The 17th edition of the "Rede de Oportunidades" for Suppliers (RdO Fornecedores) program, organized by Firjan SENAI SESI, was held in partnership with Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil S.A. (TBG). The event took place on March 25 at the headquarters of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan), where the anchor company shared insights about its operations, introduced its procurement portal, and outlined the requirements for companies to participate in various contracting processes.

TBG is responsible for the operation and delivery of Bolivian gas. Its infrastructure extends from Rio Grande, Bolivia, to Canoas, in the Greater Porto Alegre region of Rio Grande do Sul, featuring 17 compression stations along the transport pipeline.

Thiago Valejo, Firjan's Project Manager for Oil, Gas, Energy, and Naval Industries, welcomed over 130 attendees and emphasized the business opportunities generated not only with TBG but also among participating companies through networking during RdO Fornecedores sessions. He highlighted the program’s goal of connecting suppliers with major players, delivering individualized reports to companies affiliated with the Firjan System, and supporting supplier training through SENAI and SESI solutions.

Felipe Siqueira, Oil, Gas, Energy, and Naval Industry Specialist at Firjan, presented key results achieved by RdO Fornecedores over the past three years. The program has already mapped over 1,000 opportunities related to the needs identified by anchor companies.

Explaining the RdO Fornecedores methodology, Siqueira pointed out that more than 29,000 supply items—goods and services—have been identified as potential matches to these demands. He also informed Firjan members that they have access to this extensive supplier database.

TBG and SEMAPI

Gleyce Ramos Lopes, TBG's Procurement Manager, introduced the company and its purchasing process to event participants. With over 2,500 kilometers of pipelines, the natural gas transportation company handles a wide variety of procurements, with a strong focus on services—many of which are linked to the supply chain of companies associated with Firjan CIRJ. She explained that, as a mixed-capital company, TBG follows the procurement regulations established by Law 13.303/2016 (the Brazilian State-Owned Companies Law).

Syone Figueiredo, TBG's Procurement and Contracting Coordinator, detailed the types of procurement opportunities the company typically offers. “We frequently purchase outsourced labor services for building maintenance, pipeline corridor maintenance, and administrative tasks. We also contract engineering works, procurement of various materials and spare parts, environmental services, freight services, and more,” she stated.

Representatives from SEMAPI, the company responsible for developing TBG’s procurement portal, explained how potential suppliers can access and use the system. Gustavo Pexirile, SEMAPI’s Operations Manager, and Fábio Castro, Business Unit Manager, guided attendees through the step-by-step process of registering on the TBG procurement portal (https://comprastbg.com.br).

Following the presentations, suppliers had the opportunity to clarify doubts in over 50 one-on-one meetings with TBG’s procurement team and portal representatives. Additionally, they engaged in valuable networking sessions with peers from across the supply chain.