Turn Your Award Into a Sales Advantage: Lead With Your EPC Contract
You've earned the contract. Now make it work for you.
Securing an Empire Procure Connect (EPC) contract is a significant achievement, but many suppliers treat it as an afterthought instead of leading with it.
Public sector buyers are looking for solutions that are easy to purchase, compliant, and readily available. Your EPC contract is all three. It was competitively solicited and awarded by Rockland, Ulster, or Chemung County in compliance with New York's General Municipal Law, and it includes cooperative language that lets other public entities buy from it without running a bid of their own.
That makes your contract a shortcut for buyers but only if they know you have one. Share this information with your resellers and distributors!
What Does "Leading With Your Contract" Mean?
It means making your EPC award one of the first things buyers see and hear about your company. Rather than:
"We provide office furniture solutions for government agencies."
Try:
"We are an awarded Empire Procure Connect contract holder providing office furniture solutions to New York public entities."
The difference is small, but it tells buyers you've already been through a compliant procurement process, your pricing has been evaluated, and buying from you will be faster and easier. That means more buyer confidence, better visibility, and a clear advantage over competitors without a contract.
Five Ways to Lead With Your EPC Contract
1. Show the logo. Add the EPC logo and a scannable QR code to your email signature, website, sales materials, business cards, and event signage. Templates and logos are on the Supplier Resource Page (password: EPCSupplierSupport!).
2. Say it early. Mention your contract in the first few minutes with any local government, school district, BOCES, or special district: "Our services are available through EPC Contract #XXXXX, awarded by [Rockland / Ulster / Chemung] County." Have your contract number, awarding county, and term dates ready.
3. Keep your profile current. Buyers research online before they call. Make sure your BidNet Direct profile has accurate contacts and clearly describes your current products and services. Technical help: support@bidnet.com.
4. Promote it at events. Display your contract number on booth materials, and bring the "Proud EPC Contract Holder" table-top sign from the Supplier Resource Page. Add your logo, print as is with the included QR code, or swap in your own linking straight to your contract.
5. Train your team. Everyone who talks to customers, including your resellers and distributors, should be able to answer: What is EPC? Who can use our contract? What's covered? How do buyers purchase from us?
Three Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the end of the conversation — if buyers don't know you're an awarded contract holder, they may assume a full procurement process is required.
- Assuming buyers already know — not every buyer is familiar with every contract holder, or with how cooperative purchasing works.
- Forgetting existing customers — they may not realize they can buy more from you through your EPC contract.
Final Thought
Your EPC contract is more than a purchasing vehicle, it's a sales and marketing asset. The suppliers who see the most success are the ones who lead with it consistently and make it easy for public entities to buy. Every conversation, conference, and email is a chance to repeat one simple message:
"We're an awarded Empire Procure Connect contract holder, and we're ready to help."
Quick Action Checklist
✓ Add your contract number and awarding county to your email signature.
✓ Review and update your supplier profile in BidNet Direct.
✓ Add the EPC logo to your marketing materials.
✓ Print the "Proud EPC Contract Holder" table-top sign for your next event.
✓ Train your sales team on contract talking points.
Questions about your EPC contract?
Supplier support: suppliers@empireprocureconnect.info
Technical support (BidNet Direct): support@bidnet.com
Supplier resources: https://empireprocureconnect.info/suppliers