PORTLAND – The Maine International Trade Center is presenting “Accessing Government Tenders,” a half-day program about the tools needed to successfully compete for government contracts in the United States and Canada.

The Market Development Center is Maine’s procurement technical assistance center. Set up in the 1990s, it has developed significant expertise in successfully marketing to governments. With the North American Free Trade Agreement’s easing the way for U.S. companies to compete on Canadian federal contracts, the U.S. Department of Commerce in Ottawa has designated Canadian government procurement as a “market of opportunity” for businesses in the United States .

“Basics of Selling to American Governments:” Rick Alexander, director of the Market Development Center will present an overview of the U.S. government procurement market, including best sectors, best practices and subcontracting tips for successfully marketing to federal and state governments. He will also provide an introduction to the Softshare system.

“Basics of the Canadian Government Procurement System:” Lucy Latka, commercial specialist, U.S. Embassy Ottawa, will discuss NAFTA and its application to both state and federal procurement contracts. Latka will share tips for successfully marketing to Canadian federal and provincial governments and will provide a demonstration of the MERX, Canada’s Internet-based national electronic tendering service.

“Accessing Government Tenders,” the final program of the 2002-2003 Eaton Peabody Global Commerce Series, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. June 25 at the Target Technology Center in Orono.

Cost is $30 for members and $60 for nonmembers of the Maine International Trade Center and is free to all Maine state legislators. For more information contact Dana Eidsness at [email protected] or (207) 541-7474 or visit the Web site at www.mitc.com.

The Maine International Trade Center is a public/private partnership providing international trade development assistance to Maine businesses that are active, or seeking to become active internationally. The Trade Center is a member-based organization with offices in Portland, Lewiston and Bangor.