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Katrina-inspired New Orleans business, hundreds of others land federal contracts

July 30, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

Below is a nice article from NOLA.com (The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate) outlining some of the successes Louisiana small businesses have had in the government market post-Katrina.  The article mentions our friends at the The Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

If Hurricane Katrina hadn’t hit Louisiana and damaged much of New Orleans, Pontchartrain Partners, a minority-owned construction services business, might not exist.

The reconstruction effort after the storm in 2005 brought together Danny Blanks, Bart Cook and James R. Washington III as business partners as the federal government prepared to spend $14 billion to rebuild New Orleans after Katrina.

Blanks, CEO of Pontchartrain Partners, previously worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in St. Bernard Parish in the mid-2000s.

Pontchartrain Partners was created in 2009 and has grown to more than 100 employees, at first working as a subcontractor for larger companies on federal contracts.  The company has since opted to bid for work as a prime contractor as a growth strategy, especially for professional services on construction projects, and is among the hundreds of small businesses in Louisiana awarded nearly $2.8 billion in federal contracts during fiscal 2018.

Certifications such as woman-, veteran- and minority-owned businesses sometimes enable companies to be awarded sole source contracts, plus there are other programs such as the 8a business development program for small disadvantaged businesses offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Small Business Administration keeps track of federal government contracting because there are yearly goals for different categories of businesses, such as minority- or woman-owned.

There are local resources to enable small-business owners to get certified and facilitate contracts with the federal government.  The Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center has staff dedicated to several regions across the state.  More than $8.6 billion in government contracts have been awarded to clients of the Louisiana procurement assistance office since its inception.

Continue reading at:  NOLA.com

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: APTAC, PTAC, SBA, small business

The challenge of effective marketing

July 17, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

Winning government contracts with a high return on the investment (ROI) of time, money, and effort requires a well-thought-out process that incorporates a targeted marketing, sales, capture, and request for proposal (RFP) response process specific to the government marketplace.  Many businesses do not have a proactive marketing process in place for any market segment and those focusing on the federal market have a tough time understanding why the federal contracting market requires a tailored marketing approach as opposed to a traditional approach.  Of the few companies selling to the federal government who do proactively market, traditional consumer or business-to-business tactics are most often used instead of federal-specific tactics, resulting in a very low ROI.  Unfortunately, traditional tactics such as ad-buying, social media sales, pay-per-click, and search engine optimization (SEO) are not the best marketing fits for the federal customer.  Instead, a company that understands the value of research, planning, and effective market positioning before the RFP is released has a much higher chance of winning federal contracts.

Continue reading at:  The APTAC Quarterly eMagazine

Filed Under: Contracting Tips Tagged With: APTAC, marketing, ROI

GTPAC hosts cost/price proposal workshop

May 9, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

One of the most important skills government contractors must learn is how to prepare a quality cost/price proposal.  Recently, on April 24, 2019, the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (“GTPAC”), with support provided by The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech, held a free cost/price proposal workshop at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in midtown Atlanta, GA.  Attendees at the day-long workshop were provided detailed instruction on cost estimating, cost/price proposal preparation, and how to properly analyze their direct costs, indirect costs, profit, and other factors when determining a competitive cost/price.

“I am extremely happy with the event, and I thought the contractors in attendance asked some fantastic questions about pricing,” said Andrew Smith, Program Manager of GTPAC, he continued, “There are a lot of resources available on how to put together the technical proposal, but a lot fewer resources available, that focus specifically on how to put together a great price or cost proposal.  I think this workshop provides that missing piece.”

The cost/price proposal slideshow materials from the workshop are provided below at no cost.  Permission is granted to other Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (“PTACs”) to use and modify the presentation in conjunction with the delivery of training and other services to PTAC clients.  

“I would encourage government contractors to learn from the materials, and other PTACs to use or incorporate the materials in their own presentations to the business community,” said Smith, he continued, “The slideshow is detailed and high quality and a great resource to take advantage of.”

To download the presentation, click the following links:

Cost and Price Proposal Handout (PDF)

Cost and Price Proposal Handout (PowerPoint)

To view cost/price proposal on-demand webinar training, see the video below:

Filed Under: GTPAC News Tagged With: APTAC, bid price, cost, cost and price, cost and price analysis, cost estimating, GTPAC, price reasonableness, PTAC

GTPAC enters 33rd year of continuous service to Georgia businesses

January 31, 2019 By Nancy Cleveland

On Feb. 1, 2019, the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) enters its 33rd year of continuous operation, providing assistance to Georgia’s business community in the pursuit of government contracts.

Specifically, GTPAC helps businesses identify, compete for, and win contracts at all levels of government – federal, state, and local.

GTPAC is one of about a dozen programs – known as Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) – that were established shortly after Congress launched the initiative in 1985.  Today, there are 95 PTACs across the nation that serve all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

GTPAC’s continued operation is made possible through funds provided by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) along with state funding made available through Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2).

On Jan. 24, 2019, GTPAC received a fully executed award document from the DLA ensuring that funding would be made available to Georgia Tech for another year of PTAC operations in the state of Georgia.

“We are grateful for the confidence DLA places in us to carry out this program in Georgia,” says Program Manager Andrew Smith, “and we are very thankful for the support that Georgia Tech provides to the program.”

The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) regularly hosts events that bring together government buyers with Georgia-based businesses. On Jan. 14th of this year, GTPAC hosted a Defense Innovation Conference attended by 220 businesses, Defense Department officials, and major prime contractors.

GTPAC is widely recognized as a PTAC with one of the strongest track records in the nation.  Over the last decade, GTPAC helped Georgia businesses win between $500 million and $1 billion in government contracts, annually.

While tabulations for calendar year 2018 are not yet complete, preliminary reports show that GTPAC’s clients won at least 3,400 government prime contracts and subcontracts worth more than $1 billion.

GTPAC counseled, instructed, and identified bid opportunities for 2,300 businesses across the State of Georgia last year. GTPAC also conducted 150 training workshops and participated in 31 events statewide where more than 3,000 business people received instruction on how to effectively compete for government contracts.

GTPAC maintains staff in Albany, Atlanta, Gainesville, Carrollton, Savannah, and Warner Robins.  Training is also conducted in Athens and Columbus as well as via on-line webinars.  All businesses in Georgia are eligible to receive GTPAC’s services at no cost. The program provides Georgia businesses with counseling, training, and a complete set of electronic tools to research and identify government contracting opportunities.

For contact information, and to register for any GTPAC workshop statewide, visit the program’s website at www.gtpac.org.

Filed Under: GTPAC News Tagged With: APTAC, DLA, EI2, Georgia Tech, government contract assistance, GTPAC, procurement technical assistance center, PTAC

You’d better ‘feed’ SAM regularly — especially before you submit a bid

November 1, 2018 By Nancy Cleveland

Effective October 26, 2018, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires businesses who are pursuing federal contracts to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to their submission of a bid, proposal, or quote to a federal agency.

Think of this as the need to “feed” information about your company into the SAM database, including updates to that information, on a regular basis.

There are only a few exceptions to this new policy (exceptions may be found at FAR 4.1102).

In the context of federal contracting, SAM is essentially the federal government’s vendor database.  By registering in SAM, businesses indicate their compliance and agreement with the federal government’s standard “representations and certifications” requirements.  Updating your SAM record must be done at least annually for a vendor to maintain “active” status is SAM.

The new rule clarifies what had been ambiguity as to when vendors must be registered in SAM in order to be eligible to receive contract awards.  (See details in our earlier article on this subject here.)  With the FAR change, it’s now clear that registration must be accomplished before a vendor submits a response to an Invitation for Bid (IFB), a Request for Proposal (RFP), or a Request for a Quotation (RFQ).

If you need help with your company’s SAM registration, feel free to contact a Procurement Counselor with the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC).  All of our contact information is listed by location at: https://gtpac.org/team-directory.

If you are located outside of the state of Georgia, you can find the procurement technical assistance center (PTAC) nearest you at: http://www.aptac-us.org/contracting-assistance.

Remember: There is never a fee to register in SAM as a government contractor. PTACs are available to provide you with no-cost help to get you through the process.

 

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: APTAC, certification, data breach, DLA, DSBS, FAPIIS, FAR, FEMA registration, fraud, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, GSA, hack, past performance, PPIRS, PTAC, SAM, sam is free, SAM registration, sam.gov, scam, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

Effective Oct. 26, you must be registered in SAM before you submit a federal bid, proposal or quote

October 5, 2018 By Nancy Cleveland

It’s official: If you intend to pursue a federal contract, your business must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before you submit a bid, proposal, or quotation.  The new rule that makes this clear goes into effect on October 26, 2018.

Any wiggle room that may have existed in the past has been eliminated.  SAM registration is now imperative if you are interested in federal contracting.

It used to be that SAM registration was required before a contract could be awarded. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at Subpart 4.1102(a) made that clear.  But that requirement was always a bit ambiguous since another provision of the FAR (Subpart 52.204-8(d)) said that bidders and proponents had to complete the representations and certifications in SAM as a condition of making their offer.  As a matter of practical interpretation, most federal contracting officers simply made sure that an offeror’s SAM registration was complete before awarding the offeror a contract.

That latitude goes away on October 26, 2018.  On that date, FAR Subpart 4.1102 is officially amended to require all entities (i.e., vendors, including joint ventures) to be registered in SAM at the time they submit an offer (a bid or proposal) or submit a quotation to a federal agency.  In essence, vendors who are not registered in SAM are ineligible to submit offers or quotes – effective October 26, 2018.

Keep in mind that the SAM registration process can take time to complete.  If you’re planning to compete for a federal contract in the future, you should complete your SAM registration as far in advance as possible.  And, if you are already registered in SAM, remember that your SAM registration must be renewed at least annually – and renewed whenever any part of your registration needs to be updated.

If you need help with your company’s SAM registration, feel free to contact a Procurement Counselor with the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC).  All of our contact information is listed by location at: https://gtpac.org/team-directory.

If you are located outside of the state of Georgia, you can find the procurement technical assistance center (PTAC) nearest you at: http://www.aptac-us.org/contracting-assistance.

Remember: There is never a fee to register in SAM as a government contractor. PTACs are available with no-cost help to get you through the process.

SAM is located at: https://sam.gov.  But before beginning the SAM registration process, you must first take care of the following:

  1. Obtain a DUNS Number by registering your Legal Business Name and Physical Address with Dun & Bradstreet (D&B).  If you don’t already have a DUNS Number, you can request a DUNS Number for FREE from D&B at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform
  2. Make sure you have a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) associated with the Legal Business Name registered with D&B.  To obtain information from the IRS on how to obtain a TIN, visit: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin
  3. Have your bank’s routing number handy, including your bank account number and your bank account type (i.e., checking or savings).  You’ll need this information to set up Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) in SAM.  The federal government makes virtually all contract payments via EFT.
  4. The first time you log in to SAM.gov, you’ll be asked to create a login.gov user account (if you don’t already have one). Going forward, you will use your login.gov username and password every time you log in to SAM.gov. Existing SAM.gov usernames and passwords no longer work.

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: APTAC, certification, data breach, DLA, DSBS, FAPIIS, FAR, FEMA registration, fraud, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, GSA, hack, past performance, PPIRS, PTAC, SAM, sam is free, SAM registration, sam.gov, scam, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

New login required for SAM

July 2, 2018 By Nancy Cleveland

To do business with the federal government, you need an account in the System for Award Management (SAM).

Whether you already have a SAM account or need to set one up, you need to know there is a new login procedure.

All users attempting to login to SAM are now automatically re-directed to first create a Login.gov user account.  If you already have a SAM username and password they no longer work, and you will be unable to access your SAM account until you have created a Login.gov account.

Creating a Login.gov Account
In order to create a Login.gov account, you will need each of the following:
  1. The email address and password associated with your SAM account.
  2. Access to the same email account to receive all confirmation emails.
  3. A working telephone number through which you can receive the security code that will be sent to you from Login.gov.
Need help with any step of the SAM registration process?

Never fear!  The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) will provide you with help at no charge.  Simply contact the GTPAC counselor located nearest you; our staff directory is at: http://gtpac.org/team-directory.  (Businesses located outside the state of Georgia can obtain free help from their nearest procurement technical assistance center.  Consult the national contact list at: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac.)

Other recent changes to SAM

Each business must mail an original, signed notarized letter to GSA’s Federal Service Desk within thirty (30) days of their SAM activation or risk having their SAM registration deactivated.

Because of recent fraudulent activity associated with the SAM database, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a rule in late March 2018 that requires all SAM registrants (“entities”) to provide an original, signed notarized letter identifying your company’s “authorized Entity Administrator.”   The notarized letter must follow a strict format.  GSA’s notarized letter template is available here: SAM_Notary_Letter_Template_4.12.18_GSA_version

In instances where businesses have federal contract awards or contract payments pending, GTPAC — and the other PTACs across the country — can offer special assistance to expedite the processing of their notarized letters.  When contacting your PTAC counselor, be sure to let us know if you are facing either of those two circumstances.

Filed Under: Contracting Tips Tagged With: APTAC, certification, data breach, DLA, DSBS, FAPIIS, FEMA registration, fraud, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, GSA, hack, past performance, PPIRS, PTAC, SAM, sam is free, SAM registration, sam.gov, scam, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

Don’t get stuck with an expired SAM registration — be alert to changes in the renewal process

June 25, 2018 By Nancy Cleveland

If your business is registered in the federal government’s System for Award Management (SAM), you must renew your registration annually.

Be alert: Change is coming!

Whether you are familiar with the SAM renewal process or a newcomer to the process, things are about to change on June 29th.

Beginning June 29, 2018, two changes take place:

  • A new login process for SAM takes effect.  As a result of the new process, all users attempting to log in to SAM will be automatically be re-directed to create a Login.gov user account.  Your current SAM username and password will no longer work beginning on June 29th, and you will be unable to access your SAM account until you have created a Login.gov account.  (See “Creating a Login.gov Account” below.)
  • You’ll have more time to submit a notarized letter.  Businesses who create or update their registration in SAM also will no longer need to have an approved Entity Administrator notarized letter on file before their registration is activated or renewed.  Once your SAM account is activated, you’ll have 30 days to submit the notarized letter.  (See “Creating a Notarized Letter” below.)
Creating a Login.gov Account
In order to create a Login.gov account, you will need each of the following:
  1. The email address and password associated with your SAM account.
  2. Access to the same email account to receive all confirmation emails.
  3. A working telephone number through which you can receive the security code that will be sent to you from Login.gov.

Remember, once June 29, 2018 arrives, your SAM username and password will be deactivated, and you will no longer be able to access your SAM account with those credentials.

Creating a Notarized Letter

Each business must mail an original, signed notarized letter to GSA’s Federal Service Desk within thirty (30) days of their SAM activation or risk having their SAM registration deactivated.

Because of recent fraudulent activity associated with the SAM database, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a rule in late March 2018 that requires all SAM registrants (“entities”) to provide an original, signed notarized letter identifying your company’s “authorized Entity Administrator.”   The notarized letter must follow a strict format.  GSA’s notarized letter template is available here: SAM_Notary_Letter_Template_4.12.18_GSA_version

Need help with any step of the SAM registration or renewal process?

Never fear!  The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) will provide you with help at no charge.  Simply contact the GTPAC counselor located nearest you; our staff directory is at: http://gtpac.org/team-directory.  (Businesses located outside the state of Georgia can obtain free help from their nearest procurement technical assistance center.  Consult the national contact list at: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac.)

In instances where businesses have federal contract awards or contract payments pending, GTPAC — and the other PTACs across the country — can offer special assistance to expedite the processing of their notarized letters.  When contacting your PTAC counselor, be sure to let us know if you are facing either of those two circumstances.

Filed Under: Contracting Tips Tagged With: APTAC, certification, data breach, DLA, DSBS, FAPIIS, FEMA registration, fraud, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, GSA, hack, past performance, PPIRS, PTAC, SAM, sam is free, SAM registration, sam.gov, scam, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

Free help available to aid businesses with new SAM registration and renewal requirements

June 18, 2018 By Nancy Cleveland

If your business needs assistance in either establishing or renewing your registration in the federal government’s vendor database known as the System for Award Management (SAM), you can get free help.

Whether you are seeking SAM registration for the first time or you need to accomplish your annual renewal in SAM, the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) will provide you with help at no charge.  (Businesses located outside the state of Georgia can obtain free help from their nearest procurement technical assistance center.  Consult the contact list at: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac.)

New SAM Registration Requirements

There are new registration and renewal procedures that are now in place.  Because of recent fraudulent activity associated with the SAM database, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a rule in late March 2018 that requires all registrants (“entities”) to provide an original, signed notarized letter identifying your company’s “authorized Entity Administrator.”   The notarized letter must be submitted and approved before your registration will be activated.

The notarized letter template is available here: SAM_Notary_Letter_Template_4.12.18_GSA_version

An update to the notarized letter rule was issued by GSA on June 11, 2018.  The update is in two parts:

  1. Effective June 11, 2018, entities who create or update their registration in SAM to apply only for federal assistance opportunities such as grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs  no longer need to have an approved Entity Administrator notarized letter on file before their registration is activated.  (Note that this does not include entities competing for federal contracts.)
  2. Effective June 29, 2018, all non-Federal entities who create or update their registration in SAM also will no longer need to have an approved Entity Administrator notarized letter on file before their registration is activated.  This rule includes businesses that are competing for, or that currently have, federal contracts.

It is important to note that all entities must mail the original, signed notarized letter to GSA’s Federal Service Desk within thirty (30) days of activation or risk having their SAM registration deactivated. 

New SAM Log-In Requirements Take Effect June 29, 2018
GSA is also implementing a new login process for SAM which takes effect on June 29, 2018.  As a result of the new process, all users attempting to log in to SAM on or after June 29, 2018 will be automatically directed to create a Login.gov user account.  Your current SAM username and password will no longer work beginning on June 29th, and you will be unable to access your SAM account until you have created a Login.gov account.
In order to create a Login.gov account, you will need each of the following:
  1. The email address and password associated with your SAM account.
  2. Access to the same email account to receive all confirmation emails.
  3. A working telephone number through which you can receive the security code that will be sent to you from Login.gov.

Remember, once June 29, 2018 arrives, your SAM username and password will be deactivated, and you will no longer be able to access your SAM account with those credentials.

Free Help Is Available!

As mentioned in the second paragraph of this article, GTPAC (or, if you’re located outside Georgia, your local PTAC) will help you with all aspects of the SAM registration and renewal processes.  Simply contact the GTPAC counselor located nearest you; our staff directory is at: http://gtpac.org/team-directory.

In instances where businesses have federal contract awards or contract payments pending, GTPAC and the other PTACs across the country can offer special assistance to expedite the processing of their notarized letters.  When contacting your PTAC counselor, be sure to let us know if you are facing either of those two circumstances.

Further Details

For more help with the SAM registration process, including how to protect your company’s interests, please read:

  • SAM.gov Registration Is Free, and Help with SAM Registration Is Free, Too
  • Tips for Surviving Compromise of Government’s Vendor Database
  • Schemes Targeting Small Business Contractors Proliferate 

 

 

Filed Under: GTPAC News Tagged With: APTAC, certification, data breach, DLA, DSBS, FAPIIS, FEMA registration, fraud, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, GSA, hack, past performance, PPIRS, PTAC, SAM, sam is free, SAM registration, sam.gov, scam, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

Schemes targeting small business contractors proliferate

February 20, 2018 By Nancy Cleveland

Small businesses are reporting alarming new tactics being used by some for-profit firms trying to get them to sign up for services.

The Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) reports that, in one case, a company “cloned” a Small Business Administration (SBA) webpage, to make it appear that the SBA was recommending registration in a specific subcontractor database.  In another example, a firm has been reaching out to “potential subcontractors” claiming to be working on a specific DoD project.  Further investigation showed this to be false and fraudulent.

Small contractors continue to be flooded with official sounding emails, texts, phone calls and even faxes that are part of sophisticated marketing campaigns designed to entice them to sign up for services that they may not want or need.  The so-called “services” involve hefty fees, of course.  The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) regularly hear from business owners who – thinking they are responding to a government official – mistakenly commit to a sales contract they don’t understand and can’t get out of.  Worst of all, many of the sales pitches are for substandard services that GTPAC – and PTACs in other states – provide in a superior fashion at no cost.

Knowledge Is the Best Defense

Below are details of some recent campaigns that have come to APTAC’s attention.  Be alert to any such communications you receive – or anything similar – and think carefully before responding.  If you have questions or suspicions, feel free to reach out to GTPAC or your local PTAC to discuss. As with any business decision, thorough research into qualifications, costs, realistic expectations, and clearly articulated deliverables is the key to determining the right solution for your business. Never let yourself be pressured into a hasty decision or enticed by an “easy fix” or opportunity. Careful due diligence is always the best investment you can make.

Recent campaigns APTAC has been alerted to include:

  • “FedBiz Directory”: An email informs recipients that “a new Directory has been created to help federal contracting officers conduct small business market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10.”  The email recipient is informed that “in order to migrate Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) small business marketing information into the FedBizDirectory, we need to receive verbal confirmation.”  Callers to the phone number in the email are informed that must pay a fee to be listed in the “directory.”  There are at least a couple problems with this pitch: 1) federal contracting officers don’t need a directory because they already have access to the SAM and DSBS databases, and 2) since these databases are public, if someone wanted to create a directory, they wouldn’t need your permission to include you.
  • Subcontractor “Phishing”: Very convincing emails come from a firm that purports to be a prime contractor looking for subs for potential set-aside subcontracts.  After some preliminary questions, the small business is told that the agency contracting officer is concerned about past performance – because the business does not have a profile in a particular database.  Be advised: DoD, Homeland Security, FEMA, and other agency officials do not rely on private databases for past performance information. They use SAM, the SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) and the federal Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) for their work, none of which entail a fee.
  • “Profile Processing”: Have you just registered (or renewed) in SAM (the government’s System for Award Management)?  You may receive a notice that says, “Your SAM registration for your CAGE Code has been received and is in processing. The next step is to assign your company a Senior Case Manager whose function is to manually process all of your profile details in the various federal databases as required per Federal Acquisition Regulations. For this, a $599 registration fee is immediately due and payable with any major credit card,” or “Your Profile Information has been received and is processing. . . . Call us via our helpline at (xxx) xxx-xxxx to find out your company’s eligibility and compliance requirements,” or a similar message.  These messages do NOT come from the government!  They come from one of several private firms that want you to pay them big bucks (up to $3,500 or more) to handle your profile. They monitor SAM registration activity closely – and then send emails like these (or even text messages) that may seem like a government confirmation or follow-up.  Offers to “manually enter profile details,” “review eligibility,” or “find out what needs attention” come from private firms – not SAM or any other federal agency – and will include a significant – and unnecessary – price tag.
  • SAM “Renewal” notices: You may receve a message exhorting you to renew your SAM registration and “Click here to continue to receive federal payments” or call a designated number to “renew over the phone.“  In actuality, SAM renewals are to be accomplished – by you – online.  There is no capability to renew “over the phone” unless you are paying someone else to do it online for you.  And SAM registration allows the government to pay vendors electronically without the need for an intermediary.  This notice also incorrectly states:“Fail to renew your Registration, and the government will place your business on the federal watch list.”  There is no such thing!  Renewing a SAM registration is a simple task that business owners can accomplish easily, on their own.  For those with questions, or for those who need help making changes, PTACs stand ready to help – at no cost to the business owner.  Never give your SAM user name and password to anyone else!
  • “Vendor Listings”: PTAC clients have been reporting contacts from “US Army Contracting officers” who request their Capability Statement and then urge them to register with a private firm (which also offers consulting services) to include their company on its vendor listing (for a substantial fee).  One client dug deeper to discover that the “contracting officer” listed in the email had no knowledge of the firm and that the email address it came from (with a spoofed “.mil” address) was not a valid email. Consulting a private “vendor listing” for agency purchasing runs counter to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and any claim to the contrary should be viewed with skepticism.
  • Easy sole-source promises: We’ve just become aware of a newer firm that promises “to connect qualified applicants to sole and sub source contracts with the United Nations and government agencies domestically and abroad.”   Their very personalized and targeted marketing campaign is forthright about being a company and not an agency — but the company implies that they can offer immediate, concrete and assured opportunities, including the statement “Sit back, relax, and watch the orders come to you. Be ready to fill them!”  Beware of promises like these that are too good to be true. Success in government contracting requires a carefully-considered, long-term strategy and hard work.  There are no short cuts.

Of course there are circumstances in which it makes sense for a small business to pay a consultant for specialized legal or financial help or for intensive project development, and there are many qualified professionals to choose from. But it is important to make these decisions based upon your specific needs in the context of your long-term strategy.

Remember: There is NEVER a fee to register as a government contractor. Repeat – there is NEVER a fee to register as a government contractor. And there is free and low-cost help available to get you through the process.

For those who’d like help with registrations, renewals, certification applications, or any other government contracting issue, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) provide and free and low-cost expert assistance with all aspects of government contracting.  PTACs offer classes, one-on-one counseling, bid-matching services, advice on proposal preparation, matchmaking/networking opportunities and much more. Many PTAC counselors have backgrounds in government acquisition offices or prime contractor government contracting departments, so they bring real world experience to help you.

For those companies that need more basic business assistance, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide similar hands-on, personalized help for general business operation topics. Because small companies must make every dollar count, it’s smart to leverage these services that are provided through non-profit, federal-local partnerships for the specific purpose of supporting small businesses.

To receive assistance with any aspect of vendor registration with any government agency at no cost, please feel free to contact a PTAC near you.

Filed Under: GTPAC News Tagged With: APTAC, certification, DLA, DSBS, FAPIIS, FEMA registration, fraud, free instruction, free SAM assistance, free SAM help, free SAM registration, past performance, PPIRS, PTAC, SAM, SAM registration, sam.gov, scam, System for Award Management, vendor database, vendor registration

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