Revenue streams, COVID-19s and small business dreams…
Sandy Young, owner of Verdis.
In 2019, the federal government spent over $586 billion dollars (1) hiring civilian businesses to provide goods and services for our nation’s infrastructure and military needs. A new goal has been set to increase the funding set aside specifically for small businesses from 5% to 15% by 2025 (1). How can your small business benefit? Now is the perfect time to get acquainted with the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP).
What exactly is the Procurement Technical Assistance Program?
Created by Congress in 1985 to increase the number of companies capable of doing business with the Government, the PTAP program is a cooperative agreement between the Defense Logistics Agency’s Office of Small Business and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, economic development agencies, and state and local governments. More than 96 Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) throughout the United States house counselors trained to assist small business owners navigate the government marketplace. Registering as a client with your local PTAC provides your business with FREE counseling relating specifically to bidding for and winning government contracts.
What’s the first step?
Visit Idahoptac.org. There are three counselors in Idaho, with one assigned to support clients in the northern panhandle. Once registered, you and your counselor will assess your small business for its capability to participate in government contracting. To begin in government contracting: Small businesses should have up to 1-3 years of successful operation, positive reviews, and the capital required to complete the projects awarded. Next, your PTAC counselor will assist you through the various registration processes required. Funded through the Defense Logistics Agency, Idaho PTAC offers valuable and confidential services at no cost.
Why work with a PTAC Counselor?
DLA, SAM, NAICS, CAGE, DSBS — if you don’t understand these acronyms, there is your answer! PTAC counselors are part of a nationwide network of contract procurement professionals working to help local small businesses succeed in the government marketplace. PTACs help connect buyers (the government) and sellers (small businesses) to maximize fast, reliable, affordable goods and services to our government while increasing profitability for business owners. Services offered through your local PTAC include: System for Award Management (SAM) and Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) profile registrations, and bid-matching services. You can also gain assistance on solicitation reviews, bid and quote assessments, free webinars and training opportunities, one-on-one client support, and access to a directory of government vendors and more. The Idaho PTAC partners with your local Small Business Development Center for complete support of your small business growth. Together the SBDC and PTAC can help propel your company to new heights.
Let’s talk numbers
• Most manufacturing companies with 500 employees or fewer and most non-manufacturing businesses with average annual receipts under $7.5 million qualify as a small business.
• In FY19 the federal government awarded a historic $132.9 billion, or 26.50 percent in prime contract dollars to small businesses (4)
• In FY19 PTACs nationwide served over 57,000 clients and helped them win over $24 billion in government contracts and subcontracts. That’s a return on investment (ROI) of $553 for every $1 in federal spending! (2)
• Last year, Idaho PTAC clients were successful in winning 843 awards, totaling over $365 million in revenue (3)
• During the 2020 grant year, the Idaho PTAC counseling team documented over 2300 FREE counseling hours to various businesses.
Success Story — North Idaho
Verdis began its story in 2007 with the goal of meeting local client needs for landscape architecture, planning and development. The husband-and-wife team of Gary and Sandy Young expanded into civil engineering projects and in 2012, Verdis was granted Woman-Owned Small Business status through the SBA. While attending the annual PTAC symposium as a featured business guest, Sandy heard the story of a speaker who started her home-based small business selling garage door openers and found success through the 8(a) Business Development Program. She predicted to Gary that “That will be me up there someday”. To which he replied, “I have no doubt.”
That was Sandy’s first experience with PTAC. The unfortunate passing of Gary in 2015 propelled Sandy forward in her vision for the company. She applied for and was granted participation in the 8(a) Program. Verdis has experienced a 40-fold increase in government contracts since program involvement and grown from the initial government contract awarded in 2016 to 140 contracts at the start of 2021. The company now operates in 14 states, employees 30 full-time personnel, and is prepared to extend its reach even further. Congratulations!
Learn more at Idaho’s PTAC Annual Spring Conference — Virtual May 12-13, 9:30-2:30 p.m. PST — Registration now open at Idahoptac.org.
1) https://www.oles.com/blog/icymi-webinar-president-bidens-new-directions-for-government-contracting/
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Beth Freeman is an Idaho PTAC counselor. Contact the Idaho Procurement Technical Assistance Center at Idahoptac.org.
For more information, contact the North Idaho Small Business Development Center at NISBDC.com.
