News

• PTAC at the Tri City Regional Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for a PTAC Government Contracting Advisor. See job posting here.
• Government Contractors implementing the federal vaccine mandate in Executive Order 14042 may have some changes to that requirement. Read an October 19 update here. Questions on your obligations as a federal contractor? Dig out that contract and call your local PTAC for guidance.
• Innovative Firms: The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was set to sunset last month, but will now continue through 2025 thanks to a last-minute deal in Congress.   As a result, the Department of Defense will release their next set of topics on November 22. The solicitation will officially open on January 4, 2023. Proposals will be due February 8 2023. The US Department of Energy is releasing their next set of topics on November 7 with a Letter of Intent due January 3 and full applications by February 21, 2023. New to SBIR? PTAC can help! Ask your PTAC advisor or become a client at www.washingtonptac.org
• Washington State is developing new statewide contracts for “Advertising & Marketing Services,” “Painting Services,” Portable Sanitation Services” and “ITPS Project Management” that will be solicited within the next 6 months (tentatively). Watch these and other planned procurement on their planned procurement page here and make sure your commodity codes are up to date on your WEBS profile so you are notified.
• Congratulations to the successful recipients of the Working Washington Round 5 (WWR5) Grants that were awarded on October 31. WWR5 grant recipients will have until November 30, 2022, to provide their UEI number to be eligible to receive funding. Need support? PTAC Resource page and Commerce Resource Page.

Bid Opportunities

Upcoming Events - Virtual unless otherwise noted

Keep scrolling to find upcoming events divided into four categories:

• Focused Classes
• Monthly Meetings
• Series Courses
• Tradeshows and Conferences

What Inflation Reduction Act Means for Minority Contractors

11/03/2022     

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM PST

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is committing $369bn to the modernization of the American energy system. But what does this mean for contractors? How can WMBE contractors benefit? Join us for our webinar to find answers to your questions.

Introduction to Government Contracting  

11/15/2022     

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Learn how to prepare and position your business to sell your products or services to Federal, state, and local government agencies. Discover information and resources to help you determine what agencies buy and how they buy it, and/or determine who is using your services. This class will show you how you can prepare your business to succeed in the government contracting marketplace. You’ll also be introduced to certifications and resources that may help you gain an edge on the competition.

Stop Work. Change Order. What these and other contract mods mean for your bottom line

11/15/2022     

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM     

Learn what types of modifications can be done and how you can respond. Hear from a retired 29-year Navy Contracting Officer with the insider knowledge.

Army Corps of Engineers Albeni Falls Dam Fish Passage Industry Day

11/15/2022  

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Join representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers to learn about the Albeni Falls Dam in Idaho Fish Passage project.

Meet the Agencies - Tri-Cities

11/17/2022     

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

If you are contractor wanting to know more about public works Meet the Agencies was created for you. The session format will allow for you to sit down with each agency to better understand how to do business with them.

Three Rivers Convention Center 7016 West Grandridge Blvd , Kennewick WA 99336

Writing Successful Proposals Workshop

12/9/2022       

9:00 am - 12:00 pm 

This workshop builds on the concepts provided in the Dissecting an RFQ workshop. Each student will begin the workshop with an RFP summary, a bid decision, and a schedule, allowing them to focus solely on the actual writing of the proposal.

You will learn how to:

Review Key Principles of Proposal Development (Bid/No Bid - Deliverables List – Burst)

Identify Key Win Themes (e.g., why YOU)

Develop Initial Bulleted Outlines

Write Proposal Sections

Review and Submit Your Proposal

Solicitation Review: Go or No-Go Decisions – 2 day class

12/12/2022 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM and 12/14/2022 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM

There are many things to consider in whether to go after an award for a contract or not. This workshop will provide tools to conduct a solicitation review to make a "GO" or "NO-GO" decision. Our goal in this workshop is to make sure you are not surprised after contract award of missed terms and conditions.

Upcoming Events - Monthly Sessions

Contracting Coffee Hour, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM  

Got contracting questions? We have answers!

10/5/2022       11/2/2022       12/7/2022       

University of Washington Virtual Workshops for Suppliers, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

The orientations will provide a learning opportunity to assist in navigating potential business prospects at the University and with other state agencies, as well as educational and other resources to assist businesses. 

11/3/2022       12/1/2022

PTAC & SBDC First Friday Follow-up, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Friday Follow-up is an open forum, round table for businesses to get answers from your local PTAC counselor and SBDC Advisor. Bring your questions regarding government contracting and learn from knowledgeable Small Business Experts. Our main focus is to share resources for growing your business.

11/4/2022      12/2/2022

SE Washington PTAC/SBDC Small Business Roundtable

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM    

The SE WA PTAC/SBDC Business Roundtable is an open forum discussion where you can learn from PTAC about government contracting, and from Business Advisors with the Small Business Development Center about how to grow your business.

11/17/2022                                   

Wednesday with the Deputy for Small Business

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 

Wednesday with the Deputy for Small Business is an opportunity for Industry partners to learn about doing business with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport.

11/16/2022     12/14/2022

Doing Business with the state – DES

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

On the third Thursday of the month, the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) facilitates an interactive conversation with state procurement professionals who can provide information and insight on how to do business with the state.         

11/17/2022     12/15/2022

SBIR 101

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

This monthly presentation will introduce you to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. It is designed for small businesses or startups who are developing innovative technology and who may be interested in selling that technology to federal agencies

11/18/2022     12/16/2022

Upcoming Events - Series Courses

Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) are presenting a virtual training series focused on Public Work contracting fundamentals.  

Each session is led by subject matter experts from the public works sector.

This 5 week training series will provide education to small, minority and women-owned businesses.

Register for each session you would like to participate

• November 1 – Introduction to Public Works - Recording coming soon
• November 8 – Fundamentals 3:00 -6:00
• November 15 – Accounting 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• November 22 – Bonding 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• November 29– Insurance 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Upcoming Events - Tradeshows and Conferences

National Veterans Small Business Week - Business Impact NW

11/7-10/2022, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM, online and Tacoma

4th Annual Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Opportunity Day (DOEVETS’22) 11/9/22 10 AM – 2 PM PST

Govology classes, live and on demand, are Free for Washington PTAC clients – contact your PTAC counselor for access. Click here for the list of Govology this month’s live classes. 

Recorded webinars available.