September 2021 NewsBlast!
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.
FAR: Buy American Act Rule Change
The public is invited to comment on a proposed amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) that implements an Executive order giving domestic preferences in Government procurement. Government contracting accounts for nearly $600 billion in Federal spending. The amendment would seek to improve the component test to identify domestic products, increase the threshold for domestic content requirements and increase the price preferences for domestic end products and construction materials. Public comment is open until September 28th.
Biden Directs 50% Increase in Spending to Small & Disadvantaged Businesses.
President Joe Biden directs federal agencies to increase contracting spending on small, disadvantaged businesses by 50% over the next five years.
Project Spectrum Opens Registration for MPP Pilot Program for Cyber Readiness
Is your business a member of the DoD Mentor-Protege Program? Would you like assistance with preparation for CMMC? If the answer to both of those questions is "yes," consider enrolling in Project Spectrum's Cybersecurity for Defense Industrial Base Mentor-Protege Program (MPP) Pilot. This 24-month program will help to bring your business into a state of readiness for CMMC.
Who Knew!
The federal government seems to buy everything under the sun! We have added a new section to the newsletter to highlight some unique government purchases and we are calling it the Who Knew? section.

Did you know that the Army in West Point, NY, is looking for a small business to provide them with a High Speed Computer-Controlled Buttonhole Sewing System? Who knew!?

The Army awards billions of contracting dollars annually in order to support its mission. Historically, more than 20 percent of this total goes to small businesses. A strong small business industrial base is essential to supporting the Warfighter and accomplishing the Army mission.

Interested in doing business with the Army or other DOD Departments, contact us for no cost assistance!
PTAC Training & Networking Events
Strategic Marketing on Government Contracts-Webinar
October 12, 2021
11:00am-12:00pm

Join our PTAC and learn how to strategically market your business to government agencies! Join us as Gabrielle Coner, a Business Opportunity Specialist with the Michigan District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, discusses marketing strategies. In order to bid on and win government contracts, you'll have to sell products or services that the government buys-- and at a competitive price. You may want to market your small business directly to a government agency or prime contractor. You can do that by learning what agencies or prime contractors need, and then show them how your business can fulfill that need.
Contract Bonds & Surety Bond Guarantee-Webinar
October 19, 2021
11:00am-12:30pm

Do you have limited or no bonding experience? Difficulty qualifying for bonding? Want to increase your bond limits? The U.S. Small Business Administration Surety Bond Guarantee Program can help your small business get bonded for projects up to $10 million! Please join us if your small business has: limited or no bonding experience, difficulty qualifying for bonding, or the desire to increase current bond limits. Our guest presenter from the U.S. Small Business Administration will be Tamara E. Murray, an Underwriting Marketing Specialist with the Office of Surety Guarantees.
GSA for Small Business-Webinar
November 2, 2021
11:00am-12:30pm

If you want to sell to the government, securing a contract with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the government agency that connects government buyers with contractors is a great way to start. Come learn about the GSA and see if GSA is right for your company! Join our PTAC and our guest speaker Gabrielle Coner, Business Opportunity Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Michigan District based out of the Detroit office.
Other Events of Interest
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."
2021 R&D Industry Collider Day - Virtual
September 8, 2021

The event is focused on conversations to build and support our innovation community with three tracks focused on hearing from innovators like yourself. These tracks are: Doing Business with DLA, Environmental Initiatives, and Supply Chain Technology. In addition, Project Managers will be on hand for direct conversations in the afternoon.
Going PRO Talent Fund Information Session Scheduled for Northwest Michigan September 9, 9:00am-10:30am

The Going PRO Talent Fund (Talent Fund) makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry. Training can be provided for existing employees, new hires, or registered DOL apprentices.

Northwest Michigan Works! will be holding a virtual Employer Information Session via Zoom to help
businesses learn about the Going PRO Talent Fund, the application process, and the assistance
available through Northwest Michigan Works! The information session will be held Thursday, September
9, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am.
How to do Business with NASA Johnson Space Portal - Virtual
Wednesday, September 15, 2021

The NASA Office of Small Business Programs offers a series of webinars with in-depth training relevant to small businesses. These webinars will provide the opportunity to ask questions directly to key points of contact at the Agency. In addition, our podcast series explores a wide range of topics from NASA and other agencies to determine how they see the small business program and what small businesses can do to support them.
National Small Business Federal Contracting Summit - Virtual
October 19-21 2021

This three-day virtual event will cover current trends in small business contracting, large prime briefs, one-on-one matchmaking with federal agencies and more.
BARDA Industry Day - Virtual
November 3-4, 2021

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Industry Day is an annual conference, held to increase awareness of U.S. government medical countermeasure priorities, interact with BARDA and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) staff, and network with public and private sector colleagues working in the health security space. During BARDA Industry Day 2020, the one-day virtual event attracted 1300+ attendees, featured BARDA program goals and funding updates, expert presentations from government and industry partners, 13 interactive breakout sessions, and two Lightning Talk sessions showcasing 20 exciting technologies.
Job Posting:
Networks Northwest is adding a dynamic and creative PTAC Procurement Counselor to its
regional PTAC team. This individual will provide counseling and training to businesses within
the PTAC service area on how to successfully find, obtain, and perform under local, state and
federal government contracts.

Having an emphasis on government contracting, this position functions as a key member of a regional business development team. You will work directly with businesses to grow their government sales. While working autonomously and meeting program goals, there is also a strong team atmosphere within the department and you can count on the support and expertise of colleagues. As a PTAC Procurement Counselor, you will work closely with community resource partners and programs that directly affect the quality of life in Northwest Michigan
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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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