The Northwest Michigan Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is a not-for-profit organization helping companies in northwest Michigan and the Upper Peninsula successfully obtain and perform under local, state, and federal government contracts. Links are provided for your convenience and are safe to the best of our knowledge.
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In this issue:
- TentCraft named NW MI PTAC Small Business of the Year!
- HUBZone Map Freeze
- PTAC Training and Networking Events
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Other Training Events
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TentCraft Selected as Small Business of the Year |
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TentCraft in Traverse City has been selected as the NW Michigan PTAC Small Business of the Year. The company, which manufactures outdoor marketing elements such as pop-up tents, custom structures, flags, and signage, is being recognized for working to increase its government sales with assistance from the PTAC.
When the COVID-19 crisis hit in 2020, and demand for its custom-printed tents disappeared, TentCraft had to pivot to keep its employees working. The company recognized a critical need for portable, quick-deploy tents and shelters to support medical testing and containment, and emergency response activities. TentCraft quickly realized that selling to the government is rife with government-specific rules and regulations and complicated steps and procedures. TentCraft turned to the PTAC for assistance.
PTAC collaborated with TentCraft’s supply chain manager and sales team and provided support and technical assistance including connections to a wide variety of information and resources. In 2020, the PTAC recorded nearly 100 hours of counseling time assisting TentCraft. As a result, TentCraft was awarded over $2 million in federal government contracts.
“The PTAC has been helpful researching new opportunities,” said Matt Bulloch, TentCraft President. “These efforts, with the PTAC’s guidance, gave us an enormous amount of credibility with the VA when we worked with their individual hospitals and regions on COVID-19 screening products and mobile infirmaries.”
“TentCraft took advantage of our many services and the expertise of the PTAC staff to switch gears mid-stream and without warning,” said Cathy Fairbanks, Northwest Michigan PTAC Regional Director. “I am glad we already had a relationship with them and they reached out to us. It was rewarding to play a small part in responding to the pandemic.”
“Our work with the PTAC has shown us that there is a world of opportunity for us to seize,” said Bulloch. “We look forward to continuing to work with the PTAC to bid on government contracts as they become available.”
TentCraft will be formally honored at the Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) awards gala July 20, 2021 in Lansing.
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HubZone Map Freeze Extended |
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The SBA has issued a final rule that extends the HUBZone map freeze to June 30, 2023. The National Defense Authorization Act 2018 requires that certain certified HUBZone small business concerns maintain their HUBZone status until the HUBZone map is updated in accordance with the results of the 2020 census. SBA previously issued a rule to implement this provision and “freeze” the HUBZone map until December 31, 2021. However, SBA has learned that the data necessary to update the HUBZone map to reflect the 2020 census results will not be available to SBA until December 2022. Thus, SBA must extend the HUBZone “freeze” through June 30, 2023. |
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PTAC Training & Networking Events |
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Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Distribution Virtual Industry Day
June 9, 2021, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Industry Representatives, Prospective Vendors, Large and Small Business, and Socioeconomic Classified Business with a focus on service and supply related industries such as the following:
- Storage and distribution
- Construction
- Material handling equipment repair
- Janitorial
- Boxes (cartons, crates, containers, packaging, packing supplies, bags, and sacks)
- Communication equipment
- Material handling equipment & conveyors
- Office supplies
- Furniture (cabinets, lockers, bins, and shelving)
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US Health and Human Services presents: 2021 A2S Small Business National Virtual Conference, "Building Back the Heart of the Economy"
June 9-10, 2021.
Follow their website at www.HHSAccess2Success.com for updates and registration for both the conference and eMatchmaking opportunities.
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Tactical Wheeled Vehicles Webinar
June 15, 2021, 1PM-3PM
NDIA’s Tactical Wheeled Vehicles (TWV) Division works to increase the overall understanding of the U.S. military's tactical vehicle needs among all sectors involved. In June, the division will continue its webinar series. Cost to attend.
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Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Program Webinar Series
Thursday, June 17th, 2021 1:00PM
Join our discussion with Ms. Kate Fuster. Branch Chief, Program Protection at Department of the Navy. Ms. Fuster will provide guidance for small businesses on how to comply with CUI requirements and policies, including handling, safeguarding and protecting information which qualifies as CUI.
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11th Annual Meet the Buyers Event!
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 9:00AM-2:00PM
- Build your government contracting network
- Connect virtually with local, state and federal government agency procurement professionals
- Identify agency buying procedures and purchasing processes in small, intimate breakout sessions
- Increase your company visibility through introductions to your products and services
- Ask questions directly from the sources
Confirmed Agencies:
City of Detroit
Consumers Energy
Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 10 Contracting Office
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at TACOM
DTE Energy
Eastern Michigan University
Federal Aviation Administration
State of MI Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB)
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of State
Wayne County
Wayne State University
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VA-Direct Access Program-Comprehensive Health Services
Virtual Business Opportunity
July 8, 2021 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Comprehensive Health Services (CHS), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Direct Access Program, is participating in a virtual business opportunity session.
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2021 Military Additive Manufacturing Summit
July 27-28, 2021
DSI’s 5th Annual Military Additive Manufacturing Summit is designed as an educational “Town Hall” forum, where thought leaders & key policy-makers across military services, defense agencies, & civilian organizations can come together for actionable discussions & debate. This year’s Summit will focus on the latest innovations in 3D printing technologies & the push across the DoD to rapidly supply durable, effective equipment & parts to the Warfighter on the battlespace.
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NDIA Michigan Chapter GVSETS Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, MI
August 10-12, 2021
GVSETS & APBI brings together Defense executives, program managers, engineers, and decision-makers to discuss technology, initiatives, programs and plans in the ground systems domain.
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Navy Gold Coast Conference - Virtual
September 1-2, 2021
The San Diego Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is proud to present the 33rd Annual Department of the Navy Gold Coast Small Business Procurement Event, "The DON - Capitalizing on Small Business for Innovation and Agility in a Remote Environment", from September 1 - September 2, 2021.
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The Procurement Technical Assistance Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency. This PTAC is funded in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) |
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