DIVERSENATION.COM LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE E-PROCUREMENT BIDDING SYSTEM

Online system connects consumers, corporations, and government agencies for potential commerce opportunities.

Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (PRWEB) June 10, 2003 - DiverseNation.com-a Web site promoting minority- and women-owned businesses-has activated its online-procurement system called dBids (Diverse Bidding System), connecting buyers with service providers and vendors. This unique service enables businesses, government agencies, and consumers to post projects or supply requests, communicating via public or private message boards throughout the bidding process. The site also facilitates financial transactions through its full-service invoicing and payment system.

dBids is a resourceful and cost-effective tool for government and corporate entities with supplier-diversity initiatives targeting minority-and women-operated enterprises. Buyers can upload required documentation like contracts. It is the only online bidding system allowing users to locate potential providers using a specific gender or ethnic group as criteria.

For example, if an African-American person wants an African-American vendor to paint his house, he can post a project using African-American as a criterion. (Service buyers-or dBidders-need not select an ethnic or gender preference.) Registered service providers --painters in this example-- fitting the criteria outlined in the bid, will receive an e-mail inviting them to bid on the project. The buyer will review bids, and can post online comments or questions about the proposal. The buyer decides which provider is awarded the project. When the project has been completed, the buyer can return to the site to post comments about the level of service received from the provider, therefore providing motivation for the provider to perform at or above the buyers expectations. dBidder feedback generates an online history that will validate a service providers efforts.

The trend of this tool will be that as more service providers post bids, bid prices will decrease. Service providers who have submitted bids may reconsider their price point and re-bid at a more competitive price.

"dBids was created to help individual consumers, small businesses, corporations, and government agencies," said DiverseNation.com Founder and Principal Andrew Gilmore. I realized that consumers needed an automated way to connect with potential service providers. Instead of calling around and spending a lot of time getting estimates, consumers can go to our site and shop conveniently. With the current economic decline, this type of service is invaluable to struggling businesses, because our services fit within any advertising budget. We provide a convenient and inexpensive tool to locate captive buyers."

The site offers proposal categories such as: Construction and Contracting, Janitorial, Security Systems, Legal Services, Painting, Vehicle Services: Maintenance and Sales, Travel, and other service-oriented projects. DiverseNation.com will accommodate any unlisted categories for service and inventory types of dBids.

WebNet Media Group-a female and African-American-owned Web site development business in Cary, NC-has a featured listing on the site. Angel Ellis, the companys owner, is appreciative of the sites concept, particularly the dBids feature. dBids will allow me to engage with customers that have already identified a need for my services," she said. It will also give me a tool to seek out additional resources I need for my business operations."

To post a project, visitors should go to www.DiverseNation.com and become a member by selecting Join the Nation." Once a person becomes a member, they can post a service project on the site, and an automatic e-mail will be sent to relevant DiverseNation.com members, notifying them of the bid opportunity.

In addition to dBids, DiverseNation.com also provides an online directory of minority-and women-enterprises. It is free to register and browse the listings.

About DiverseNation.com
DiverseNation.com is a Web site promoting commerce between its visitors and business entities like companies, independent contractors, and commissioned salespeople, based on ethnicity, gender, or religious affiliation. It was created to position traditionally underutilized businesses-like minority or women-owned businesses -- to consumers of a similar demographic, to help financially empower people within and across different communities.

Founded in 2002, DiverseNation.com is headquartered in Raleigh-Durham, NC, and serves visitors, businesses, and advertisers throughout the United States. The companys mission is to build the most robust marketplace for users to buy goods and services from, and sell goods and services to, businesses and individuals of each gender, ethnic group, and religion.

To access this unique e-procurement tool, go to www.DiverseNation.com.