Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

GTPAC launches GoToStage on-demand training channel

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The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (“GTPAC”) today announced the launch of its GoToStage on-demand training channel.  This channel will be the primary repository of recorded GTPAC webinars and training events.

The channel allows GTPAC clients and prospective clients, including the general public, to receive FREE GTPAC training on-demand at no cost. 

“We understand that it is sometimes difficult to attend our webinars live.  During the past six months I have been regularly recording my webinars and sharing them,” said Andrew Smith, GTPAC Program Manager.  “We wanted to have a place where we could put all our recorded webinars and make them available to our clients and prospective clients on-demand for free.”

GTPAC will also be posting recorded webinars to their new GTPAC Community online platform as well.  The goal of these efforts is to make access to training as simple and easy as possible.

“I’m committed to providing training via webinar and on-demand,” said Smith, “With Atlanta’s traffic, it is difficult sometimes to attend training events in-person, and it is often more efficient to receive training via webinar or on-demand.  I want our services and training to be as accessible as possible.”

New training videos will be continuously posted to the new channel as webinars occur and are recorded – providing a rich and growing resource of GTPAC programming and training videos.

Clients, prospective clients, and the general public can access the on-demand training at the following website:

https://www.gotostage.com/channel/gtpac

Mass changes coming to all GSA Schedule contracts; webinar to be held on April 10

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The General Services Administration (GSA) is planning to “refresh” all GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) solicitations and issue a mass modification to existing contracts in April.  The changes include:

  • Updating proposal instructions to require order status on GSA Advantage! Orders.
  • Updating proposal instructions related to Section 508 Standards and information.
  • Incorporating new Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determinations.
  • Updating AbilityOne “Essentially the Same” Proposal Instructions.
  • Incorporating minor updates from FAC 2019-01 (defining “recruitment fees” in relationship to Combating Trafficking in Persons rules), as applicable.

In addition, individual Schedules may be updated with additional clauses or provisions to make clarifications, administrative corrections, and other required changes.

GSA will issue a bilateral modification to apply the changes to existing MAS contracts.  Contractors will have 90 days to accept the mass modification.

Please see Draft Significant Changes document for more detailed information on the upcoming refresh.

Note: This is the final set of solicitation refreshes before GSA consolidates the 24 existing MAS solicitations into a single Schedule for products and services. To learn more about MAS Transformation, read GSA’s Nov. 27, 2018 press release.

Webinar Offered

Register now for GSA’s April 10, 2019 public webinar about upcoming changes to MAS solicitations. This webinar will be in a listen-only format with the ability for participants to ask questions via an online chat function.

●         Date: Wednesday April 10, 2019

●         Time:  1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern Time

●         Registration Link

 

March 28th webinar to address how small businesses can support US DOT’s research needs

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The United States Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is inviting small businesses to participate in a webinar on the Department’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.  The webinar will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 2:00 pm (EDT).

Here’s what participants will learn:

  • How you can apply your expertise and support U.S. DOT’s research goals through SBIR.
  • Updates on the Department’s FY19 SBIR solicitation.
  • How the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) participate in the SBIR program.

U.S. DOT’s SBIR program has awarded $50 million during the past five years to small businesses. Webinar participants will be able to hear from U.S. DOT SBIR program managers about their agency’s research needs and how they use the SBIR program.

Please confirm your participation by registering clicking this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QGFYB9Q no later than COB Monday, March 25, 2019.   By close of business Tuesday, March 26, 2019 registrants will receive an email communication with instructions on how to join the webinar.

U.S. DOT’s SBIR Program Director Rachael Sack, along with the FHWA R&T Program Development & Partnership Team Director Jack Jernigan, and FRA SBIR Program Manager Jeffrey Gordon, will be in attendance.  Please make your reservation through the link above as space is very limited.

If you have any questions, or concerns, please call Mr. Duphresne at 202-366-9507. You can also reach the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization at 202-366-1930.

Two new free webinars to be presented on Oct. 24th

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The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) has just added two new webinars to our free training roster.  Both webinars will be presented on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. 

Details, times, and registration details appear below.

“Capabilities Statement — What It Is and Why You Should Have One”  

  • Time: 10:00 to 11:30 am
  • Description: In order to effectively market yourself in the government sector, you should have a corporate résumé. Government agencies call this a Capabilities Statement.  A Capabilities Statement should contain information to tell buyers why you’re an expert and why they should feel confident about awarding you a contract. This workshop provides instruction on how to write a good Capabilities Statement, including all the right ingredients. If you are looking for help with how to present your company to government decision-makers, then attending this workshop is a must.
  • Register at: https://gtpac.ecenterdirect.com/events/8558

“How to Create a Great Elevator Speech”

  • Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
  • Description: Ever wondered how to introduce your business to a government buyer? Like everything else, there’s a right way and a wrong way. Government officials are often pressed for time, so you usually have a limited amount of time to “sell yourself.” This workshop will teach you how to introduce yourself like a pro … and convince decision-makers that you are an expert at what you do!
  • Register at: https://gtpac.ecenterdirect.com/events/8559

 

Read this to learn about our free training in March and April

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The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) encourages all business people who want to be successful government contractors to commit themselves to continuous learning. 

To make learning easy, GTPAC regularly offers a wide range of seminars and webinars on government contracting topics.   Here’s a list of upcoming training events — offered at locations across the state of Georgia.  All are free of charge!

Click on the seminar titles below for more information or to register.

For a complete list of all of GTPAC’s training seminars, please visit: https://gtpac.ecenterdirect.com/events.

SBA announces free, six-part HUBZone webinar series in February

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is conducting a free, six-part webinar series beginning in February 2018 to help small business owners navigate the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program.

Feb. 7: HUBZone Contracting:  Make the Federal Government Your Customer

2-3p.m. EST

Small businesses will learn about HUBZone contracting vehicles and regulations.

Click http://ems7.intellor.com/login/714969 10 minutes before webinar begins.

Feb. 14: HUBZone Joint Ventures: How to Partner with Other Companies for HUBZone Contracts

2-3p.m. EST

Learn how to enter into a HUBZone joint venture, and the importance of having a well-defined joint venture agreement .

Click http://ems7.intellor.com/login/714968 10 minutes before the webinar begins.

Feb. 21: Continued HUBZone Compliance:  How to Maintain Your HUBZone Certification

2-3p.m. EST

Learn how to remain compliant to reap the benefits of your investment.

Click http://ems7.intellor.com/login/715049 10 minutes before the webinar begins:

Feb. 28: How Does HUBZone Consider Employees and Affiliation?

2-3p.m. EST

Learn who to count as an employee for the purpose of HUBZone, and understand when to combine employees from other businesses to evaluate residency compliance.   

Click http://ems7.intellor.com/login/714967 10 minutes before the webinar begins.

March 7:  Understanding How HUBZones are Designated

2-3p.m. EST

Learn how areas become designated as HUBZones.

A link to the webinar will be announced by mid-February.

March 14: HUBZone Protests and Appeals

2-3p.m. EST

Learn the process for filing HUBZone protests and appeals; and for responding to protest notices.

A link to the webinar will be announced by mid-February.

All webinars will be archived on the SBA’s YouTube page. For more details about the HUBZone program, please visit www.sba.gov/hubzone or contact your GTPAC counselor for assistance.

Free webinar on ‘capture management’

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Capture Management is everything a company does to increase its win probability, from the time it decides to pursue an expected government contract to the time the RFP is actually released.

Do you have a Capture Plan is place?  How is your Capture Plan working for you?  Unfamiliar with the concept?

For answers to questions like these, plan to attend a one-hour webinar being sponsored by the Florida 8(a) Alliance.  The free webinar is being held Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.

Webinar registration is at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/47344256391008258

 

Smart clients regularly attend GTPAC training seminars and webinars

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The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) holds more than 150 training seminars across the state each year, and many of these training events are broadcast as webinars so they can be accessed anywhere you have an Internet connection.  Smart GTPAC clients know the value of participating in GTPAC training seminars and webinars on a regular basis.

Best of all, all of GTPAC’s training sessions are free of charge.  All we ask is that you register in advance.

“Government contracting rules change all the time,” says GTPAC program director Joe Beaulieu.  “That’s why we advise our clients to regularly participate in our training.”  Beaulieu notes that virtually all of GTPAC’s training is conducted by GTPAC team members who are subject matter experts in many aspects of government contracting.  “Our team is exceptionally well-qualified.  Before joining the GTPAC organization our staff possessed an average of 17.5 years of government contracting experience.  That amounts to a collective total of 159 career years of relevant experience.  In addition, our counselors have, on average, been with GTPAC for 9 years, adding another 85 years of relevant experience, collectively.”  Beaulieu adds: “We don’t rest on our laurels.  The GTPAC team regularly attends professional education courses and other training to make sure we stay up-to-date with the latest developments in government acquisition.”

Take advantage of this knowledge and expertise!  There are many topics covered by GTPAC training sessions.  You can find the complete list of upcoming events, along with descriptions and registration information, at: https://gtpac.ecenterdirect.com/events.

 

Oct. 27 cybersecurity webinar reviews key regulatory actions impacting government contractors

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The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) is hosting a one-hour lunchtime webinar on Oct. 27, 2017 on the subject of the regulatory obligations federal contractors have for protecting data from cyber-attacks.

Interested parties can sign-up to participate in this free webinar by clicking here.  After registering, enrollees will receive webinar access information from the instructor a few days before the webinar.

Businesses seeking information and resources on the subject of government cybersecurity rules can visit this page.  GTPAC hosted a half-day briefing for businesses on Aug. 9th, and visitors to this page can view a video of the event, plus download a number of resource materials.

All GTPAC seminars and webinars are still free of charge!

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The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) wants to remind everyone that we continue to host a continuous series of top-flight training seminars and webinars on a variety of government contracting topics — and all of them are free of charge!

To see the seminars and webinars, their schedules and locations, simply visit the GTPAC website at www.gtpac.org and click on the “Training” tab, or use this shortcut: GTPAC Training.

Coming up in the next few weeks are:

  • June 19 – Navigating the Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Process (webinar)
  • June 21 – Fundamentals of Working with the Government (classroom – Columbus, GA)
  • June 27 – Marketing to State & Local Government Agencies (webinar)
  • July 7 – Introduction to Government Contracting (classroom – Augusta, GA)
  • July 11 – Introduction to Government Contracting (webinar)
  • July 12 – Selling to the Military (webinar)
  • July 12 – Understanding the GSA Schedule Process (classroom – Warner Robins, GA)
  • July 14 – Bid Protests: What Government Contractors Need To Know (webinar)
  • July 18 – How the Government Administers Its Contracts – Part 4 (webinar)
  • July 19 – Preparing Successful Bids & Proposals (classroom – Albany, GA)
  • July 21 – Understanding the GSA Schedule Process (classroom – Savannah, GA)
  • July 28 – The False Claims Act: What Government Contractors Need to Know (webinar)
  • Aug. 9 – Fundamentals of Navigating SAM and Working with the Government (classroom – Warner Robins)
  • Aug. 9 – Subcontracting with Large Prime Contractors (classroom – Albany, GA)
  • Aug. 11 – Procurement Integrity and Ethics 101 for the Government Contractor (webinar)
  • Aug. 16 – Introduction to Government Contracting (webinar)

Remember, all GTPAC seminars and webinars are offered free of charge.  Advance registration is required.  Use this link — GTPAC Training — to see exact times of the sessions and to register.

 

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