Isle conference looks
at military

Star-Bulletin staff

Many Hawaii businesses are unaware that procurement officers in the 100 or so military commands in Hawaii can make instant purchases of goods and services worth up to $2,500, say the organizers of a trade fair to be held at Pearl Harbor next week.

The key is the International Merchant Purchasing Account system, which provides credit cards to speed up military purchasing by eliminating the need for a cumbersome procurement approval process for small purchases.

The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. "Vendor's Fair" Dec. 15 at Club Pearl on the Navy base is intended to introduce the card-holders to local merchants and vice versa.

"Say there's a Navy ship in port and they need to replace a computer or get a quick repair done. They can just use the card," said Hector Venegas, program coordinator for the local chapter of the National Contract Management Association, organizers of the fair.

Business wanting to sell to Hawaii-based military units through the IMPAC can participate in the fair, as well as those already selling that way.

For more information contact Venegas at 523-2931.