Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

5 things you should know about the ‘nonmanufacturer rule’

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To qualify as a small business under most set-aside or sole source contracts seeking manufactured products or supplies, SBA’s regulations require an offeror to be the item’s manufacturer or, alternatively, comply with the nonmanufacturer rule.

In a prior post, we discussed 5 Things You Should Know about being the item’s manufacturer; in this post, we’ll discuss qualifying under the nonmanufacturer rule.

1. Do I need to qualify under the nonmanufacturer rule?

That depends on the type of procurement you’re bidding on. Again, the nonmanufacturer rule comes into play for solicitations seeking manufactured items or supplies, and only if the offeror doesn’t qualify as the manufacturer itself.

Keep in mind, too, that acquisitions set-aside for small businesses under the simplified acquisition threshold are not subject to the nonmanufacturer rule. This exemption doesn’t apply, however, to any other socio-economic designation—for example, if it’s an SDVOSB set-aside under the simplified acquisition threshold, the offeror will have to either be the item’s manufacturer or qualify under the nonmanufacturer rule.

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/five-things/nonmanufacturer-rule/

5 things you should know: SBA’s definition of manufacturer

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SBA’s regulations say that in order to qualify as a small business under a set-aside or sole-source contract seeking manufactured products or supply items, an offeror ordinarily must either be the manufacturer of the end item or qualify under the nonmanufacturer rule.

This post will discuss five things your small business should know about qualifying as a manufacturer under the SBA’s rules; in a future post, I’ll walk through the nonmanufacturer rule.

Let’s get to it: Here are 5 Things You Should Know about the SBA’s definition of manufacturer.

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/five-things/5-things-you-should-know-sbas-definition-of-manufacturer/

Disaster preparedness help available to manufacturers on Georgia’s coast

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The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) is seeking eligible manufacturers to participate in a disaster assistance program designed to help companies that are located in the state’s coastal areas assess their preparedness and develop operational solutions to minimize the impact of future hurricanes and other natural disasters.

The $173,859 grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) funds the GaMEP’s Manufacturing Disaster Assistance Program (MDAP), which was developed to address the needs of Georgia manufacturers.

The funds for the two-year effort are specifically designated toward assisting manufacturers with operations in Coastal Georgia in Camden, Chatham, Charlton, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh counties. It also includes Coffee County, which is not on the coast, but was also severely impacted by flooding during 2017’s Hurricane Irma.

The counties are home to 408 manufacturing facilities that employ 23,000.

The MDAP creation follows a devastating 2017 hurricane season in which Hurricane Irma led to a mandatory evacuation of the coast’s nearly 540,000 residents and business owners, and resulted in estimated damages of more than $670 million. That’s on top of a 2016 evacuation of the Georgia coast following Hurricane Matthew, which caused more than $500 million in damages.

The goal with this tailored approach to help manufacturers on the Georgia Coast is two-pronged, said Ben Cheeks, GaMEP’s coastal region manager.

“First, we want to assist as many manufacturers as possible and get them operating at pre-Hurricane Irma levels — that includes employment and fully contributing to the regional and state economies,” Cheeks said. “The second part of this effort is to help them develop plans that they will already have in place to address future hurricanes and other natural disasters so they will positioned for as little disruption as possible in resuming operations.”

As part of the offering, GaMEP will leverage its expertise and resources at Georgia Tech, as well as its local, state, and federal economic development partners, including the Technical College System of Georgia and the MEP network, among other organizations, Cheeks said. Pooling resources at all levels ensures maximum impact for the affected companies and communities, he added.

The MDAP initiative will include assessments of the manufacturers’ needs, helping prioritize opportunities for sustainability and growth. It also will incorporate the development of pre and post-natural disaster protocols that address challenges manufacturers will face following hurricanes and other natural disasters, such as supply chain and infrastructure disruption, labor displacement, and financial constraints.

“We’re taking a 360-degree approach with this effort,” Cheeks said. “It’s designed to help position our coastal manufacturers proactively and ahead of the likely after-effects we will see in future storms that will affect the Georgia Coast.”

Eligible manufacturers are encouraged to email Ben Cheeks, GaMEP’s coastal region manager at ben.cheeks@innovate.gatech.edu.

Source: http://www.news.gatech.edu/2018/01/30/manufacturing-disaster-assistance-program-help-georgia-companies-prepare-natural 

Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership launches outreach initiative for food processing manufacturers

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Georgia is a one of the nation’s leading agriculture states, with the industry contributing about $74.9 billion to the state economy each year.

Damon Nix (left), senior project manager at the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, discusses ergonomic solutions for lifting bags of malt with Bobby Epperson, operations training and safety manager at Terrapin Brewery in Athens, Georgia. (Photo credit: Caley Landau)

A related sector — food processing — is a strong and growing component of the Georgia economy, and accounts for $11 billion to $12 billion each year of the state’s gross domestic product. Food processing also employs 69,000 across the state, with 10,000 of those jobs being created since 2010, according to Georgia Power’s 2016 Food Processing Industry Report.

It’s that strength in food processing, which comprises the largest segment of Georgia’s manufacturing sector, that led to the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s (GaMEP) new initiative focused on those manufacturers’ unique needs.

GaMEP, a federally funded economic development program at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, works with manufacturers across Georgia to help them remain viable and economically competitive.

“Food processing comprises many different products and sizes of manufacturers and it is important to assure their viability and growth,” said GaMEP Director Karen Fite. “This effort is in recognition of where the growth is occurring in the manufacturing sector and we want to make sure we’re applying our resources and expertise, as well as cutting edge research coming out of Georgia Tech, that can help our manufacturers.”

Damon C. Nix, GaMEP’s senior project manager, is leading the food manufacturing programming, which includes coaching, analysis, and consulting in:

  • Food Safety
    • Compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements.
    • Management system implementation and audit team support.
  • Energy Management
    • Energy assessments to identify cost reduction and performance improvement opportunities.
    • Companies with fewer than 500 employees at a plant site may qualify for a free energy assessment through Georgia Tech’s Industrial Assessment Center program.
  • Environmental Services
    • Environmental compliance services and management system (ISO 14001) support.
    • Environmental Protection Agency P2 grant-funded projects that support pollution prevention through reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and hazardous materials generation.
  • Worker Safety and Health
    • Implement lean/process improvement approaches to safety problem solving.
    • Partner with the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Food Processing Technology Division to support Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules compliance, applied research, and technology solutions.
  • Workforce Development
    • Operational Leader and Frontline Supervisor Training.

“Georgia’s food processing GDP ranks it sixth in the country and we rank sixth in employment,” Nix said, noting the state has roughly 680 food processing manufacturers, including the 127 that either relocated to Georgia or built new facilities here since 2010.

“The GaMEP has created significant results serving manufacturers overall,” Nix said. “We want to continue that momentum in food processing. Georgia’s manufacturing industry remains competitive and continues to grow because the food processing industry is expanding. We want food processors to know that the GaMEP is a resource to support their continued growth.”

About the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP):

The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) is an economic development program of the Enterprise Innovation Institute at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The GaMEP is a member of the National MEP network supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. With offices in nine regions across the state, the GaMEP has been serving Georgia manufacturers since 1960. It offers a solution-based approach to manufacturers through coaching and education designed to increase top line growth and reduce bottom line cost.

Source: http://www.news.gatech.edu/2017/08/23/georgia-manufacturing-extension-partnership-launches-outreach-initiative-food-processing

Getting lean: Assessing key energy solutions — Georgia Tech event Aug. 22 in Augusta

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Georgia Tech is sponsoring an event entitled “Getting Lean with Energy Systems: Assessing Key Energy Solutions” on August 22, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia.  It’s perfect for Engineering Directors or Managers, Maintenance Managers, Operations Managers, or anyone involved with energy system design and/or maintenance.

By attending, you will:

  • Learn how performing an energy system assessment can help provide a detailed understanding of the energy performance of a specific system.
  • Understand how the information and data gathered can help you reduce energy costs, lower the number of repairs and downtime, improve performance, and extend the lifespan of the entire system.
  • Hear how other Georgia manufacturing companies have discovered opportunities and made strategic improvements using energy system assessments.

Cost to attend is $15.  Event includes lunch, networking, presentation, case study, and Q&A.

Speaker: Randy Green, Project Manager for the GaMEP at Georgia Tech.  Randy has over 20 years of experience with industrial power systems and is a U.S. Department of Energy Certified System Specialist in Steam and Pumping Systems.  He holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech and a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgia State University.

Learn  more and register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/getting-lean-with-energy-systems-assessing-key-energy-solutions-augusta-manufacturing-growth-tickets-35969873861?aff=Flyer

This quarterly lunch and learn educational series delivers actionable tips and tools of the trade specifically designed to help Georgia Manufacturers grow their business.  To learn about more upcoming GaMEP events, visit: http://gamep.org/manufacturing-growth-educational-series/

To learn more about GaMEP, visit: http://gamep.org/

2nd MBE manufacturers summit to be held at Georgia Tech in August

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The national Minority Business Enterprise Manufacturer’s Summit is returning to Atlanta on August 15 & 16, 2017.

Held at Georgia Tech’s Global Learning Center, this two-day event has grown into a hub for leading Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) manufacturers to convene.

More than 200 attendees from the manufacturing community from 19 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. attended last year’s summit and that number is expected to increase at this year’s event.

Agenda
DAY 1: Social & Networking Reception – August 15, 2017

Be a part of the industry’s most powerful gathering of MBE manufacturers, innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs shaping and transforming manufacturing through technology today. Share stories, recognize and celebrate your peers – form valuable connections that will last a lifetime. Come join your colleagues for cocktails, networking and thought leadership.

  • Gathering Spot 384 Northyards Boulevard, NW; Building 100, Atlanta, GA 30313
  • Reception Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Day 2: National MBE Manufacturers Summit 2017, August 16, 2017

Georgia Tech Global Learning Center 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Registraion/Networking and Breakfast

  • Welcome: Chris Downing, Vice President, Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
  • Opening Keynote: Theresa Carrington, CEO of The Blessing Basket Project as well as trademark symbol.
Relationship Building Sessions

Sessions:

  • Connecting MBE Manufacturers Together for Opportunities.
  • Building a Smart Factory – Industry 4.0
  • Building a Compititive Workforce
Luncheon Keynote
  • Steve Voorhees, CEO of WestRock
Innovation Pods
  • Featuring the Latest Trends in Innovation and Technology.
Fast Pitch One-On-One Meetings
  • With Corporations and OEMs.
Poster Walk
  • Featuring MBE Manufacturers.
Registration and More Information

Please visit: http://mbemanufacturersummit.com/index.html#home

Sponsors:

Delta officially opens new advanced manufacturing facility at Georgia Tech

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Nearly three months after opening its Global Innovation Center in Tech Square, Delta Air Lines cut the ribbon on its new Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility on 14th Street in a special ceremony on July 19, 2017.

From left, Don McConnell, Georgia Tech vice president of Industry Collaboration; Steve Cross, Georgia Tech executive vice president for Research, Gil West, Delta’s senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, David Garrison, senior vice president for Engineering, Quality, Planning and Logistics for Delta; Tad Hutcheson, senior vice president of the Delta Air Lines Foundation; and Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson cut the ribbon on the new Delta Air Lines Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility at Georgia Tech.

“We’re really excited about the partnership with Delta,” said Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson. “This facility is a little different. Our students, faculty, staff and researchers will be able to develop products, and it provides Delta an opportunity to collaborate with its partners.”

Made possible by a $3 million gift from the Delta Air Lines Foundation, the facility was designed to be an integrated physical and cyber manufacturing technology testbed as well as a demonstration and teaching facility. The Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF) will be a flagship component of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute as a location where early-stage concepts can go from idea to reality.

“Over the last two years, inspired by insights gained from our close collaboration in manufacturing research with industry partners, faculty members from the schools of Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Interactive Computing came together to define the requirements for a learning and research facility that will provide the foundation for future innovations in digital manufacturing,” said Don McConnell, Georgia Tech’s vice president of Industry Collaboration.

Peterson said the building had been part of the Atlantic Steel plant and before it was converted to house Delta’s AMPF and Boeing’s Manufacturing Development Center, the building had served as a warehouse for Georgia Tech’s Housing department to store and repair furniture for residence halls and on-campus apartments.

“Georgia Tech is a world-class institute, and we’re really blessed to have you in our hometown,” said Gil West, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer for Delta.

Back on May 2, Delta and Georgia Tech held a ribbon cutting for an innovation center called “The Hangar” in Tech Square, which is now home to 20 such innovation centers. The AMPF establishes Georgia Tech as a national leader in advanced manufacturing.

From concept to closeout: What contractors need to know about the manufacturing sector

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While some construction industry research and information providers like JLL have predicted an overall slowdown in the rate of construction growth in the coming years, one sector within the construction industry has emerged as a star — the industrial segment.

The industrial sector has experienced the lowest vacancy rates in 16 years, according to JLL. The company also found that 18% of Q3 2016 leases were for newly built space, an encouraging metric for the construction industry.

E-commerce has driven a significant portion of the warehouse/distribution component of the market, a phenomenon that is part of the “Amazon effect,” which refers to the internet giant’s impact on pretty much everything to do with warehousing, ordering and shipping merchandise in the age of the internet, according to Kent Newsom, executive vice president of Ridge Development at Transwestern.

“Retailers are trying to figure out how to adjust to it,” Newsom said. In the Dallas metro area, he said, Amazon alone has approximately 4 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.constructiondive.com/news/from-concept-to-closeout-what-contractors-need-to-know-about-the-manufactu/445325/

Siemens opens innovation center in Tech Square

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Representatives from Siemens opened its Data Analytics and Applications Center in Georgia Tech’s Technology Square last week, making it the latest global corporation to open an innovation center on or near campus.

The center will help transportation providers use big data to improve operations and safety. For example, the Siemens team will work with the City of Atlanta to collect information from the Atlanta Streetcar and analyze data points to make the best use of the fleet.

Siemens is the 16th company to open an innovation center in Tech Square. These centers represent a diverse range of industries with a common goal of tapping into the innovation neighborhood’s vibrant network of students, faculty, researchers and startup entrepreneurs.

The Data Analytics and Applications Center represents an exciting next step in the longstanding relationship between Georgia Tech and Siemens, said Stephen E. Cross, the Institute’s executive vice president for research.

“Siemens has been a longtime partner of the Institute, and we are proud that they are now a part of the vision for Tech Square and the strategy that drives Georgia Tech as an institution,” Cross said. “Georgia Tech plays a strategic role in growing Georgia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and continues to forge paths to new research and innovation that have impact on our city, state, and region. Nowhere is that more evident than in Tech Square and nowhere is it is better realized than in centers like the Siemens Data Analytics and Applications Center.”

Here are some examples of the extensive collaboration between the Institute and Siemens:

  • Georgia Tech has partnered on more than 20 projects with Siemens over the past four years in manufacturing, health care and energy.
  • For more than 15 years, the Siemens Foundation has collaborated with the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC). Activities include improving K-12 science and math education in underserved communities; hosting the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology; and preparing students for the future of manufacturing.
  • Siemens also recruits about 30 Georgia Tech students each year, primarily through 15 technical training programs that lead to direct hire upon completion.

Source: http://www.news.gatech.edu/2017/04/20/siemens-opens-innovation-center-tech-square

‘Buy American’ order draws mixed reviews from contractors

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Last Tuesday (Apr. 18, 2017) President Trump traveled to the Snap-On Tool manufacturing plant in Kenosha, Wis., to sign a previously announced executive order that tasks agencies and contractors with ramping up efforts to “Buy American” and “Hire American.”

Combined with a crackdown on unmerited high-level work visas and unfair trade practices, the order taps procurement specialists to propose contracting reforms to be assembled over 220 days by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to create a “more muscular” Buy American policy, as a senior administration official told reporters Monday.

“It’s time,” Trump told the crowd on Tuesday, for the government to “aggressively promote and use American-made goods and to ensure that American labor is hired to do the job.” The purpose of the order is to require “federal agencies to strictly uphold our Buy American laws and minimize waivers and maximize Made in America content in all federal projects,” he said. “We will fully monitor, uphold and enforce our Buy American laws, which we haven’t done.”

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/contracting/2017/04/trumps-buy-american-order-draws-mixed-reviews-contractors/137129

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