June 20,  2017
NBDC PTAC Newsletter  
The Nebraska Business Development Center - Procurement Technical Assistance Center provides technical assistance and training to Nebraska businesses selling goods or services to the government
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  Webinars 
Upcoming Government Contracting Webinars 
NBDC PTAC Success Story

  SuccessStory
Enviroworks  
Winning Millions in Contracts for Their Environmental Remediation and Restoration Firm That is Headquartered in Omaha, NE 

To read more about this story, click here.   
LindaM
How the SBA's Linda McMahon Intends to Grow Small Businesses In the Face of Budget Cuts
Source:  CNBC by Jennifer Schlesinger 
 
..."Learning how to develop business plans, how to grow, how to pitch your business when you're trying to get investors, or to move into a different market and those are aspects of S.B.A. that are not as well known," McMahon, a former Republican Senate candidate from Connecticut and the former CEO of WWE, told CNBC's "On the Money" recently.

The main goals of the S.B.A. are capital, counseling, contracts and disaster relief.
"We try to encourage or at least guide entrepreneurs who may have services or products that could be bought by the federal government. The federal government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world," McMahon told CNBC's On The Money.

Those goals are being challenged, as the agency is facing a 5 percent budget cut. McMahon said the agency plans on doing some restructuring.

"What we have done is look inside S.B.A, and what I have found is there are some duplicative programs that we are going to be merging," she said.

To view the full press release, click here. 
  ContractCancel 
Are You Prepared For a Contract Cancellation?
Source:  Washington Technology by Darrell Hineman  
   
A surge in contract terminations could be in the offing as federal agencies align their goals with White House intentions. With this in mind, preparing for the possibility of a contract termination is a defensive strategy that contractors should undertake now. Here are three key steps you should consider immediately:

1.Plan ahead. Never consider your contract as "termination-proof."
2.Fully understand the contract termination process
3.Learn how to calculate and submit your Request for Equitable Adjustment or settlement proposal.
 
The possibility of a contract termination should be incorporated into every government contractor's business continuity plan. Implementing safeguards and procedures designed to mitigate the risk of a termination will limit the impact it has on your organization's operations. Ask yourself, "Does my organization have procedures in place to deal with cure notices, customer complaints, and quality issues? What about monitoring subcontractors?"
 
If you are still reading this article, you probably are not as well prepared for a contract termination as you should be. Most contract terminations have a root cause and are not solely due to the government no longer requiring the items or services.
       
To view the full press release, click here.   
  VAUnsnarl 
VA Aims to Unsnarl $1.4B in Delayed Projects   
Source:  Engineering News-Record
by  Tom Ichniowski 
 
The Dept. of Veterans Affairs is seeking congressional approval for a plan to get moving on $1.4 billion in major construction projects that have been stalled because of differences in funding projects at VA and at the Army Corps of Engineers-which is handling design and construction for VA at those delayed projects.
More broadly, VA also is studying what to do about its hundreds of vacant or underused facilities.

...Shulkin said, "We need different types of strategic partnerships to be able to bring the type of facilities that we need to veterans, and that means working with local government, with academic affiliates, other federal agencies, and private sector partnerships."

The Trump administration has indicated that VA hospitals will be one of the types of projects that will see new investment from its promised $1-trillion, 10-year infrastructure initiative.
 
To view the full press release, click here.   
  FairPay 
Temporary Retraction of Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Final Rule

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council released a memorandum that temporarily retracts the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces final rule, pending a final change removing these provisions from the FAR.
  
To view this memorandum, click here.   
  SBAAmends 
SBA Amends Rules of Practice On Its Office of Hearing and Appeals

The SBA is amending the rules of practice of its Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), which authorizes OHA to decide Petitions for Reconsideration of Size Standards.
  
To view this amended rule, click here.   
  PTACvideo 
Learn More About What Your PTAC Can Do For You By Watching This Informational Video 
 
To view the clip, click here.   
In This Issue
MarketMarketing Your Business and Selling to the Go vernment Made E asy 
 
This down-t o -ea rth workshop will teach the basics on how to increase sales through government contracting and will point out where to find opportunities with government agencies. 
  
Instructors Mary Graff, Contracting Specialist for NBDC, and Michael Hall, Small Business Specialist for Offutt Air Force Base, will offer one-on-one assistance at this workshop. 

Date: Thursday, July 13th
Time
: 8:30-10:30am
Location : Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce, Bellevue University Bell Tower Bldg, 1102 S Galvin Rd.
 
This event is free, but registration is required. For registration contact Mary Graff at (402) 554-6254 or via email mgraff@unomaha.edu
WinningWinnWinning Federal Contracts for Your Small Business 

In this introductory workshop, in four steps, you'll learn how to conquer the federal government contracting arena and win contracts for your business.

Presenters: Lisa Tedesco (SBA), Mike Hall (OFFUTT AFB), and Mary Graff (NBDC PTAC Consultant).

You will learn:
1. How to find the appropriate NAICS codes and how to determine if your company is a small business by federal standards
2. How to find bidding opportunities
3. How to register for various federal government registrations, especially SAM
4. How to market your business to federal agencies and prime contractors

Date: July 20, 2017 & 3rd Thursday of every month.
Time: 8:30-11:00am
Location: U.S. Small Business Administration Nebraska District Office, 10675 Bedford Ave. Ste. 100, Omaha, NE.

This event is free, but registration is required. To register, click here.
 
GreetBuy
Upcoming Greet the Buyer Event On June 22nd
 
This event includes a presentation from Bob Walla, Purchasing Agent from the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County.  It will be held at Mammel Hall at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

To register, click here.  
 
Mexico
Sustainable Building & Construction Trade Mission to Mexico Oct 16-20th (Opportunity to Expand Construction-Related Business in Mexico)

Mexico ranks second among the top markets for U.S. building product exporters due to its proximity, established transport links and duty-free status under NAFTA.  Mexico's construction environment is highly receptive to U.S. products and reflects an emerging interest in green building. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration is organizing this event to introduce U.S. firms to Mexico's Sustainable Building & Construction sector and the associated export opportunities.

This event will include exclusive meetings, network events with potential buyers, access to Mexico's best construction trade show, in-depth marketing briefings, and more.  

For more information and to register, click here.

  SBA
SBAEvents
Find Informative Events On the Nebraska District SBA Calendar & Events Page

To view the calendar, click here.
To view the events page, click here. 
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