Vermont Business Magazine For 33 years, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) across the country have helped expand the number of small businesses that successfully compete for and win federal, state, and local government contracts. OnWednesday, September 26, 2018, PTACs will celebrate the firstNational PTAC Daywhich is a national campaign celebrating the contracting success of the tens of thousands of small business who have benefited from training and technical assistance delivered by their local PTACs. In the future, PTAC Day will be observed each year on the fourthWednesdayof September.
“The Vermont PTAC provides an important benefit to Vermont businesses by assisting companies who not only supply products and services to the U.S. Department of Defense, but also to our local governments,” said Vermont Governor Phil Scott. “By supporting small businesses in securing contracts, they are supporting Vermont’s economy,” said Governor Phil Scott. “So, this national recognition provides a great opportunity to acknowledge and promote the work of our VT PTAC team, and the success of Vermont companies in this space.”
Multiple Vermont PTAC clients praised the work of the organization. Vermont PTAC’s Elizabeth Adams assisted Rutland-based Enman Kesselring Consulting Engineers, P.C. with a System for Award Management (SAM) notarized letter that was delaying a contract. In July 2018, Adams helped fast track their SAM notarized letter, leading to the firm landing a five-year contract worth up to $500,000 with the US Forest Service for architect and engineering services for the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes and White Mountain National Forests.
Margi Swett from Colchester-based Vermont Awards and Engraving Inc. noted: “I wanted to express my appreciation for the work your PTAC group has done for my business. The big one is that in June we won ourfirst-everState contract and without the help of Babette Lizotte and Brenda Plastridge it would never have happened.”
VT PTAC regularly assists Vermont businesses in obtaining socio-economic certifications, such as Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) certification. HUBZone certification allows qualified businesses to gain preferential access to federal contracts due to limited economic development in rural communities. VT PTAC assists these businesses through educational workshops, one-on-one counseling, aiding with compiling the necessary documentation for applying to the program and guiding businesses through the online application. Such was the case of Bike Track, Inc. who received assistance from VT PTAC’s Ed Williams.
In 2017, the Vermont PTAC served hundreds of businesses that resulted in over $197 million in government contracts and subcontracts. “The more successful our Vermont small businesses are in the government marketplace; the stronger our regional and national economies grow,” said Vermont Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein.
Vermont PTAC Director Joanne Spaulding asked PTAC clients and partners to show their support of the Vermont PTAC and the business community by marking their calendars forSeptember 26and by following the PTAC on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
The Association of PTACs (APTAC) has prepared a national webinar,Top Tips for Finding and Winning Government Contracts, to be held at2:00 pmon the 26th. Presented by a panel of PTAC procurement experts, the live webinar will provide valuable insights and information to both newcomers and veteran government contractors. For more information, please visithttp://ptac.vermont.gov.
About the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center: VT PTAC provides Vermont businesses with an understanding of the requirements of government contracting to obtain and successfully perform federal, state, and local contracts through free counseling services, training, and networking opportunities. The center’s mission is to increase the percentage of federal contracts awarded to Vermont businesses with emphasis on contracts awarded to small businesses. VT PTAC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the VT Department of Economic Development (DED). U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, along with U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, have supported the PTAC program nationally, which brings Vermont more than $400,000 annually and matches a state investment.
VT PTAC is part ofthe Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). ACCD’s mission is to help Vermonters improve their quality of life and build strong communities. ACCD accomplishes this mission by providing grants, technical assistance, and advocacy through three divisions: The Department of Economic Development, the Department of Tourism and Marketing, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. For more information on ACCD please visit:accd.vermont.gov.
Source:VT PTAC Program Headquarters 9.20.2018
1 National Life Drive, 6th Floor, Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 828-5237
ptac.vermont.gov