Welcome Back!

Our newsletter has been silent for a while. No more. Thanks to our crack staff we’re going to be back on a monthly basis. We hope you enjoy it. Please send me any ideas that you would like to have us explore, kbloch@emdc.org.

 

We have some staff changes to report since our last newsletter. Katie Bragg has come on board as the counselor for our Downeast Center (Washington County). Erin Severance has joined me at the home office as our Program Assistant. And we have gained the capable assistance of Kristin Harmon, EMDC’s Communications Coordinator to help with our website, newsletter, social media and promotional efforts. They are all doing a great job for Maine PTAC and you. Of course Bryan Wallace, Ernie Gray and Dana Delano continue to wow clients in our Midcoast, Southwest and North Centers.

Look for some exciting new things from us; including a more aggressive social media presence and an improved and entertaining website. We’ll be spotlighting our clients, our Centers and promoting our special events and training workshops and webinars (yes, webinars). Plus we’re hosting a big New England Regional Matchmaker next April. Keep an eye out for us on a screen near you!

Calling All Business Women

K A T I E B R A G G | P T A C C O U N S E L O R - D O W N E A S T

Are you a woman? Do you own 51% or more of your business? If so, you need to think about becoming a certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB). So how is this beneficial to you? The Federal government has a goal that 5% of all contract dollars go to WOSBs. As a WOSB you will also be able to bid on contracts that are set aside only for Woman Owned Small Businesses. 

What are the basic qualifications to be a woman owned small business (WOSB)?

How do you become certified? You can either self-certify or be certified by a third-party. There are trade-offs to each method. To self-certify you must have a sam.gov profile, go to www.certify.SBA.gov, answer some questions and upload some documents. To get a third-party certification you need to contact one of the following and provide them with the necessary information:

For more information or to get help with this process, please your PTAC counselor and they will be more than happy to assist you.

Are You Ready?

D A N A D E L A N O | P T A C C O U N S E L O R - N O R T H

You never know when a solicitation may be issued that is perfect for your business. Are you ready?

The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a perfect example. Since 2017, solicitations for the ‘Monument’ have been slow with only a few being issued thus far. But that doesn’t mean they are not coming. Maine PTAC received a notice just last month stating the following:

 

"The National Park Service is conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced and interested businesses who are capable of sign fabrication in the State of Maine. The National Park Service anticipates issuing a solicitation for sign fabrication for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument located in northern Penobscot County, Maine."

 

If you are a sign fabricator, you should be ready to bid because a solicitation could be coming out very soon. Are you registered with SAM (Systems for Award Management)? Are you included in the SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search so contractors, either federal or potential primes, can find your business? 

 

This can be said for so many other products and services that are being solicited by Federal, State and local government entities. It is unfortunate and disheartening when the perfect solicitation is issued for your company and you are not ready to go. Let Maine PTAC assist you now before you find yourself missing out on a good opportunity for your business.

Why Can't I Login to My SAM Account?

B R Y A N W A L L A C E | P T A C C O U N S E L O R - M I D C O A S T

Effective June 29, 2018 there is a new login process for SAM. A new, multi-factor authentication login will be implemented, as well as a process by which Entity Administrators will be notified when a change is made to their entity’s bank account information.

 

Current SAM.gov username and password will no longer work. Instead, SAM users will be asked to create a Login.gov user account.

 

All users should be sure to know the email address associated with their current SAM account. Using the same email will allow SAM.gov to automatically migrate roles. If a different email is provided when the new login account is created, roles will need to be reassigned, which could cause delays updating existing registrations.

 

Click here to setup a Login.gov user account, you will need to enter the email address associated with the SAM.gov username and password, have access to that email to receive a confirmation email from Login.gov, and have a working phone (cell or landline) to receive a security code from Login.gov.

 

As always, contact your local Maine PTAC counselor if you need assistance or if you have any questions.