Tag Archives: PTACs

PTAC Spotlight: Iowa PTAP Helps Contractors Prosper

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The Iowa State University Procurement Technical Assistance Program provides its clients a wide range of resources thanks to its existence as a part of  ISU’s Center for Industrial Research and Service.  “We engage with our clients at multiple levels to help them develop successful businesses,” says Pam Russenberger, the statewide PTAP director.

The Iowa PTAP works extensively with small businesses new to the government market, assisting contractors in developing marketing initiatives and preparing their first successful proposals. “Helping a new government contractor receive its first contract, even if it is for only $5,000, is an incredibly rewarding experience,” Russenberger says.

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PTAC Spotlight: Washington PTAC Offers Broad Experience

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Small businesses in Washington State are in luck: a highly experienced PTAC team is available to assist contractors with the ins and outs of federal contracting.

The Washington PTAC currently consists of 14 team members, several of whom were government contracting officers before joining PTAC.  This depth and breadth of knowledge allows the Washington PTAC to provide small businesses with practical advice stemming from real-world experience.

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PTAC Spotlight: Kansas PTAC Helped Small Businesses Land 400+ Contracts Since 2013

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Since its inception at Wichita State University on February 1, 2013, the Kansas PTAC has helped Kansas small businesses obtain 433 contract awards worth over $32 million.  These successes should come as no surprise, because the Kansas PTAC is staffed by highly-experienced procurement professionals, who have played key leadership roles in APTAC, the national PTAC organization.

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Thank You, Texas!

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I am back in Kansas after a trip to Texas, where I spoke at the 18th Annual Government Procurement Conference.  My presentation provided an overview of recent legal developments of importance to small government contractors, as well as a look at potential changes on the horizon.  In between sessions, I met lots of engaging industry and government representatives in the exhibit hall and enjoyed listening to a great roster of speakers over lunch.

A big “thank you” to Gregory James and his team at the Cross Timbers Procurement Center for sponsoring this great event and inviting me to participate.  Thank you, also, to the many other speakers who shared their knowledge and guidance about a wide range of government contracting topics.  And, of course, a big thank you to the hundreds of government contractors, government representatives, and others who attended the conference.

SBA Proposed Rule Would Allow PTAC and SBDC Size Status Opinions

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Small Business Development Centers and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers would be permitted to issue advisory small business size status opinions under a proposed rule published last week by the SBA.

The proposed rule, which implements a section of the 2013 National Defense Advisory Act, establishes a “safe harbor” from fraudulent misrepresentation penalties for a small business that obtains an advisory size opinion from a SBDC or PTAC.  But the proposed rule acknowledges that SBDCs and PTACs are not required to provide such advisory opinions–and that new funding will not be awarded for this purpose.

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Thank You, Quad Cities!

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I am back from a trip to the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa, where I gave two presentations at the Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium.

It was great to spend two days meeting with small government contractors, large mentors and small business liaison officers, government officials and others in the industry.  A big “thank you” to the Iowa/Illinois Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association for organizing an outstanding event that is rapidly becoming known as one of the nation’s premier conferences for small government contractors.  Thanks also to the Illinois PTAC, the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, and all of the other event sponsors for their contributions, and to the Midwest SBLO Group for inviting me to address its quarterly meeting.  And of course, thanks to all of those who attended the conference (and my presentations!)

If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s symposium, it’s never too early to start planning for 2015.  Hope to see you there!

Event: Communicating With Contracting Officers (Wichita, KS)

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Interactions with federal Contracting Officers are part and parcel of government contracts, but many traps exist for the unwary.

To help contractors understand the rules surrounding communications with contracting officials, I am pleased to announce that I will be presenting a seminar entitled “Dealing with Government Contracting Officials: What Can You Really Say And Do?” on April 29 in Wichita, Kansas.  The seminar is sponsored by the Kansas PTAC, and admission is free.  For more information, and to register, simply follow this link.

See you there!