We
have submitted our report to the Department of Defense outlining our performance
in the first half of this year. Again, the numbers of contact awards and the
total dollars awarded are an increase over anything in the past. I view this
as a testimony to the PTAC counselors and to those businesses that put the appropriate
effort into government marketing and sales.The current PTAC counselors are extremely dedicated and knowledgeable. They regularly receive training on the most current processes and procedures agencies are using in the solicitation and award of all levels of government contracting.
The successful businesses are recognizing that there is an extra effort required, certifications and registrations to be completed, and the need to meet and MARKET to the government buyers and end-users.
For the bottom line of this effort, in the first half of the current year, there were $627,428,193 in awards - an increase of $134,244,243 over last year and a record-setting year. Using a formula from the Department of Defense, this equates to 14,759 jobs created - most impressive.
One final and very important issue: there are opportunities of all kinds in the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina. http://www.fedbizopps.gov/katrina.html has a listing for prime contracts and the national organization of United States PTACs, the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC), has a comprehensive listing of prime and sub-contracts. We are seeing the procurement rules waived in unprecedented fashion, in order to get relief to the affected areas. Go to www.aptac-us.org and check out what might be available for you and your company. I expect to see additional opportunities in North Carolina following Hurricane Ophelia. Watch the news and the state IPS web.