Archive for November, 2009

McCall Brothers, Inc., Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won contracts worth $60,829.00 and $257,256.00 from the National Park Service for Water Supply Improvements – New Well, Kings Mountain National Military Park and Water Supply Improvements – New Water Storage Tank, Kings Mountain Military Park.

Toolcraft, Inc. of North Carolina, Marion, NC, McDowell County, has won a contract worth $99,617.00 from the Department of the Army for Guns, 75 mm through 125 mm.

Oakwood Properties, LLC, Rocky Mount, NC, Nash/Edgecombe County, has won a contract worth $2,655,462.15 from the General Services Administration for 11,275 Rentable Square Feet of Office and Related Space .

Aviation Metals, Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won a contract worth $10,135.00 from the USCG Aviation Logistics Center for METALS.

Vance Granville Community College, Vance/Granville County, has been awarded a contract worth $62,200.00 by the Bureau of Prisons for SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES.

Durham Technical Community College, Durham, NC, Durham County, has been awarded contracts worth $81,835.00 and $87,700.00 by the Bureau of Prisons for SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES and AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTION SERVICES.

Kidde Technologies Inc, Wilson, NC, Wilson County, has been awarded contracts worth $44,843.80, $38,446.50 and $39,397.92 by the Defense Logistics Agency for SENSOR, RH SEMI-CIRC, ELEMENT, SENSING, and CONTROL, ALARM.

Firstmark Aerospace Corporation, Creedmoor, NC, Granville County, has been awarded contracts worth $35,972.00, $37,360.00 and $79,020.00 by the Defense Logistics Agency for TRANSMITTER, LIQUID QUANTITY, TRANSMITTER, LIQUID QUANTITY, and COMPENSATOR, LIQUID QUANTITY GAGE.

Scott Technologies, Inc., Monroe, NC, Union County, has been awarded a contract worth $326,820.00 by the Defense Logistics Agency for AMPLIFIER, AUDIO FRE.

Volvo Construction Co., Asheville, NC, Buncombe County, is being awarded a maximum $14,596,158 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for wheel loaders. Using service is Foreign Military Sales. There were originally four proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-05-D-0006-0064).

The North Carolina Board of Science and Technology has announced the release of the FY 2010 Solicitation for the One North Carolina Small Business Matching Funds Program. The Program awards matching funds to North Carolina small businesses who have been awarded a SBIR or STTR Phase I award.

Please note the following changes this year, necessitated by funding limitations:

The Maximum Matching Grant award size is 50% of the Federal SBIR/STTR Program award, not to exceed $50,000.

• Companies that have previously received a Match Award under this Program under any previous Solicitation are ineligible to apply for a Match Award during the FY 2010 Solicitation.

• The Solicitation Period is July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010. Applicants must have received official notification of Phase I awards by a Federal SBIR/STTR agency during the Solicitation Period to be eligible. The Board must receive Applications for funding under this program no later than 45 days from the date of notification of Phase I award by the Federal SBIR/STTR agency. For companies whose federal notification occurred between the start date (July 1, 2009) and release date (November 15, 2009) of this Solicitation, the Board must receive Applications within 45 days from the release date of this Solicitation.

• Award decisions will be made using a stochastic process in which each Applicant will have a 50 percent probability of receiving an Award, as follows:

o Using the Board’s sciGrants system, each Applicant will submit a brief Preliminary Application containing company–specific information, proof of Phase I Award during the Solicitation period, and other information related to Program eligibility requirements.

o Each Applicant will be notified of the outcome of the stochastic process within five business days of submitting its Application.

o Applicants selected to receive a Match Award will be asked to submit a full Application via the sciGrants system.

In its four-year history, the Matching Funds Program has awarded more than $14 million to 179 small businesses throughout North Carolina. In this fifth year of the Program, the Board invites all eligible companies to apply for a Matching Grant under the FY 2010 Solicitation of the One North Carolina Small Business Program.

If you have questions regarding the program, please consult the FY 2010 Solicitation or contact the Board’s Staff.

International Market Solutions (IMS) in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Commerce recently held a one-day conference in Greensboro, NC, on “Military/Performance Textiles: A Strong Market for NC Companies”. Over 180 industry and government representatives were in attendance.

The November 10 conference included speakers from the private sector, academia and state and federal government who offered insights on research, trends, US military purchasing guidelines, foreign military markets, marketing strategy and other topics.

Commerce Sec. Keith Crisco offered keynote remarks supporting industry efforts in finding new markets. Featured speakers included Blan Godfrey, dean of NC State University’s College of Textiles; Lt. Col. Kevin Stoddard, deputy director for clothing/textiles at the Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia; and Jennifer Stewart, who specializes in defense procurement at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC.

In addition, the office of US Rep. Larry Kissell, D-8th District, offered his remarks on new US government requirements for military and security purchases, and Scott Dorney, Executive Director of the NCMBC, spoke to the overflow crowd regarding how the NCMBC can assist firms pursuing the federal marketplace.

Click here for the website containing all of the presentations.

And, don’t forget to stay up-to-date on federal textile opportunities by monitoring the NCMBC web page for Clothing and Textiles.

The Government Accountability Office audited a handful of service-disabled veteran-owned small business contracts, and might have discovered the tip of a large iceberg of fraud.

Of more than 100 allegations of fraud and abuse, GAO audited 10 firms between October 2008 and November 2009 and found that ineligible companies improperly received millions of dollars in set-aside and sole source SDVOSB contracts. The audited firms received approximately $100 million in SDVOSB contracts and another $300 million through other small business programs such as the 8(a) program for disadvantaged minority groups and the HUBZone program for firms located in historically underutilized business zones.

According to the Small Business Administration, $6.5 billion in federal contracts were awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses in fiscal 2008.

The firms GAO studied committed the fraud in several ways. One company owner was not a service-disabled veteran, another was owned by a service-disabled veteran, but he did not control the firm’s daily operations, and several SDVOSBs were serving as pass-throughs for large and sometimes foreign corporations. In the case of a pass-through, a firm or team listed a service-disabled veteran as the majority owner, but all work was performed and managed by a nonservice disabled person or firm, in violation of program requirements.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

The N.C. Military Foundation announced yesterday that Carl Zeiss Optronics USA Inc. (ZeO USA) will locate its U.S. corporate headquarters in Wake Forest, NC The facility will serve as ZeO USA’s base of operations to provide products for the U.S. defense industry. Rick Miller, President & CEO and Rex Luzader, VP Business Development will lead a core group of executives and engineering staff.

“Carl Zeiss Optronics USA, Inc.’s decision to locate in North Carolina is a significant development for our statewide defense industry, and will be a critical pillar to growing our capabilities in military and homeland security surveillance and reconnaissance technologies and products,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “This is further proof that North Carolina is the desired location for defense industry technology companies.”

ZeO USA, a subsidiary of Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH, will provide its world-class optronics products in support of the U.S. military, homeland defense and law enforcement communities. The company will partner with the Foundation, private industry, N.C.-based universities and defense-oriented business support organizations to pursue research and development and supply contracts for the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies.

“The Foundation’s strategy for growing North Carolina’s defense economy is working,” said General Buck Kernan, USA, (ret.), Foundation Chair. “Carl Zeiss produces world-class products used by defense agencies all over the world. Their decision to locate their USA headquarters in North Carolina speaks volumes about the tremendous business opportunities they see in our state.”

ZeO USA is partnered with Wake Forest-based 3 Phoenix to provide optical systems for the Department of Defense. This partnership and North Carolina’s proximity to major military installations, pre-eminent research and development and talent pipeline stemming from a statewide system of colleges and universities, and quality of life attracted ZeO USA to the state.

“We are proud to be able to establish our corporate offices close to our partner 3Phoenix in order to move forward with our program to provide optical systems to the Department of Defense. I would like to thank the State of North Carolina, the leadership in Wake Forest, and all other partners for their outstanding cooperation in supporting our efforts. We are looking forward to a successful and long-lasting relationship as we expand our presence in the future,” said Rick Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carl Zeiss Optronics USA Inc.

“We welcome Carl Zeiss Optronics USA to Wake Forest, NC and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in the future,” said Mayor Vivian Jones, Town of Wake Forest. “I am very pleased and proud of the efforts of the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development group to bring Carl Zeiss Optronics USA Inc. to Wake Forest. And, I recognize and appreciate the joint efforts of our partners, NC Department of Commerce, NC Military Foundation, NC Military Business Center, Wake County Economic Development, North Carolina State University, and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership.”

Headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH is a member of the Carl Zeiss Group. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of advanced optronic, optical and precision engineered products for military and civilian applications. These include border surveillance, space technology and reconnaissance on land, water and from the air. For more information visit: www.zeiss.com.

The NCMBC welcomes ZeO USA to NC and looks forward to working with them to help meet their teaming and business development needs.

$27.5 million in loans is now available to North Carolina businesses located in economically-distressed, rural, and tobacco-dependent counties. Funding for this program has been provided by a $5 million grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation and $500,000 from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center through an appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly.

There is no set minimum or maximum loan value; the amount of the loan will depend on the borrower’s risk factors, business plan, amount of collateral to help secure the loan, etc. All types of firms are eligible to apply, but woman-owned and minority-owned businesses will be afforded preference.

Priority will be given to firms operating in the following sectors:

• Health Care: Health centers, hospitals & clinics, group homes, physicians & dentists in private practice, and other providers seeking to create and retain jobs within the health industry.

• Construction Trades

• Green Industries: Renewable energy applications, enterprises that install energy-efficiency technologies, commercial recycling operations, and other conservation-based businesses.

• Agriculture: Includes businesses that employ alternative ways of producing, processing, and/or distributing agricultural commodities, and farms.

• Manufacturing: Aerospace, biotechnology, and defense contracting, and other manufacturing
The funding may be used for start-up capital; working capital; equipment and inventory purchases; and acquisition, construction, or renovation of facilities.

This new loan program is administered by Self-Help. For a list of eligible counties, to download an application, and/or to contact the nearest Self-Help location, click here.

Courtney Locus has joined the NC Military Business Center as Communications, Outreach, and Government Relations Specialist. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has previously worked in marketing and freelance public relations. With NCMBC, she will manage web development and programs. She will also manage NCMBC government relations with the General Assembly, Office of the Governor, NC Congressional delegation and other state and local agencies for 12 offices statewide.

L-3, with an office in Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $155,589,791.61 from the U.S. Special Operations Command for Imagery Analyst Services with performance at Fort Bragg.

Stantec Consulting Services Inc, with offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem, NC, has won a contract worth $2,000,000.00 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Drilling Services.

WECC, Inc., Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has been awarded a contract worth $706,265.00 by Fort Bragg to Replace and Relocate Existing Womack Army Medical Center Helipad.

Paul Howard Construction Company, Inc., Greensboro, NC, Guilford County, has won a contract worth $581,900.00 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Repairs to Jetty and Breakwater.

Waste Industries USA Inc, Durham, NC, Durham County, has won a contract worth $62,200.00 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Waste Pick Up at the Durham VAMC.

Magnevolt Inc., Clayton, NC, Johnston County, has been awarded a contract worth $206,329.20 by the Naval Sea Systems Command for SEAWATER BATTERY ASSEMBLY.

Ferguson Alternative Homes LLC, Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $65,491.32 from the Department of Homeland Security for Messenger and Courier Services.

Federal contractors performing work closely associated with inherently governmental functions would have to vet their employees for potential conflicts of interest, according to a proposed rule published Friday in the Federal Register.

The notice, in the works for more than 18 months and later mandated by language in the 2009 Defense Authorization Act, is the government’s first attempt to codify procedures for eliminating and preventing personal conflicts of interest among contractor employees.

Click here to read the whole story. Comments on the proposed rule are due by January 12, 2010.

Start-ups run by disabled vets are winning millions in federal IT contracts.

Jerry Demony, a retired Army colonel, suffered back and other injuries during his tour of duty that left him more than 50% disabled. Today, Demony is a partner in i3 Federal, a Fairfax Station, Va., reseller that’s winning millions of dollars in federal IT contracts each year because of this disability.

Click here to read the full story. Contact Fran Perez-Wilhite at perezf@ncmbc.us to learn more about the Service-disabled Veteran-owned Small Business Program.