So the first step in learning how to sell to VANOC is to put your intimidation aside.
With that done, it’s time to get informed. It is essential to register for the free email notification of opportunities that match your business profile at the 2010 Commerce Centre website. It takes five minutes to register and that could mean the difference between an Olympic contract or not.
It would also be a good idea to download the 2010 Procurement Workshop workbook to get an idea of what is involved in selling to the organization. The details of how to get your proposal looking good enough for VANOC are all included in this workbook. See below for more information about the 2010 Business Opportunities Workshop.VANOC, like most other companies, is looking for the best value for its money. It is essential to be able to meet the standards VANOC has set out in its proposal and deliver what has been promised on time and within budget.VANOC is also committed to sustainability — environmental, economic, and social sustainability and in particular using Aboriginal participation and partnership. Highlighting your commitment to sustainability in any bid to VANOC could provide a tremendous advantage and make the difference between winning the bid and coming in second place.
VANOC also weighs experience and capacity when it considers each proposal. Highlight your successes and be positive and enthusiastic.Here are some tips directly from VANOC on what makes a winning bid:
• unassailable quality
• outstanding value for money
• minimal risk of delivery
• minimal risk of performance
• meets one of more of VANOC’s complimentary objectives
• includes some extrasIt may also be a good idea to send your company information directly to VANOC’s procurement department where it will be included in their reference library.
Go to www.vancouver2010.com to learn more. It never hurts to get your name out there. There could be some non-advertised opportunities (valued at under $5,000 to as high as $25,000). These contracts generally go to suppliers that the company already knows or those who have made the company aware of their products, services or capabilities. Don’t be shy — let them know who you are and what you can do.
Doing Business with VANOC
To be included in VANOC's Procurement database, please send your company information to us at the following address:Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC)
ATTN: Procurement Department
400 - 1095 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6
Please send only your company contact details and a brochure if available. We will not accept unsolicited business proposals. VANOC will attempt to provide notice to businesses in the database when an opportunity to bid arises within their field. However, VANOC will not be responsible or liable in any way for any failure to provide notification of a bid opportunity, so businesses are advised to regularly monitor this website and the BC Bid website for the latest VANOC bid opportunities.
VANOC Procurement Objectives
VANOC is committed to effective management that ensures fairness, transparency, and fiscal responsibility when conducting its procurement activities.
The primary goal of VANOC's procurement efforts is to maximize the value of goods and services received for the money spent, while ensuring that schedule deadlines are met. In addition, the integration of sustainability principles of environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and social responsibility into the procurement process is a significant element of VANOC's strategy to host a sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
To achieve these goals, VANOC will be guided by the following core practices when acquiring goods and services:
- Competitive and open process will be used where commercially reasonable. Public tenders will be employed for larger acquisitions.
- Prospective suppliers and contractors will be treated fairly throughout the tendering or procurement cycle.
- VANOC, its employees, consultants and agents will act in accordance with high standards of business conduct and will scrupulously avoid conflicts of interest.
- The VANOC procurement processes are complemented by sustainability objectives that include ethical sourcing, environmental protection, inclusivity, and striving to leverage opportunities that contribute to athlete and sport development and lasting sport legacies for Canadians.
- VANOC will meet all applicable legal and regulatory requirements governing the procurement process.
- VANOC will ensure that products and services delivered through the supply chain are manufactured and distributed ethically and with regard for international standards on human and labour rights.
- Prospective suppliers and contractors will not be permitted to engage in any form of lobbying to influence the outcome of a competitive procurement process. In addition, no person representing or affiliated with a prospective supplier or contractor will communicate, with respect to the competitive procurement process, with any director, officer or employee of VANOC or any partners or stakeholders, except the designated contact person.
- Submissions and offers will not be evaluated from - and contracts (including direct awards) will not be awarded to - suppliers and contractors whose current or past business or other interests or involvement with VANOC give rise to - or could in VANOC's opinion reasonably be perceived to give rise to - a conflict of interest.
- One on one communications with prospective suppliers will be carefully managed throughout the procurement cycle, from planning, solicitation or tender development to active procurement and contracting, to ensure fairness.
- Where a recurring demand is expected for particular types of goods or services, standing supply channel(s) may be established on the basis of best value through the prequalification of potential suppliers.
Subcontracting
If it just seems too big, there are other ways to maximize VANOC contract opportunities. Consider subcontracting. It may not have all the panache of getting a contract directly with VANOC, but it could have all the economic benefits that come with such a contract. Keep your eye on the 2010 Commerce Centre site for notices of contract and license awards. It doesn’t hurt to contact the winners in your categories, approach them with your products and ideas, and let them know you could be the subcontractor they’re looking for. A phone call, an email or an introduction could put you on the right track.
Partnering
Just like subcontracting, partnering is another way for smaller companies to take advantage of VANOC and other related Olympic opportunities. It is a small business strategy that could lay the groundwork for bigger and better things. A partner could bring resources and expertise to the table that may be missing in some aspects of your own company. Partnering does entail some risk and if things don’t feel right, you should walk away. But forming a strategic alliance could be the missing piece that will set your bid above the rest.
2010 Commerce Centre
The 2010 Commerce Centre, an initiative of the BC Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat, has been created to help inform, educate and connect businesses to the opportunities of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and to create long lasting economic benefits for the Province of British Columbia. All official procurement opportunities for 2010 including those of the VANOC are listed on their website.
The 2010 Commerce Centre is: - An information hub for one-stop access for all 2010-related business opportunities
- Provider of education and training programs to prepare firms to pursue Olympic-related business strategies
- A platform for establishing business connections and creating new partnerships to improve competitiveness
- A place to highlight and promote innovative BC businesses
The Whistler Chamber works with the 2010 Commerce Centre to communicate opportunities to the local business community.
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2010 Commerce