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From the Director

Make Plans to Attend UPTAC's Procurement Symposium

Hello again,

Fall is definitely here – football, leaves falling, and the PTAC Symposium is on the horizon. We have even had a touch of snow!

Cece Mitchell, Vice President and DirectorOne of the challenges of being a business owner is gaining access to new customers. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is again hosting a Procurement Technical Assistance Symposium. You may have seen some of GOED's advertisements and still wonder why it is important to you. There are several reasons to make plans to attend: access to state, local and federal agencies who have work to bid out; access to information and training on how to bid and win those contracts; and access to information on how to actually work with those agencies and others.

The Utah Procurement Technical Assistance Center, UPTAC for short, is a service of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. The role of UPTAC is to assist Utah small businesses who are interested in bidding on federal, state and local government procurements and commercial contracting opportunities. UPTAC provides counseling and training on selling products to all levels of government and private industry.

Make plans now to attend the one day Symposium on Thursday, October 18, 2007. The event will be held at the South Towne Expo Center and you can register on line at: www.goed.utah.gov/PTAC.

Read on for all the details.



Vice President and Manager
Zions Business Resource Center

Small Biz  Partners & Resources

SCORE -- Provides counseling to small businesses.

 Salt Lake SCORE - Chapter 0049
310 South Main St., N. Mezzanine, Salt Lake City. Phone: (801) 746-2269; Fax: (801) 746-2273; Email: mwood@saltlakescore.com

Wayne Brown Institute -- Runs the oldest and most successful non-profit venture accelerator program in the country, helping technical entrepreneurs from every social economic level raise money for their businesses.

Small Business Development Centers
-- Provides counseling and training to small businesses.

Small Business Administration -- Provides information about small business (Click here for Utah SBA)

Utah Micro Enterprise Loan Fund -- Provides counseling and funding for small business

The Pete Suazo Business Center -- Provides counseling and training for Hispanic/Latino business.

Utah Business.gov -- Provides online access to Utah Government services; one stop shop business registrations.

Export.gov -- Provides information on how to export your product.

Feature

GOED Sponsors 2nd Annual Procurement Symposium; Will Teach Enterpeneurs About Government Contracting

The U.S. Government is likely the single largest consumer of goods and services in the world, and odds are, if your company provides a product or service, the government has a potential buyer for it.

Garnering more government contracting dollars for Utah companies is the objective of Utah’s second-annual Procurement Symposium, hosted by the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) this October 18 in the South Towne Expo Center (9575 S. State Street, Sandy). Utah companies interested in government contracting opportunities should plan to attend the symposium, which runs from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fred Lange, director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for GOED, says large and small Utah businesses will have the opportunity to meet senior officials from Air Force and Army purchasing, Veterans Affairs, State purchasing and local government purchasing offices. Small businesses are especially encouraged to attend the symposium because many federal contracts require that large prime contractors outsource a portion of the work to small businesses, and the state is becoming very proactive in working with large contractors to develop mentoring or teaming relationships with small Utah businesses.

The symposium will feature a luncheon address by GOED Executive Director Jason Perry, while breakout sessions and panel discussions will teach Utah companies the processes, pitfalls and successes that are possible via government contracting. Breakout session topics include:

  • Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
  • Benefits of a GSA Schedule and How to Get One
  • The Advantages of Being a “Disadvantaged Business!” (8(a), HUBZone, Veteran Owned, Woman Owned Bid Proposals 101)
  • ISO 9001 vs. ISO 9100
  • Bid Proposals 101/Understanding FAR
  • State Procurement
  • Strategic Planning Part A
  • Strategic Planning Part B
  • Government Contracting: What Works, What Doesn’t (Panel Discussion)
  • "I Was Awarded the Contract, Now I Need Financing to Make it Work - Help!
  • Small Business Suppliers/Small Business Subcontracting Opportunities!
  • How to Market to the Department of Defense (DOD)
  • International Procurement Opportunities

Every year the federal government purchases billions of dollars worth of goods and services--everything from weapons systems and information technology to uniforms and custodial work. State and local governments also spend millions of dollars purchasing goods and services each year. Are Utah companies getting their share of those contracting dollars?

Lange says there are billions of dollars in contracts issued each year for which Utah businesses could compete. In total, Utah prime and subcontracting companies are currently selling $1.9 billion per year in government and military contracts, but Lange says the potential is there to add in excess of $3 billion more. Last year Utah small businesses garnered well over $50 million in government contracts, which equates to approximately 2,000 new or retained jobs. “But we think we can do a lot better than that,” Lange says. Getting in the government contracting game requires four steps and the PTAC program is designed to help Utah companies through each step:
  1. Obtain a DUNS number.
  2. Register on CCR.gov—a prerequisite to doing business with the federal government.
  3. Use GOED’s proprietary software to find contracting opportunities—PTAC will help you define your business services with key words that the software uses to match what you do with available contracting opportunities. Once set up, you can view bidding opportunities via the Internet.
  4. Submit your bids.
Click here for complete descriptions of the sponsor exhibits. Attendees can register for the symposium online or email registration information to PTAC@utah.gov.  For more information call Myrna Hill, (801) 538-8775.

GOED operates nine regional PTAC offices at various locations around the state and small businesses are invited to contact any of them for assistance. “Our help is free, it’s quick, and it’s to the point,” says Lange.
 
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Calendar of Events

  • Oct. 4-13 -- Executive Certificate of Global Business Management; Salt Lake Community College. Classes are held every Thursday evening from 6 - 9 p.m. Offered to business executives, professionals, working staff, entrepreneurs, and qualified students who wish to increase their knowledge and improve their strategies in global business practices. $995 - there is a $100 discount for additional registrants from the same company. Cost includes course materials, professional working texts, supplemental materials and break refreshments. Contact stan.rees@slcc.edu or register online here.
  • Oct. 10 (Wed.) -- 2nd Annual Ethnic Business Conference “Success on the Rise”; 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Salt Palace Convention Center: 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City (parking validations will be provided). Cost: $10.00 - FREE for Chamber East members. For questions or to register call (801) 538-8672 or visit www.ethnicoffice.utah.gov. This conference will feature results-driven workshops presented by experts on Marketing, Finances, Taxes and more. Continental breakfast and lunch are included.
  • Oct. 11 (Thurs.) -- LLC Partnerships -- This workshop is designed to help business owners understand and comply with federal and state statutes and reporting requirements for LLC/Partnerships. Registration is required, to ensure availiability of seating and handouts. To register, contact Barbara or Aubrey at 957-4654 or register online at www.saltlakesbdc.com.  Location: Larry Miller Campus 9750 South 300 West Sandy, Utah Building: Miller Free Enterprise Center Room: 203
  • Oct. 17 (Wed.) – Better Your Business Workshop: Utah’s Utah's Economic Development Deals; 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.; DWS Central Regional Business Services Center, 1385 So. State Street #157, Salt Lake City. This workshop will help you gain insight into how the Economic Development Corporation of Utah works with companies looking to relocate to Utah. They will share the closed deals to date and share their predictions for future economic growth in Utah. Free for Utah employers. RSVP to SLTEC@utah.gov or call (801) 468-0245 or (801) 468-0097.
  • Oct. 18 (Thurs.) -- 2nd Annual Utah Procurement Symposium; 7:45 a.m. - 4 p.m.; South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State Street, Sandy. Cost: $50 per person and $35 for additional person from same company. Learn sell to the government and the military; nationally recognized speakers, training sessions and exhibits. Contact Myrna Hill (801) 538-8775 or PTAC@utah.gov to register or for more information.
  • Oct. 24 and 25 -- South Valley Business to Business Expo. Every October the Business to Business Expo helps over a hundred businesses to expand their boundaries and let other businesses and residents know their locations and services.
    What better way to grow and create new ideas than to meet with other businesses desiring the same expansion and chance to branch out. You can purchase a booth that allows others to approach you and ask you about what you have to offer. This formal event allows you the opportunity to finally let others know about yourselves and create more business for your company. Take advantage of this yearly event and watch what it will do for your business! Time: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. each day. Where: South Towne Expo Center, 9575 South State Street, Sandy. Reserve booth space here. For more information: http://www.sandychamber.com.
  • Nov. 15 (Thurs.) -- How to Created Highly-Motivated, Engaged Employees. Salt Lake Airport Hilton, 5151 W Wiley Post Way, Salt Lake City. Seminar: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Registration & breakfast buffet - 7:15 - 8:00 a.m. Register by fax: 801.364.8915. Email registration information to: info@ecutah.org. Click here for more information. Sponsored by The Employers Council.
  • Nov. 28 -- Women & Business Conference & Athena Award Luncheon. The Salt Lake Chamber is proud to host the American Express Women & Business Conference, one of the nation's longest running women's conferences, which features the Chamber's Wells Fargo Women's Financial Services Athena Award luncheon that honors the Athena Award recipient and the Pathfinder Award recipients. Keynote speaker at this year's conference will be Linda Armstrong Kelly, mother of Lance Armstrong and author of No Mountain High Enough. Along with the awards luncheon, the conference will have breakout sessions on business and working topics, as well as exhibitors targeted to women in business. Time: 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Where: Grand America Hotel, 555 South Main Street, Salt Lake City. Cost: Conference & Luncheon $75. Table Sponsorship: $1500. Exhibit Table: $350. For more information: Contact Jackie Sexton at 801-328-5053 or email at jsexton@saltlakechamber.org. 

Salt Lake Chamber Events ♦ Ogden Weber Chamber Events ♦ SL County Upgrade.org Calendar

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