Introduction to PTAC and the BIZStreet Resource Center

1. Introduction to PTAC and the BIZStreet Resource Center Presented by: Kyla Meredith-Boucher, Eastern Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

2. What is PTAC? • PTAC was designed to assist businesses (focusing on small businesses) with federal, state and local government contracting. • The program is funded by the federal government through the Defense Logistics Agency, the Snohomish County Economic Development Council and by the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce. • We also partner with other local organizations such as Tri-City Area Chamber of Commerce and TRIDEC to provide in-kind support through marketing, office usage etc. to be able to reach out to our service area.

3. The Eastern Washington PTAC program covers 13 counties. Housed in Spokane, with travel to Tri-Cities one week per month.

4. PTAC Services • Bid Match Service • Interpretation of Solicitations • Government Registrations Assistance • Training sessions, seminars & conferences • Marketing Assistance

5. Bid Match • Electronically search government websites for contracting opportunities • Search procurement websites such as FedBizOpps, the Procurement Gateway, NECO (Navy), Washington State Department of GA • Can tailor bid match to each company • Bids notices are sent to clients via email • Bid match limitations: bids must be listed on a website

6. Interpretation of Solicitations • Assistance with deciphering government contracts • Contracting Clauses • Federal Acquisition Regulations • Format

7. Government Registrations • Central Contractor Registration (CCR) • Small Disadvantaged Business certification • 8(a) Business Development certification • HUBZone certification • OMWBE certifications • GSA Federal Supply Schedule Program

8. Training and Seminars • PTAC Seminars: Local procurement opportunities, Doing Business with Fairchild, Doing Business with Hanford, GSA Workshops, Office of State Procurement • Training: How to prepare a bid, online resources • RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Training

9. Marketing • What does the government buy? • Assistance in determining if there is a need for your products or services in the government marketplace • Assistance in determining your key markets • Finding subcontracting opportunities

10. 2003 PTAC Successes • Washington State PTAC clients received over $89 million in government contracts in 2003! That number reached 94 million in 2004! • Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing: $ 141,341 • Construction: $70,676,846 • Manufacturing: $16,837,532 • Wholesale Trade: $ 1,159,813 • Retail: $ 162,332 • Telecommunications: $ 153,404 • Professional, Scientific & Management: $ 462,729 • Education/Healthcare: $ 7,864 • Arts & Entertainment: $ 57,847 • Other Services: $ 127,631 • TOTAL: $89,787,339

11. Eastern WA PTAC Successes in 2004 • Eastern WA PTAC clients received over $9.1 million in government contracts in the first year of our program, generating 230 jobs! • We secured 45 new PTAC clients in our program with over 130 active clients. • Actively counseled clients over 180 times in Eastern WA. • Our outreach events have reached over 450 small businesses.

12. Public Schools, Colleges and Universities Municipalities – City & County Administrations Federal Aviation Administration – Local Airports Military Reserves & Local Bases Hanford Prime Contractors and DOE U.S. Forest Service / Dept. of Natural Resources State Office of General Administration (GA) General Service Administration (GSA) Veteran’s Administration Public Utilities, Irrigation and Port Districts Local Procurement Opportunities

13. What is the BIZStreet Resource Center? A joint venture managed and funded by the Spokane Regional Chamber. Formerly the Business Information Center (BIC). Objective:To improve the success of small businesses in eastern Washington and northern Idaho by efficiently and effectively connecting them with business assistance resources. BIZStreet Resource Center

14. Primary Partners co-located at the Spokane Regional Business Center (corner of Post and Riverside in Spokane) Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce & PTAC U.S. Small Business Administration SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business AHANA, African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Business Association Spokane Regional International Trade Alliance U.S. Dept. of Commerce Export Assistance Center Spokane Area Economic Development BIZStreet Resource Center

15. Business library with over 1600 books, videos and audio tapes Reliable referrals to over 150 agencies providing business counseling and financing in eastern Washington and northern Idaho Comprehensive, easy-to-use website located on the web at: www.BIZStreetResourceCenter.biz What does BIZStreet provide?

16. SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business www.spokanescore.org - Free business counseling from 25+ volunteers- Wednesday workshops on starting a business, writing a business plan, writing a marketing plan, record keeping and understanding financial statements Spokane Regional International Trade Alliance www.intrade.org - Help desk and workshops to assist businesses with international trade issues- Trade missions U. S. Dept. of Commerce Export Assistance Center www.Citivu.com/inland_empire - Export counseling, customized market research, international contacts and trade leads- Trade events Also PTAC and SBA programs as presented this evening Programs at a Glance

17. Questions??? Kyla Meredith-Boucher Eastern Washington PTAC Procurement Technical Assistance Center 801 Riverside Avenue, Second Floor Spokane, WA 99201 Phone: (509) 459-4105 Fax: (509) 747-0077 Email:kmeredith@chamber.spokane.net Web:www.BIZStreetSpokane.com