ADLEEN B. STIDHUM
Assistant Director - Administrative Services
SBOP Administrator
Your Small Biz Update
From Clark County Purchasing
Friday, March 22, 2019 -------------------------- ---------------- www.ClarkCountyNV.gov
Greetings!

In the very near future you will receive a survey requesting information about your most recent contract activity with Clark County and RBDAC (Regional Business Development Advisory Council) partner agencies. Your response will provide valuable insight into what graduates of Clark County small business training programs have experienced in recent months. The information your provide will be considered as we continue to enhance our small business development efforts.

As a graduate, your experience truly matters and we encourage you to respond when the survey reaches your inbox.

In this edition of the Small Biz Update, you will learn how certification can help in your efforts to compete against larger firms, a free resource to help you sell to government, an upcoming business opportunity and upcoming events to help you build your business. Enjoy!

To your success,

Adleen B. Stidhum

Adleen B. Stidhum
Assistant Director - Administrative Services
SBOP Administrator
Should You Add Certification to Your Marketing Strategy?
David Eclips - DBE Liaison, McCarran International Airport
One Way to Level the Playing Field

It takes a solid marketing strategy to stand out in a crowded marketplace, especially when you are a small firm competing against larger, more established companies. If your small, disadvantaged business is struggling to get noticed it may be time to consider adding a certification to your marketing mix. There are many types of certifications designed to help socially and economically disadvantaged populations such as women, minorities, veterans, the disabled, and other emerging small businesses compete more effectively.
David Eclips
ABCDE/DBE Liaison Officer
In Nevada, getting certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) can help to level the playing field for companies that want to compete for state and federal contract opportunities that include goals to work with disadvantaged small firms.
“Certification does not guarantee a contract, but it helps women, small and minority owned companies to compete equally with other big and perhaps more experienced firms,” said David Eclips, ABCDE/DBE liaison officer at the Clark County Department of Aviation.

Eclips, an SBOP resource partner, helps local small businesses ensure they have all of the information and support they need to apply for certification through McCarran International Airport--one of the state’s two DBE certification agencies. DBE applications can also be submitted through the Nevada Department of Transportation.

“If there is a DBE goal on a contract/project and you are a certified DBE company awarded that project, your DBE Certification would benefit the project because the DBE Certification helps them reach their DBE goal established within the company,” Eclips explained.

Eclips emphasized that “pennies from heaven” won’t rain down on a company after certification. He said a company has to go out and get the work. Hard work paired with certification has been a game-changer for many companies.

“One that comes to mind right now. I met a small business owner at KOR Building Group, owned by Rebecca Fountain. She wanted to know how to get certified and work at the airport. She got certified and now she’s doing projects at McCarran. She has established herself pretty well now and also does work for some local resorts and tenants at the airport,” said Eclips.
The DBE certification application process is stringent and certification is free of charge. As long as your company remains eligible for DBE status, the certification does not expire. To qualify, be prepared to meet several requirements. For example, the majority owner must be 51% percent or more in total control of the company, must be the organization’s final decision-maker, and cannot exceed a personal net worth of $1,32 million.

Applicants must be prepared to submit a variety of documents including the resume of the owner, copies of business license and or articles of organization, personal tax returns for the past three years and federal taxes for the business for the past three years, if you’ve been in business that long.
All applications are submitted to the Nevada Unified Certification Program Board, which is made up of representatives from the Reno-Tahoe Airport, Carson City, NDOT, Regional Transportation Commission (North and South), and McCarran. The board reviews all applications and brings them to a final vote within 90 days of submission.

The DBE application process begins with a site visit to your place of business. To get started you can either utilize this link to McCarran's DBE web page or schedule an appointment with Eclips via email to DavidE@McCarran.com or call (702) 261-5226.

To learn more about different types of certification and resources that can help your company get certified, visit the Nevada Department of Business and Industry website .

Certification is just one of many topics we address with small business owners in the Clark County Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP). If you want to do business with Clark County and would like some help learning Purchasing processes and procedures, we encourage you to apply.
Opportunity Knocks
INVITATION TO BID
Current Production Model Light Duty Chassis Remount Rescue Bodies

Clark County is soliciting bids from firms qualified to provide a refurbished remount of two existing Rescue squad bodies onto a new Ford chassis according to detailed technical specifications. The vehicle shall be a current production model year.

A pre-bid conference for this solicitation is scheduled for March 26, 2019, 9:00am  in the Purchasing and Contracts Division, 4th Floor of the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89155.  
 
Proposals will be accepted on or before April 4, 2019 at 3:00:00pm  based on the time clock at the Purchasing and Contracts front desk.

To review the specifications for this project and related documents visit the Nevada Gov eMarketplace (NGEM) online and search for Bid #605196 .
Selling to government?
Simplify the process.
Free resources available from
PTAC & POP
The Nevada Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and Procurement Outreach Program (POP) provide free services to simplify the process of selling goods and services to government. These programs from the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development provide services free of charge.

Business-Building Events
Save the Date
2019 CLARK COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS EXPO

May 23, 2019 9:00am until 12:00pm

WESTGATE LAS VEGAS RESORT | 3000 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89109
Make Profitable Connections
Meet purchasing and procurement agents from
public and private agencies that may be in need of your goods and services.
Monday, April 29, 2019
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Department of Business and Industry
3300 W. Sahara Avenue, Suite 400 Las Vegas, NV 89102 

Register Online or Call 702-388-6104
Save the Date
COMMITTED TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY
August 22, 2019
Join us for this free event at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Meet procurement professionals and resource organizations!
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