MARCH 2018
Newsletter | Mid-Atlantic Region MBDA
Advanced Manufacturing Center-Baltimore
"Connections"
From the Director | Contracting & Procurement Strategy
I was honored to represent the Center as the moderator of the Transportation and Infrastructure Summit hosted by Congressman Elijah Cummings and Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh on February 21. The Summit brought together top business leaders and policy experts to discuss current and future large scale surface and sub-surface infrastructure construction projects. There are repairs, improvements, upgrades and new construction planned in the rebuilding of roads, bridges, tunnels, rail lines, airports, communications infrastructure, security systems and energy grids in our region. 

Billions of dollars will be invested in major infrastructure projects that are either happening or will be happening in Baltimore and along the I-95 corridor. Minority business owners were enlightened on opportunities and methods for participating in these and other local, regional and national contracting opportunities if they begin to mobilize now to gain information and forge strategic business relationships.

Over the coming months, we will share information to help you with connections to contracting and procurement opportunities, resources, and services. Ask us about getting connected through the MBDA Federal Procurement Center and the Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Center, both featured in this issue.

These organizations help you build a procurement strategy based on opportunity, capability, and resources.

N. Scott Phillips
Project Director

Infrastructure
Sumit Panel
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Vernon Simms, Chief of Staff for Maryland Congressman Elijah E. Cummings' Office, gave opening remarks for the Transportation and Infrastructure Conferences hosted by Congressman Cummings and Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh.
Mayor Catherine E. Pugh (at podium) spoke on her commitment to minority contractor inclusion in Baltimore City wealth of infrastructure and transportation procurement opportunities. Listen to her remarks here . Also pictured: Center Directory N. Scott Phillips (standing) with panelists (Left to Right) Ricky Smith, CEO BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Eric Lomboy, Director of Procurement Support, Maryland State Highway Administration; Gail Bassette,Executive Director, Minority Business Development Agency Federal Business Center; Steve Sharkey, Director, Baltimore City Department of General Services; Rudy Chow, Director, Baltimore City Department of Public Works; Michelle Pourciau, Director, Baltimore City Department of Transportation. Each shared opportunities and suggestions for engaging their respective organizations.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION MBDA AMC - BALTIMORE HOSTS INAUGURAL CEO PEER ADVISORY GROUP
March 13 Inaugural Session
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Sessions are facilitated by Executive Leadership Advisor and seasoned industrial businessman Allan Hirsh of Allan Hirsh Advisors and AHA Business Radio
Statistics from several large national organizations indicate that companies whose CEOs participate in peer advisor meetings grow faster and are more profitable than their competitors.

The Mid-Atlantic Region MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center - Baltimore's CEO Advisory Roundtable is a meeting of non-competing CEOs and business owners to discuss business problems, issues, and opportunities with peers. Center Team members, N. Scott Phillips, Director, and Anthony Robinson, Business Consultant (pictured, second row), joined the sessions to bring MBDA center services to bear on ideas and recommendations coming out of the discussion. Center clients pictured are (left to right) Anmol Solatch, Afshan Beauty; Abrar Solatch, Trinity Sterile; Rasheed Aziz, Frozen Desert Sorbet, Inc.; Al Maddox, Jr., Time Printers, Inc; Carnelious Jones, OMO Science, Energy and Technology; Michael Lamb, Semforex Incorporated (next to Allan Hirsh). Also pictured, Jacquel Tomlin of CASS, LLC.
IN THE MARKET FOR MATCHMAKING?
The 2018 Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC) Super Matchmaker Conference in Silver Spring, Maryland March 29, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., is the largest conference, of its kind for ethnic minority business owners in the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Region. The CRMSDC Business Consortium (Capital Region MSDC; MBDA, Washington DC; and MBDA Federal Procurement Center) combine its collective resources under one-roof to bring the marketplace to our MBEs. Read more about the CMSDCs Federal Procurement Center below.

MBDA'S FEDERAL PROCUREMENT CENTER
Operated by the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council
The Center's team is passionate about helping small and minority businesses expand faster and with efficiency through the creation of jobs and building vibrant communities.

Pictured: Council President and CEO Sharon Pinder and Center Director Gayle Bassette
The Federal Procurement Center (FPC) is one of the 42 Centers funded by the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency. The FPC is distinguished in providing the tools, resources, and pathways for aiding businesses in developing federal contracting relationships and has successfully connected small and minority businesses with access to contracting opportunities, capital, key contacts, and intelligence to sustain such contracts.
 
Based in Washington, D.C., the Federal Procurement Center works with local MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Centers and Business Centers to serve clients nationwide, specializing in minority business enterprises (MBEs) with revenues over one million dollars and at least 51 percent minority-ownership. Each client is assigned to a personal business consultant to work together to understand the clients’ capabilities, goals, and strategies in successfully bridging the business with the contracting rules and regulations of the federal government.
 
The FPC provides technical business services including, but not limited to, the development of a pool of federal contracting opportunities; relationship management and deal sourcing initiatives; educating MBEs on the benefits of strategic growth alternatives (e.g., mergers, acquisitions etc.); federal program managers and acquisition professionals; MBE advocacy-leveraging programs and resources of the Center’s strategic partnering organizations to enhance benefit to clients; and providing service referrals to MBEs of all sizes. 
 
Regardless of being new to the federal contracting arena, or having many successful federal contracts, the Federal Procurement Center is an effective tool to utilize as an addition to one's business arsenal. 

SBA'S PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS
The United States Small Business Development Agency operates approximately 300 Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) across the country, including centers in the Mid-Atlantic States. PTACs help clients:
  • Assess their readiness for government contracting
  • Register with government marketplace contract databases
  • Determine their eligibility for small business certifications
  • Research past, current, and anticipated government contract opportunities
  • Identify and bid on contracts
  • Measure contract performance
  • Respond to contract audits

Find PTACs in your state. Contact the central offices listed to learn if they have satellite offices close to you.
CLIENT HIGHLIGHT | PRIME MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES
Prime Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. is a digital manufacturer specializing in Plastic Injection Molding, Metal Injection Molding, Precision Machining, Unique Processes, and Sub-Assembly Services.

We pride ourselves not only on our digital manufacturing, but also the engineering support we give in optimizing designs for increased functionality and cost effectiveness, and we are dedicated to the principles of continuous improvement, says company President Luke Chow.

Founded in 1991, the company’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of engineering and manufacturing solutions for customers' product development challenges, minimizing the need for multiple suppliers.
 
Prime’s capabilities include large production as well as rapid prototype development and short-run production. Processes include Plastic Injection Molding, Metal Injection Molding (MIM), Silicone Molding, CNC Milling and Turning, CNC Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), and 6-axis robotics for assembling and casting of composite material for military parts.

Molding and machining are core technologies being utilized. Prime also provides specialized services like Reverse Engineering, specialized processes in areas of composites and silicone molding, as well as sub-assembly services using 6-Axis robotics and uses other automation approaches, including 3D Printing, producing injection molded parts for customers in days, as compared with the weeks required by more conventional means.

The company’s team of degreed, experienced personnel supports a variety of manufactured parts in several industries, including automotive, agriculture, construction, national defense, electronics, medical, and telecommunications. Prime has provided services to fortune 500 companies like Northrop Grumman, Ciena, and Johns Hopkins Advanced Physics Lab.

We are ready for deployment to your area of challenge or to support your maintenance department with new or refurbished parts and components, says Chow.

BALTIMOREMBDA.COM
Learn more about more procurement and contracting events on our website . . .

MID-ATLANTIC REGION MBDA ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CENTER - BALTIMORE
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