PROCUREMENT

About PACE Procurement

Unlock contracting opportunities with free support services.

PACE Procurement provides extensive business training and direct technical assistance (TA), specialized procurement assistance and partnership resources including business expansion support tools: financing, insurance, and bonding for businesses focusing on capacity building to foster and secure new opportunities in Southern California. 

 

Click below to apply for assistance. If you have any questions about our procurement services, please email BDC.Procurement@pacela.org.

Apply Here: Procurement Intake Form

 

What We Provide

  • One on One Counseling
  • Identifying Contracting Opportunities
  • Guidance on Public Agencies Bidding Process
  • Create Marketing Strategies and Connect with Local, State, and Federal Agencies
  • Registration Instructions for Government & Private Sector Supplier Vendor Portal System
  • Contract Sourcing, RFP & RSOQ Review & Analysis
  • Bid Proposal & Budget Development Assistance
  • Small Business Certifications Assistance
  • Access to capital/funding Networking & Matchmaking Events
  • Various Workshops on Government & Private Sector Contracting

Various Languages

PACE provides services in multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and other languages.

Recent Workshops

Our Procurement Team

Procurement Relationship Manager: Andrew Barrera

Andrew Barrera is a dedicated economic development professional with 30 years of government, private sector and Community Development Corporation (CDC) experience. While working for the California State Assembly Transportation Committee, he was responsible for coordinating disaster relief efforts for the State Assembly District Office during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, including the monitoring of FEMA emergency housing, SBA small business disaster loans and freeway reconstruction with Caltrans, as well as acting as the point of contact for inter-political office holder relief coordination. Andrew currently sits as a collaborating resource partner on the US Commercial Services’ “Local to Global Initiative” and also has been appointed to sit on the Caltrans District #7 Small Business Advisory Council representing Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Loan Counselor II, CFA: Jennifer Whelan

Jennifer Whelan, CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA® charterholder- CFA Institute) has extensive experience in consulting, access to capital, small-to-mid size business merger and acquisition M&A execution experience. She will provide pre and post borrowing technical assistance to businesses to secure financing, capital and bonding through one-on-one assistance, webinars, etc. She will participate in various conferences (virtual and non-virtual), training workshops, networking events, etc.

Procurement Manager: Cristina Espiritu

Cristina Espiritu, a distinguished professional with a dual JD/MBA degree from Penn State University, brings over two decades of experience in finance, strategic consulting, contract negotiation, and business and asset valuation. She has offered her expertise to organizations ranging from startups up to publicly-traded companies, helping them develop and identify strategies to propel growth and maximize value. She has also been an entrepreneur and sold her first business in college. Since then, she has founded several companies and organizations in diverse sectors including technology, marketing, and health and wellness. She has served and held leadership roles, on the board of director positions in non-profit organizations, as well as served as a mentor for incubator programs in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Cristina is also a trained mediator, certified by the Orange Human Relations Mediation Program.

Program Associate: Christy Tran

Christy Tran, MPA, brings a background in economic development, public administration, program management, and data analysis to her role as Program Associate at PACE. She holds a Master of Public Administration and has more than four years of program management experience. Prior to joining PACE, Christy served as a Regional Economic Recovery Coordinator with the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), collaborating with stakeholders across government, industry, and community organizations to advance the CA Jobs First initiative and connect regions with funding and partnership opportunities. She brings that same collaborative approach, along with a strong analytical foundation, to her work at PACE, using data to identify trends and gaps as she partners with small business owners across Los Angeles, from local restaurants to specialty contractors, to guide them through certification requirements, eligibility documentation, and the procurement process to help them access government contracting opportunities.

List of Agencies and Corporations we worked with:

  • City of Los Angeles
  • Los Angeles County
  • Metro
  • SBA
  • Caltrans
  • SoCalGas
  • Southern California Edison
  • AT&T
  • Frontier Communications
  • PCL Construction
  • Clark Construction
  • Burns McDonnell
  • California Public Utilities Commission
  • Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Comerica Bank
  • Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce
  • Supplier Clearinghouse
  • Metropolitan Water District
  • Los Angeles County Consumer and Business Affairs
  • Los Angeles County Public Works
  • Metrolink
  • CA Department of General Services
  • Los Angeles World Airports
  • City of Los Angeles Housing Authority
  • Merriwether & Williams
  • Korean Consulate of Los Angeles
  • Golden State Water Company
  • Kheir Clinic
  • and many, many more!

 

1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1520, Los Angeles, CA 90017

(213) 353-9400 / pacelabdc.org

All Rights Reserved