PTAC director announces updates on training events and requests your assistance in reporting contract dollars

By the time you read this, the PTAC counselors and I will have returned from a training conference in Detroit, MI. Included in this conference is a tour of the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). This should prove to be a very educational outing and will help the counselors better understand the goals and processes of TACOM. I would ask each company to check and make sure that you have responded to the PTAC Awards Survey. An e-mail was distributed to everyone at the end of January, and we need your information in order to complete the "end of the year" report to Defense Logistics Agency. The response so far has been good, but by no means complete. So, please help us by submitting this survey. You can fax it back to me at 919.715.7777. Please be sure to list your company and sign the form. Read more...

4/24/07: How to Do Business with the Government Jacksonville       5/1/07: Perfect Proposal Writing Durham         5/30/07: Marketplace 2007 Research Triangle Park   Many more events...

Marketplace 2007

May 30th at the Sheraton Imperial in Research Triangle Park!

Mark your calendars for the largest government procurement trade show in the Triangle.  With over fifty vendors representing numerous government agencies and large prime contractors, this reverse trade show is designed with your business in mind.  Seminars and networking events will provide you direct contact with purchasing officers and experts within with each agency.  To learn more or register online, visit the Marketplace 2007 website.

NC PTAC Sponsors a Veterans Symposium

On December 22, 2006, President George W. Bush signed a critical piece of legislation into law that affects all military veterans and their businesses (Public Law 109-461). The law, among other provisions, provides new tools for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in contracting with veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Learn more about the symposium...

McCamie’s Trash Removal Awarded the SBA BD 8(a) Certification and Waste Removal Contract

Pansy McCamie started her business, McCamie’s Trash Removal, in 1994
-- a Woman- and Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (W/MBE). Being the savvy business owner she is she says, “I know enough about doing business with the government to know how important it is to have a SB Preference Program designation in order to be considered a preferred vendor for Federal Government contracts.” So having learned about the Federal HUBZone Program, she applied for HUBZone Certification and was approved as a HUBZone Business in March of 2000. Knowing she could also apply for the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Certification, she began the application process in 2004, but got no where with it. So when she heard of the Procurement Technical Assistant Center’s (PTAC) services to assist small businesses with the 8(a) application process, Pansy didn’t hesitate to ask for their help. Read more...

What Are Small Business Liaison Officers Seeking In A Subcontractor?

What do Small Business Liaison Officers (SBLOs) and subcontracting officers look for in their small business suppliers? If you said knowledge of the FAR, or ISO registration, or participation in SBA programs such as Mentor Protégé, or any other technical qualifications, you'd be right, but that isn't the whole story. In a recent informal survey designed to uncover the top ten best traits a small business vendor needs in order to be successful with the primes, the same words kept appearing: responsive, reasonable, knowledgeable, solid, dependable, cooperative, accountable, responsible. Read more...

Federal Contract Requirements For Affirmative Action

Three federal laws require certain employers that do business with the federal government to implement Affirmative Action Plans (AAPs): Executive Order 11246, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. Specifically, under these laws, federal contractors and subcontractors that employ 50 or more employees and enter into a least one contract of $50,000 or more with the federal government must prepare and maintain a written affirmative action program for the recruitment, hiring and promotion of women, minorities, disabled individuals, and protected veterans. (See 41 C.F.R. 60-1.40, 60-250.40, 60-741.40) Read more...

Manufacturer Scores A Success With The Air Force

Cary Manufacturing Corporation, located in Charlotte, received its first government order in March 2007. The order for six Fuji Regenerative Blowers was placed by Neal Urquhart, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Cary Manufacturing Corp. is a distributor for Fuji Electric Corporation of America. Cary manufactures and/or distributes Fuji regenerative blowers (also called ring compressors) and blower accessories such as pressure relief valves, inlet filters, and inlet filter covers. Cary also manufactures industrial vacuum systems using Fuji regenerative blowers.

"As a small business, we were somewhat apprehensive about selling to the government, but in reality we could not have asked for more comprehensive support on every level." Neal Urquhart with Eglin Air Force Base was a wealth of information and could not have been more helpful to Cary during the actual quoting and ordering process. Mr. Urquhart also initiated Cary's contact with the Eglin Air Force Base Small Business Advocate Director, Gina Holman, who is instrumental in promoting small businesses on base. In addition, our PTAC specialist with the SBTDC has provided comprehensive support through one-on-one meetings as well as inviting Cary to participate in informational conferences and PROBID," reported Lisa Kehoe of Cary Manufacturing.

"This multi-layer support has allowed Cary Manufacturing to concentrate on what a small business needs to do to be a success… supply a quality product line with competitive pricing and timely delivery," said Lisa Kehoe.