| 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. |
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MARK MILLS
PTAC Program Director
919.600.6096
GEORGE GRIFFIN
PTAC Counselor
Greensboro / Winston-Salem
336.256.9302
REBECCA BARBOUR
PTAC Counselor
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
919.513.0623
NICK ECONOMOU
PTAC Counselor
Charlotte
704.687.0443
TERRY STROUD
PTAC Counselor
Fayetteville / Pembroke
910.672.1352
ARIANA BILLINGSLEY
PTAC Counselor
Elizabeth City / Greenville / Wilmington
252.737.1369
NOAH ROBINS
PTAC Counselor
Cullowhee / Asheville / Boone / Hickory
828.232.2290
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ADDITIONAL SBTDC RESOURCES
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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 »
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Director's Corner
SBA Business Development Programs
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By Mark G. Mills, SBTDC/PTAC Program Director at North Carolina State University
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) is teaming up with the SBTDC's Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to offer educational briefings about the SBA's Business Development Programs with follow up information on "marketing" your business to federal agencies. You can learn about the 8(a) Business Development Program, HUBZone, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, Service - Disabled Veteran Owned and the Mentor-protégé Programs.
Last year's program was so successful the SBA asked if we would be interested in teaming up and offering the programs again across the state. This workshop is FREE with registration. Please visit the event page for more information, contacts for questions and registration.
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Sources Sought or Request for Information (RFI)
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By Mark G. Mills, SBTDC/PTAC Program Director at North Carolina State University
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W
hen an agency issues a Sources Sought or RFI, they are
trying to identify sources and determine whether there is potential for a small business set-aside or obtain other market information for planning purposes. Some vendors may not take the time to respond to a Sources Sought/RFI. Instead, they may focus their efforts on preparation for a bid when the solicitation comes out. For the vendor, however, the Sources Sought/RFI is their chance to influence the acquisition strategy. If capable companies do not respond, the opportunity for a set-aside may be lost. The vendor should put together a personalized package that concisely answers the questions asked in the Sources Sought/RFI; just sending a capability statement is not enough. The small business community's regular and reliable response to Sources Sought/RFI will ultimately increase the opportunity for their participation in government contracts.
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Changes Coming to SAM: the "10 to 1" Integrated Award Environment
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By Noah Robins, SBTDC/PTAC Counselor at Western Carolina University
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The System for Award Management (SAM -
www.sam.gov
) has served as the one-stop registration portal for Federal government contracting since its initial implementation and rollout in July 2012. SAM represented a long-awaited "single face to industry" that combined the functionality of Central Contractor Registration (CCR), Federal Agency Registration (Fedreg), ORCA, and several other systems. Through the Integrated Award Environment (IAE), a presidential e-government initiative managed by GSA, SAM will undergo a phased upgrade and modernization to host 9 other contracting-related platforms through the so-called "10 to 1" integration. The Integrated Award Environment manages 10 award systems including the current SAM.gov which now supports entity registration and exclusions.
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Top Acquisition Issues Facing Federal Agencies in 2017
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Keeping track of changes to acquisition processes as well as policy changes that can impact small businesses are important to the business community. The following article has information addressing cybersecurity and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2016. Although the article is written for the acquisition workforce you might glean some information as you look at business development strategies for 2017.
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Top Issues Going into the New Year
Michael P. Fischetti, Executive Director of the National Contract Management (NCMA) www.ncmahq.org
Forwarded by Ariana Billingsley, SBTDC/PTAC counselor at East Carolina University
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As the New Year approaches, everyone tends to reflect on where they are and where they're going. This year certainly didn't go as many had planned - particularly concerning the 2016 elections. For acquisition, this means, like much else, everything is turned on its head. In the short term, preexisting initiatives and policy from the past administration will continue, under the able stewardship of professional senior executives. It must be stressed, however, that there is scant evidence of what may change with the new administration. There is much conjecture, but no one really knows.
What will be the new administration's acquisition priorities? Speculation opaquely says increased outsourcing of government activity, but what does that mean? While it may be a little early for substantive discussion on new policies on the horizon, we do know what the current issues are within acquisition - in particular, the increased influence of technology and continued human resources challenges. A roundup of other activity follows.
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PTAC Client Success Stories
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By Noah Robins, SBTDC/PTAC counselor at Western Carolina University
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J. M. Teague Engineering & Planning (JMTE) is an engineering and planning firm based in Waynesville, North Carolina that manages a wide range of projects across the Western North Carolina region. Founded in early 2010, JMTE specializes in providing engineering and planning expertise to local municipalities, school systems, private institutions, and professional clients such as landscape architects, urban planners, developers, and civil engineering firms. As the firm describes it, "we serve towns, communities, and cities - large and small - throughout the Southeastern United States. Our client base is broad. We are always open to discuss your needs and whether we are the right firm for your project." The company offers a diverse slate of services including traffic engineering, transportation planning, forensic engineering, GIS and mapping, community planning, bicycle and pedestrian planning, and agency collaboration.
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Vanderhorst Enterprises Inc.
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By Ariana Billingsley, SBTDC/PTAC Counselor at East Carolina University
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Since 1998, Vanderhorst Enterprises Inc. (VEI) has consistently provided quality janitorial services and building maintenance services at competitive prices. Their commercial cleaning services include carpet cleaning, window cleaning, stripping/waxing floors and light duty maintenance services for schools, medical centers, retail centers, manufacturing facilities and auto dealerships. Owned and operated by Curt Vanderhorst and his wife, Vanderhorst Enterprises management and supervisory staff have over 50 years of combined experience in the services they provide. As a small business we face many of the same issues and challenges as large companies. The cleaning industry is becoming more complex.
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