Archive for the ‘Small Business Programs’ Category
Saucer Inc. hosts an Outreach Event
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) will host an outreach event for Sauer Inc. Businesses interested in exploring project opportunities with Sauer Inc. are encouraged to attend this Small Business Forum.
Event Title: Small Business Forum
When: October 3, 2011
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Where: Fayetteville State University
Rudolph Jones Student Center, Room 236
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 25301 (Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.)
Please RSVP to Jean Roos at jroos@uncfsu.edu by September 28, 2011 if you are planning to attend.
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
1 WEEK TO GO! Mark your calendars for the 10th Annual Defense Trade Show
1 WEEK TO GO! Mark your calendars for the 10th Annual North Carolina Defense Trade Show on August 9th co-hosted by Senator Richard Burr, Senator Kay Hagan, Congressman Larry Kissell, Fayetteville Technical Community College, the NC Military Business Center (NCMBC), the NC Defense Business Association, the Partnership for Defense Innovation and the University of North Carolina.
“The 10th Annual North Carolina Defense Trade Show is the premier defense-related trade show in North Carolina,” said Scott Dorney, executive director of the NC Military Business Center. “This is the only show that brings together major defense companies, large and small NC businesses and senior leaders from Capitol Hill, US Army Forces Command, US Army Reserve Command and North Carolina bases in a single venue.”
Event Activities (open to the public) include:
- Ribbon Cutting (9 AM – 9:15 AM)
- Trade Show (9 AM – 2 PM) – Showcasing over 60 defense-related companies – including major defense contractors and NC businesses
- Strategic Teaming Event (9:30 AM – 2 PM.) – Speed-networking event, coordinated by NCMBC, that provides private, one-on-one meetings between large prime contractors and NC businesses to foster future teaming relationships
- Basic/Advanced Workshop Series (10:20AM – 1:50 PM) – Businesses interested in securing government contracts are encouraged to attend. Basic Track is offered to businesses newly engaged in federal contracting; Advanced Track is available for businesses already engaged and growing in the market. Businesses may attend sessions within either track.
New features added to the program this year:
- Agency Presentations (9:50 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM; 30 min. sessions) – Learn about opportunities with US Army Sustainment Command and US Army Tank Automotive and Armament Command, and about US Department of Commerce services to assist exporters find foreign buyers and sell into new markets.
- UNC Research and Development Roundtable (2 PM -3:15 PM) – Learn about new initiatives, grants and contracts that could lead to a successful partnership between your organization and the state’s public university system.
Event will take place on the main campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College (2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville, NC 28302); admission to the trade show and workshops is free. Pre-registration is requested.
For more information or to register, visit http://www.ncmbc.us/2011DefenseTradeShow.php
Fall 2011 Defense Contractor Academy (Raleigh)
The North Carolina Military Business Center is pleased to announce the Fall 2011 Defense Contractor Academy at Western Wake Tech Community College (3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518).
Purpose. The Defense Contractor Academy will offer advanced instruction and a certificate of completion to existing, small business defense contractors to provide the tools needed to grow the defense contracting portion of their business portfolio. A series of 9 classes will be offered over an 9-week period, once a week, beginning on September 6, 2011 and ending November 1, 2011. Each session will include presentation of material and either a panel or guest business(es) to discuss their experiences regarding the topic of the session. If your company is interested in a panel member or a guest business, please email smedickc@ncmbc.us.
Application. To apply for the Defense Contractor Academy, please fill out the following application prior to close of business August 18, 2011. To fill out the application, click here. The Defense Contractor Academy committee will review applications and notify accepted participants by August 22, 2011 at the email account listed in the application. If you have any questions, please email smedickc@ncmbc.us.
For Defense Contractor Academy class specifics please visit: http://ncmbc.us/Fall2011DefenseContractorAcademy.php
Upcoming Event: 2011 NC Aerospace Suppliers Conference
Attention Aerospace Companies! Senator Richard Burr, the North Carolina Aerospace Alliance (NCAA) and the North Carolina Military Business Center are pleased to announce the upcoming 2011 NC Aerospace Suppliers Conference to be held on August 24, 2011 in Greensboro, NC.
The North Carolina Aerospace Supplier Conference will provide opportunities for North Carolina companies to interact with Aerospace prime contractors, as they identify their defense and commercial aerospace projects and needs. Senator Richard Burr will open the conference with keynote remarks, followed by speakers who will discuss the current defense and commercial aerospace trends. A roundtable discussion on aerospace workforce training at the community colleges will follow. A large exhibit area consisting of aerospace prime contractors and subcontractors will provide the opportunity for one-on-one interaction and networking.
Registration is now available for attendees and exhibitors!
For more information, visit: http://ncmbc.us/2011AerospaceConference.php
DOD ISSUES INTERIM RULE ACCELERATING PAYMENTS TO ALL SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS, NOT JUST DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CONCERNS
On April 27, 2011, DoD issued an interim rule amending the DFARS to accelerate payments to all small business concerns. Currently, DoD aids small disadvantaged business concerns by paying them as quickly after invoices are received and before payment due dates established in the contract. The interim rule removes the term “disadvantaged” from DFARS 232.903 and DFARS 232.906(a)(ii), thus extending the expedited payment policy uniformly to all small business concerns, and not just disadvantaged business concerns.
Federal Government Contracting Preference Programs Blog Series – Part 3 – Ability One Program
This is the third of a series of blog entries on government buying preference programs, established to use the purchasing power of the federal government as a means of implementing public policy relating to providing employment for special populations. Previous entries have dealt with the Federal Prison Industries program (through which inmates in federal prisons produce goods and services for government use) and the Randolph-Sheppard Act (through which food service contracts at government facilities are set-aside for individuals who are blind).
The largest set-aside program – the AbilityOne Program – has been known by several names through the years since it was first adopted, including: Javits-Wagner-O’Day or JWOD (the names of Congressman who sponsored the original act or its renewal) and NIB/NISH (the names of the two national non-profit organizations designated by Congress to administer this program). National Industries for the Blind (also known as NIB) tends to focus on capturing federal procurements for various products that can be manufactured or assembled by persons with vision impairments. Their “Skillcraft” brand of office supplies is well known to all federal employees.
NISH (formerly called National Industries for the Severely Handicapped) works to set-aside both product and service contracting opportunities to provide employment for people with a variety of significant disabilities (physical, cognitive, developmental, etc). Historically NISH has managed a large number of contracts to make uniforms and flags, provide custodial or landscaping services, and run food service operations at military and civilian facilities.
Both NIB and NISH partner with community-based non-profit agencies (CNAs) across the country that provide services to individuals with disabilities (Goodwill Industries, Lighthouse for the Blind, etc). Those agencies employ the workers assigned to federal contracts and are ultimately responsible for delivery of the government’s requirements. There are strict rules and regulations that NISH and NIB must follow in order to set-aside contracts.
Performance against those rules and regulations is closely monitored by a special commission, appointed by the President of the United States, that includes representatives from each branch of the military and federal department. The three biggest rules are:
- setting-aside any contract must NOT result in a current incumbent losing more than 30% of its revenues;
- at least 70% the workers assigned to each contract must have a documented disability; and,
- the quality levels specified in each contract must be maintained (as is true on any federal contracts.
The purpose of this blog was simply to introduce readers to the general nature of the AbilityOne Program and the players involved. Future blogs will address opportunities for partnering with NIB, NISH and/or local CRPs and the emerging nature of the AbilityOne Program. In the meantime, additional information is available through the web-sites for NISH, NIB and the Presidents Commission:
Upcoming Event: Starting and Financing a Veteran-Owned Small Business
VETERANS, SPOUSES, ACTIVE DUTY, GUARD & RESERVES
Mark Your Calendar!
Starting and Financing a Veteran-Owned Small Business
When. Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Where. Hilton New Bern/Riverfront • 100 Middle Street, New Bern, NC • Lawson Room
- Registration & Continental Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
- Program: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Veterans Business Outreach Center of Fayetteville State University and the U.S. Small Business Administration are hosting a small business workshop that will provide veterans, spouses, active duty, guard, and reserve members with the knowledge and resources to help start and finance their veteran-owned small business.
Sessions will include discussions on forming the correct legal structure of your business, how to market your business, and special financing options for veterans and spouses.
Veterans, spouses, and family members who are planning to start a business are encouraged to participate in this FREE event! There is absolutely no cost to attend and nothing will be sold at this event.
Registration required. Contact Lisa Belcher at: lbelche1@uncfsu.edu or (910 )672-2683.
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Federal Government Contracting Preference Programs Blog Series – Part 2 – Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program
This is the second of a series of blog entries introducing readers to federal government contracting preference programs. Special programs such as the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program (the subject of this entry) have been established by the government to use its purchasing power as a means of implementing public policy (i.e., providing a means of employment opportunity for individuals who are blind). Other blogs in the series discuss additional preference programs that influence the contracting activities of our federal customers – and are therefore important to know about.
The Randolph-Sheppard Act, passed by Congress in 1936, mandated a priority to blind persons to operate vending facilities on Federal property. The Act was amended and updated significantly in 1954 and again in 1954, at which time the operation of military dining facilities by persons who are blind was added. At the time of the 1974 amendments, the National Association of Blind Merchants began their national effort to train, advocate for, and establish small businesses on government property. These merchants helped state vocational rehabilitation agencies establish businesses ranging in size from small lobby concession stands to vending machine banks to large cafeterias
Advocates of the Randolph-Sheppard Act maintain that customer surveys and other efficiency studies have consistently shown that blind merchants operate government concessions, cafeterias and vending machine stands effectively and cost competitively. They maintain that the myths and misconceptions, which many in society still hold about the capacity and normality of the blind, continues to create a climate within the federal and state property management bureaucracy which significantly limits the way many in government apply the Act.
In order to combat a growing lack of adherence to the statute by many federal property management agencies, blind merchants and state vocational agencies have begun to partner with leading corporations in the food service industry to bring an array of solutions to the government. Working through the National Association of Blind Merchants, companies like Blackstone Consulting Inc. (BCI), Dunkin Brands, Quiznos, Cantu Food Services and Southern Food Services have brought additional customer service offerings to the industry.
More information on the Randolph-Sheppard Act, the National Association of Blind Manufacturers, and other agencies or groups that play a role in its administration and/or advocacy for the rights of individuals who are blind are available via the web site links shown here.
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/rsarsp/index.html
http://www.ncsab.org/randolphSheppard/info/faq.htm
http://www.blindmerchants.org/
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/default.asp
For additional information about this post, contact Dave Wessel at wesseld@ncmbc.us.
Got Jobs? Post them for FREE!
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Posting your jobs on www.MatchForce.org is an easy, FREE way to reach over 36,395 individuals.
Research Contracting Educational Opportunity
Is your business interested in broadening into or making the most of the federal government research contracting market?
The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and the NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) are co-hosting a one-day educational conference on “Research Contracting: Piecing Together the Puzzle,” May 12, 2011 in Durham at the Hilton Garden Inn (Southpoint). Agenda topics include funding initiatives, subcontracting, contracting success stories and the mechanisms and techniques for obtaining and performing contracts in the research environment.
This conference is a great opportunity to gain the knowledge that will help you engage in and excel in this market. For more information and to register, click on the link below.
Your comments to this blog posting are welcome.