DNC looking for trade-show pros

Have an extra 3,000 chairs? How about 2,500 tables?

Then you might want to bid for the latest contract for next year's Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic National Convention Committee today will begin seeking bids for "exposition services" for the September 2012 event.

Theo LeCompte, the DNCC's chief operating officer, said Tuesday the contract could be worth at least $1 million to the winning bidder. The contract will be awarded on Oct. 24.

The winning bidder will outfit Time Warner Cable Arena and the Charlotte Convention Center. The arena will house the convention itself. The convention center will host the media as well as briefing and conference rooms.

Among other things, the winning contractor must provide:

No fewer than 3,000 chairs, including plastic, stools and high-back executive chairs.

At least 2,500 tables including "cocktail tables, end tables, conference tables and bar tables."

No less than 8,000 running feet of drapes in a variety of colors.

A minimum of 100 floor and table lamps.

At least 500 feet of temporary "hard wall structure" with lockable doors.

Also needed will be a "variety of additional office and living furnishings" as requested by convention organizers.

This is the second request for convention bids.

Earlier this month, the DNCC open bidding for one of the event's largest contracts - the arena upfit, expected to be a multimillion-dollar job. Interested contractors went on a walk-through of the arena Tuesday.