Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
Program Contact: Karen Ostroskie
E-mail: kostroskie@nepa-alliance.org
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) serves as a liaison to help local companies, usually small businesses increase sales and growth for our regional economy. NEPA's PTAC staff provides marketing and technical assistance to qualified, competitive companies who wish to bid on government contracts and also works with government agencies to help locate suppliers in the region. The tools available from NEPA's PTAC can help companies market their products and qualify their business to be a leading contender in winning a contract with a state or federal agency.
CLICK HERE to download the Procurement Technical Assistance Center Brochure
Bid Leads Online: Click Here to find out what various federal, state and local government agencies are purchasing.
NEPA NEWS!
On March 28, 2008 the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) will hold the first ACTION Symposium at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, Wilkes-Barre. This year the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) has combined its annual PTAC EXPO with a first-of-its-kind “Partnering for Progress” session. The ACTION Symposium is a two-day event hosted by NEPA and its many partners and sponsors and is intended to provide a forum for businesses to hear the most innovative and informative representatives from government agencies, federal laboratories, economic development agencies, colleges and universities and offices of technology transfer. The “Partnering for Progress” session will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2008. Federal Laboratory Consortium Mid-Atlantic District representatives will come together for the first time in Northeastern Pennsylvania to share ideas, highlight best practice projects that involve technology transfer and innovative technology developments into private businesses on a national level.
The transfer of technology out of government and university labs into the private sector and vice versa holds enormous possibilities for the growth of small businesses throughout the region and the Commonwealth. NEPA is bringing NASA, NIST, NIH, DOE, Navy, DOD, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Northeastern Pennsylvania Keystone Innovation Zone Technology Projects and Keystone Innovation Partnership, NASA’s Innovative Partnership Program and many more excellent speakers and panel participants. Businesses or individuals interested in commercializing a product or wishing to learn what technologies are available and how to utilize the labs for transfer should definitely attend Thursday’s event.
On the second day of the Symposium, Friday, March 28, 2008, NEPA will hold its annual Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Expo. Business owners will have the opportunity to meet with government agencies and major government prime contractors in an effort to obtain new government contracting opportunities. Additionally, major government prime contractors will be introduced to new potential suppliers, especially women-owned, minority-owned, veteran and service disabled veteran-owned businesses.
On behalf of NEPA and our event sponsors and partners, we look forward to bringing this most resourceful event to you!
CLICK HERE to view photos from the 2006 PTAC Expo!
SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS WITH THE GOVERNMENT
Electronic Bidmatching Service - PTAC staff can target the needs of government agencies across the country and match buyers and local suppliers from keyword searches via the Internet. Finding markets for your products or services is the first place to start in government contracting. Government agencies often post bids to central websites such as FedBusOpps, Procurement Gateway or to local bulletin boards. Searching each site can be a time-consuming and unproductive process. NEPA's bidmatching service can do this for you. It is a keyword-driven search of databases of procurement opportunities from federal, state and local agencies. This information can be also tailored to meet your specific needs. For example, you may only want bid information from Pennsylvania. Or, you might only want to receive bids from state government. The PTAC can also deliver the information whichever way you wish to receive it: e-mail, fax or by general mail (although we will suggest e-mail delivery of bid information whenever possible). If your business would like to sign up for this free service, simply click here to email: NEPA PTAC
Research -Haystack Online is a web-based database of procurement information that can assist companies with making informed bids on government purchases. Many customers of the PTAC utilize this service to find prices that the federal government has paid for commodities. It is also a tool that identifies your company's competitors on government procurements and details of the awards they have been receiving. Companies can also conduct market research to determine what government agencies buy the products or services your company offers. The database can be searched by National Stock Number (NSN), manufacturer's part number (P/N), Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code and company name. A detailed report containing technical data and price information is then generated. Complicated procurement regulations, certifications and clauses that accompany government contracts can also be explained to potential suppliers by experienced PTAC staff.
CLICK HERE for a sample procurement history (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Electronic Forms - PTAC staff is knowledgeable about the necessity and process of registering through agency websites to receive electronic bid notifications. PTAC staff can help prepare and submit digital bids, research specifications and other electronic documents and configure client's computers to view digital drawings. The PTAC staff can also assist with filling out forms for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the PA Vendor Master Registration.
Certifications- Womens Business Enterprise (WBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certifications, veteran and disabled-veteran small business set-asides, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) certification, Very Small Business (VSB) Pilot Program, and 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) certifications are all programs that can increase competitiveness for small businesses. NEPA PTAC staff has information about the advantages and the procedures of certification.
Seminars and Workshops - Although one-on-one meetings are scheduled regularly with PTAC clients, especially new to the procurement process, NEPA's PTAC staff arranges for qualified, state or federal speakers to present information that will help small businesses gain a competitive edge with a better understanding of the system. Visit the web calendar frequently for upcoming seminars in the region.
Referrals - NEPA provides many services to small businesses and can make referrals to other NEPA programs such as financing, export assistance and help for new companies just starting a business.
NEPA also has many prominent partners in the region that work with staff for specific business needs. As a PTAC client, all you have to do is ask, help is usually just a phone call away. Best of all, NEPA offers these tools to local companies at NO CHARGE.
SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS
The federal government has programs in place to assist qualified small businesses obtain their fair share of the procurement dollar. These programs include
- 8(a) Business Development
- Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs
- Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Empowerment program
- veteran and service-disabled veteran set-asides
- Very Small Business Pilot Program.
8(a) Business Development (BD) Program - named for a Section of the Small Business Act, is a small business program created to help disadvantaged companies compete in the federal marketplace.Companies that are at least 51% owned and controlled by Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Native Americans and other groups designated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) can apply. Companies whose owners are not classified in these groups may also apply, but must show a "preponderance of evidence" that they were either socially or economically discriminated against. Usually, the time it takes SBA to review a company's application and make an eligibility determination is ninety (90) days. The program is a nine-year program designated into two phases: the developmental phase and the transitional phase. The SBA acts as the prime contractor and bids on "set-aside" contracts on behalf of 8(a) companies. The contractor then does the work. In addition to contract work, the 8(a) company can access other business development services provided by the SBA. Companies can also participate in mentoring agreements with large government contractors, known as the Mentor-Protégé Program.
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) - is similar to the 8(a) Business Development program, in that it applies to the same ethnic groups. However, whereas the 8(a) program provides a broad scope of business development services to socially and economically disadvantaged companies, the SDB certification strictly pertains to federal procurement only. The benefits of certification include: a price evaluation adjustment of up to ten percent on procurements mandated by regulation and evaluation credits and monetary incentives for prime contractors who use SDBs in subcontracting roles. The latter applies to large companies with contracts over $500,000. Companies certified as 8(a) automatically qualify for SDB certification.
Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) - HUBZones are economically distressed areas - either county or census tracts - that have either a median household income less than 80% of the non-metropolitan state level or an unemployment rate not less than 140% of the statewide average. A company can log on to the SBA web site: www.sba.gov/hubzone and select the option 'Are you in a HUBZone?' to determine if its principal office is located in a HUBZone. To qualify, a business must meet the following criteria: it must be a small business, it must be owned and controlled by a US citizen and at least 35% of its employees must reside in the HUBZone. In NEPA's service area, three counties are designated as HUBZones - Monroe, Schuylkill and Wayne. NEPA's PTAC staff can assist your business with completing and submitting the electronic application. Certified HUBZone businesses benefit in the procurement arena with set-aside contracts for HUBZone companies and large companies must include HUBZone certified companies as a goal.
Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran Small Business - The government also has contract goals to assist veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned companies. These are businesses that are 51% owned and controlled by a veteran or by a veteran with a service-connected disability. Prime contractors with contracts over $500,000 for commodities and $1,000,000 for construction are required to submit with their bid, subcontract plans with established percentages and dollar goals for small business, including veteran-owned small business. There is no certification application to complete.
Very Small Business (VSB) Program - is a program to improve contract opportunities to companies that employ less than 15 people. It applies to contracts between $2,500 and $50,000 in value and is being tested in specific SBA geographic areas: in Pennsylvania, this area includes the counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne (NEPA's service area). In the case of supplies, this program applies to contracting offices (such as Tobyhanna Army Depot) located in those SBA designated regions. In the case of acquisition of services, the program is applicable to work performed in SBA designated areas. If there is a reasonable expectation of receiving offers from two or more VSBs, a contracting officer must set aside the acquisition for VSBs. Even if one offer is received, the contracting officer should make the award to the Very Small Business concern.
For more information, refer to the Federal Acquisition Regulations, Subpart 19.9.
Women Owned Small Business - Woman Owned Small Business - is a small business that is 51% owned and controlled by a woman or women. The federal government does not have a formal certification for woman-owned businesses but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does. Therefore, in order to claim this status, the business must be certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) through the PA Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities (BMWBO). Women owned businesses are also encouraged to self-certify at the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) web site - www.ccr.gov, which is the federal government's vendor database. Registration is free.
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