April 2019 - In This Issue:
ABOUT US

The SBTDC/PTAC Program's purpose is to generate employment and improve the general economic condition of the state by assisting  North Carolina companies including those eligible for business development programs for local, state and federal government contracts. We provide procurement technical assistance by offering no-fee and confidential counseling on selling your products and/or services to the appropriate local, state or federal government agency.

THE TEAM
MARK MILLS
PTAC Program Director
919.600.6096


SCOTT BARKER
PTAC Counselor 
Elizabeth City / Greenville / Wilmington
252.737.1369


PAM RACER
PTAC Counselor 
Asheville / Hickory / Boone / Cullowhee
828.251.6025


JOEL GUGE
PTAC Counselor 
Raleigh / Chapel Hill / Durham
919.513.0623


ROBIN LIVINGSTON
PTAC Counselor 
Fayetteville / Pembroke
910.672.1359


SHARONETTA MCINTYRE

PTAC Counselor 
Greensboro / Winston-Salem
336.256.9301


MARK ROBINSON
PTAC Supply Chain Counselor
Raleigh
919.600.5397


DONNA WARREN
PTAC Counselor
Wilmington
910.962.3566


BROOKLYN DELLINGER

PTAC Counselor/Events Coordinator
Statewide
828.322.5379

UPCOMING EVENTS
April 3, 2019
Wilmington, NC
Federal Proposal Writing Workshop
Learn more
April 9, 2019
Hickory, NC
Defense Contractor Academy
Learn more
ADDITIONAL SBTDC RESOURCES
ACCELERATE: A BLOG FOR CEOs OF MID-SIZED FIRMS
SBTDC's Strategy and Growth Services blog, Accelerate, helps CEOs of mid-sized companies make business and leadership improvements through helpful insight, resources, and tools.
Learn more »


TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION SERVICES
The SBTDC's Technology Commercialization Services team provides business counseling to small to mid-sized business owners, university researchers, and entrepreneurs looking to advance their innovations to the marketplace.
Learn more »


INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The SBTDC's International Business Development Specialists assists small and mid-sized businesses with export planning and exporting.
Learn more »
Director's Corner: 
New PTAC Counselor in Wilmington
By Mark G. Mills, PTAC Program Director at North Carolina State University
Donna J. Warren joined the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) in March.   Donna is the new PTAC Counselor co-located with the Small Business & Technology Development Center at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington to assist clients in Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender counties. As a PTAC counselor Donna's focus is on educating business associates about local, state and federal contracting.

Donna is a retired Contracting Officer and Program Manager with 36 years as a Contracting Professional in the Department of Defense and in private industry with two Fortune 500 companies and with a 8(a), Women Owned, Disabled Veteran Owned, Minority Owned, IT Company. Donna is an Acquisition Corp member in the Department of Defense and has certifications in Program Management.

Federal Proposal Writing Workshops
By Brooklyn Dellinger, PTAC Counselor/Events Coordinator at Appalachian State University
Raleigh
April 30, 2019, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Wake Tech Small Business Center (Western Wake Campus) - Room 101
3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518
Scott Barker | sbarker@sbtdc.org | 252.737.1369
 
Chapel Hill
May 7, 2019, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
The Chamber
104 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
Sharonetta McIntyre | smcintyre@sbtdc.org | 336.256.9302
 
Pembroke
May 15, 2019, 9:00am - 12:00pm
UNC Pembroke, Thomas Entrepreneurship HUB, Conference Room
202 Main Street, Pembroke, NC 28372
Robin Livingston | rlivingston@sbtdc.org | 910.672.1359
 
Fayetteville
June 5, 2019, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Fayetteville State University, Broadwell College of Business and Economics, Room 247
600 Drum Circle, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Robin Livingston | rlivingston@sbtdc.org | 910.672.1359  
 
Durham
June 11, 2019, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Durham Technical Community College
Wynn Student Center (Bldg 10) - Room 115
1637 East Lawson Street, Durham, NC 27703
Joel Guge | jguge@sbtdc.org | 919.513.0623
 
Greenville
June 13, 2019, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
East Carolina University, Willis Building Auditorium
300 E. 1st Street, Greenville, NC 27858
Scott Barker | sbarker@sbtdc.org | 252.737.1369
 
Elizabeth City
June 20, 2019, 9:00am - 12:00pm
College of the Albemarle, Small Business Center
1208 North Road Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909
Scott Barker | sbarker@sbtdc.org | 252.737.1369

The DUNS number-a unique ID for organizations doing business with the government-will be phased out in favor of a new identifier with a new name and vendor.

A new vendor is taking over management of the vendor verification system run through the General Services Administration, ending a 20-year dynasty for the company that established the Data Universal Numbering System, or DUNS.
 
Through the Integrated Award Environment, GSA issues each vendor or organization that does business with the government a unique DUNS number. The system has been managed by Dun & Bradstreet since it was created in 1962 and the company has held the contract with GSA since DUNS became part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation in 1998.
 
After opening the contract to competitive bids last year, GSA announced Monday that a new vendor, Ernst & Young, would be taking over the entity validation system.

 
Government Contracting: Federal Data Sources

By  Sharonetta McIntyre, PTAC Counselor at A&T University
With 23% of the federal government contracting dollars being spent with small businesses, it may be worthwhile to evaluate if government contracting is right for your business. The answer will vary based on multiple factors such as the industry, current opportunities, assessment of the viability of the business and having proper systems / procedures in place to efficiently manage the process. Some things that a government contract can do for a business include: diversifying the customer base, covering overhead costs, and leveling out cash flow. Some things that a government contract won't do for a business include: jump-starting the business, saving a business that's in financial trouble, or being the sole customer of a business.  
 
Developing an approach to understand potential opportunities in government contracting is essential for small businesses. With the challenges of many things to do and minimal time available to get things done - every minute saved is a plus. Working smarter is one of the keys to success - whatever the business model you've defined. It's not enough to know that my business has viable products or services that meet a need in the marketplace. Government contracting requires that some key questions be answered - what does the government need / use and is my business positioned to competitively fill that need?  
Market research can help answer these questions.
 
There are several resources that are publicly available to assist in this process; the data gathering usually requires cross-referencing various sources. Below is a summary of 'Five Sources of Metadata' from Contract Management (published by the National Contract Management Association, Volume 57, Issue 6). The table references information from FBO - Federal Business Opportunities www.FedBizOpps.gov , FPDS - Federal Procurement Data System Next Generation www.fpds.gov , FSS - Federal Supply Schedules www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov , SAM - System for Award Management www.sam.gov , and VIP - Vendor Information Page www.vip.vetbiz.va.gov/ .



This data is used to search award history and identify potential competitors against which you might complete. Contact your local PTAC counselor if you require assistance with the 'Federal Data Resources" for your business.
 
PTAC Client Success Story
GeoCore Creative, Inc.
By Sharonetta McIntyre, PTAC Counselor at A&T University
GeoCore Creative, Inc. specializes in branding through storytelling via video, photography and print. Grace and Cary have combined their skills to offer authentic visual storytelling fortified by a keen sense of strategic marketing, distribution and educational awareness. They work from concept to deliverable on all of their projects to ensure that every work reflects the spirit and passion of their clients. They simply love to tell stories about what really matters.

The firm is owned by Grace and Cary Kanoy, a husband and wife team whose passion for photography and filmmaking extends to food, farming, and foraging. Together they co-founded GeoCore Films, which has evolved into GeoCore Creative, Inc. to pursue diverse ways of storytelling that encourage positive and profound change, build community and feed their selfish needs to make the world a better place.

Geocore Creative believes that stories draw audiences in, capture their attention and provide a platform to introduce new ideas and opportunities. They want their audiences to not only remember, but to have a lingering connection and feel the emotional tenor in their work.

Grace first met with PTAC in July, 2017. She has utilized PTAC to assist with registrations, learn about local, state & federal markets, discuss potential contracting opportunities, and attend training. GeoCore Creative, Inc. is a woman- and minority-owned business. The firm won its' first local government contract in December, 2018. Many congratulations to Grace & Cary on their first award! www.geocorecreative.com  



SELLING TO THE GOVERNMENT

5 West Hargett St., Suite 600
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.600.5998