The
Washington State Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program helps companies find and successfully achieve contracts for work with the local, state and federal governments. With the help of the Thurston County PTAC program, local companies have won millions of dollars in federal, state and local contracts and subcontracts.
Most PTAC services are available free of charge to all Washington state businesses, but the program places particular emphasis on assisting small businesses, women-owned businesses, disadvantaged businesses, veteran-owned and service disabled veteran-owned businesses, and businesses located in economically distressed areas of the state.
The Thurston County PTAC provides assistance with the following:
- Computerized Bid Match Service
PTAC experts search numerous government databases for bid leads that match your company’s criteria, including FedBizOpps, Defense Logistics Agency buying centers, NASA, Washington State Department of General Administration, and other agencies. You receive bid leads via e-mail. There is a $135 annual fee for this optional service. All other PTAC services are provided free of charge.
- Interpretation of Solicitations
PTAC can help decipher solicitations by reviewing contract clauses, terms, definitions and requirements to ensure your interactions with bid target agencies are correct, complete and powerful.
- Assistance With Government Registrations and Certifications
Certain certifications and registrations are required to contract with various levels of governmental agencies, while others help businesses to be more competitive in the government marketplace. PTAC provides assistance with Central Contractor Registration (CCR), Online Representations & Certifications Application (ORCA) registration, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), 8(a) certification, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) certification and Washington state certifications.
- Training and Seminars
Thurston County PTAC hosts a number of training sessions and seminars throughout the year to provide practical, hands-on information you need to do business with the government. Topics have included local procurement opportunities, government certifications, construction and bonding, and doing business with GSA.
For information on current trainings & seminars, contact the PTAC office at 360.754.6320.
The federal government purchases billions of dollars in goods and services each year. U.S. policy, as stated in the Small Business Act, is that all small businesses have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in providing goods and services to the government. To ensure that small businesses get their fair share, the SBA negotiates annual procurement preference goals with each federal agency and reviews each agency's results.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Government Contracting
1. How does SBA define a business?
In making a detailed definition, SBA may use a number of criteria, including the number of employees, annual receipts, affiliates, or other applicable factors. These specific criteria are set forth in the SBA Small Business Size Regulations, Title 13, Part 121 of the Code of Federal Regulations. For information on specific industry classifications (manufacturing, construction, services, transportation, refined petroleum products, and research development and testing), or more information on general small business definitions, please contact the SBA's Office of Size Standards.
2. How do I find out who in the government purchases my product or service?
PTAC experts search numerous government databases for bid leads that match your company’s criteria, including FedBizOps, Defense Logistics Agency buying centers, NASA, Washington State Department of General Administration, and other agencies. Bid leads are sent via e-mail. There is a $100 annual fee for this optional service.
3. How can I get a DUNS number?
DUNS stands for "Data Universal Numbering System" and is used by the government to identify contractors and their locations. The number is also required to register with the Central Contractor Register (CCR) that is used by the government's electronic commerce/electronic data interchange (EC/EDI) system called FACNET. If you do not have a DUNS number, you can obtain one from Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) at no cost. Contact the company at 800.333.0505.
4. What is the FedBizOpps?
FedBizOpps.gov is the single government point-of-entry (GPE) for federal government procurement opportunities more than $25,000. Government buyers are able to publicize their business opportunities by posting information directly to FedBizOpps via the Internet. Through one portal - FedBizOpps (FBO) - commercial vendors seeking Federal markets for their products and services can search, monitor and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire federal contracting community.
5. What is the 8(a) Program?
The 8(a) Business Development program is designed to provide business development assistance and technical assistance to help socially and economically disadvantaged American businesses gain access to the mainstream American economy. The program is named for the section of the Small Business Act that authorizes its policies and procedures.
6. What is the Certificate of Competency Program?
The Certificate of Competency (COC) program allows a small business to appeal a contracting officer's determination that it is unable to fulfill the requirements of a specific government contract on which it is the apparent low bidder. When the small business applies for a COC, SBA industrial and financial specialists conduct a detailed review of the firm's capabilities to perform on the contract. If the business demonstrates the ability to perform, the SBA issues a COC to the contracting officer requiring the award of that specific contract to the small business.
7. What is the 7(j) program?
Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act authorizes SBA to enter into grants, cooperative agreements or contracts, with public or private organizations that can deliver management or technical assistance to eligible individuals and enterprises. This assistance is delivered to 8(a) certified firms, small disadvantaged businesses, businesses operating in areas of high unemployment or low-income or firms owned by low-income individuals.
The Thurston Economic Development Council, which serves as a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), is funded in part through a cooperative agreement from the Department of Defense (DOD) through a program that is administered by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The content of any written materials or verbal communications of the PTAC does not necessarily reflect the views of or imply endorsement by DOD or DLA.