News

News

C-Tran meets with small businesses about upcoming projects, DBE goals, and more.

• Washington PTAC in partnership with MRSC held a successful “Meet the Agencies” event in SW Washington last month. The event attracted over 100 businesses who met with 6 featured agencies about how they procure construction services and other needs. This popular event series is next headed to the Olympic Peninsula and then to Bellingham. Complimenting this event series is an online training for public works contractors. See here. 
• Several major federal agencies have issued a final rule providing accelerated payments (goal of 15 days) to small businesses and prime contractors that subcontract to small businesses. Effective March 16 the rule impacts DoD, GSA, and NASA contracts. Read more here or the final rule here.
• Equity: Federal Government has launched a new procurement equity tool to help contracting officers better identify potential new entrants. Read full article here which outlines how the Federal government remains concerned about the shrinking supplier base and decline of contract dollars awarded to small disadvantaged businesses. 
• Equity: Washington State Department of Transportation and King County are undergoing Disparity Studies now. These studies seek to ensure that disadvantaged businesses have equal access to contracting opportunities and that the current initiatives remain legally defensible and administratively successful. Click on their links above to engage in the process.
• HUBZone: Every 5 years, the SBA updates the designated areas that qualify as Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones). There doesn’t appear to be major county-level changes on the new map, but if you are in the HUBZone program or thinking of applying double check your census track’s future eligibility at this July 1, 2023 version of the map. 
• IT: Washington State is restructuring its IT statewide contracts. Currently out for bid now on WEBS are competitive solicitations for IT Project Management and IT Development. Watch the planned procurement page for the next procurement related to ITPS Information & Cyber Security. 
• SAM.gov Changes: Beginning March 3, entity administrator roles can only be held by employees, officers, or board members of the organization. If your SAM registration is managed by a third-party organization, read more here.

Workshops for Innovators

Spring Small Business Series - Innovating Using SBIR OTs

3/8/2023        10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Panelists will discuss the basics of SBIR OTs. 

• What agencies are using them? 
• What is their advantage?
• Where is the intersection of SBIR rights and OT terms?

SBIR 101, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

4/21/2023

This presentation will introduce you to the basics of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Plenty of time for Q&A!

Questions? You can reach out to Kate Hoy, khoy@thurstonedc.com if you have any questions or if would like to include relevant notices in this section 

Bid Opportunities

Subcontracting opportunities - Find sub bid requests from prime contractors such as Pease & Sons, Kiewit, MidMountain Contractors, Granite Construction Company and more

Upcoming Events - Virtual unless otherwise noted

Keep scrolling to find upcoming events divided into four categories:

• Focused Classes
• Monthly Meetings
• Series Courses
• Tradeshows and Conferences

Doing Business with the City of Seattle - Now Online!

3/3/2023        9:00 AM -11:00 AM   

Do you want to learn more about how City purchasing and contracting works?

Join us at for our “First Fridays” online Doing Business with the City of Seattle event to meet Purchasing and Contracting staff who are part of our purchasing, consultant contracting and construction/public works teams.

COMO HACER NEGOCIOS CON LA CIUDAD DE SEATTLE – VIRTUAL EN LINEA

3/3/2023        2:00 PM - 3:00 PM  

MCKINSTRY’S MWDBE EXPO AND TRADESHOW

3/7/2023        2:00 PM - 4:00 PM                 5005 3rd Ave S, Seattle WA 98134-2423

Please join us on March 7th 2-4pm PST for a celebration of Women in Construction week with McKinstry. We are inviting local diverse-owned businesses to participate in an expo in order to drive opportunities through networking and relationship building. Come and meet amazing diverse-owned businesses in the construction and energy industries.

Washington Department of Transportation (“WSDOT”) Disparity Study - Examining DBE Program      

3/7/2023     3/8/2023      3/22/2023      

Complete Survey Monkey for more details on session times   

WSDOT is conducting a Disparity Study to examine its DBE Program for construction and construction-related contracts. These important sessions will provide an opportunity to relate your experiences with doing business with WSDOT as a prime or subcontractor on WSDOT contracts and projects, or your attempts to do so, any barriers that you have encountered and the operations of the DBE program. Your insights and experiences will help identify potential improvements in our DBE program and encourage increased collaboration while promoting economic growth for all segments of our community.       

2023 Forest Service Vendor Public Meetings

3/9/2023        4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

The USFS hosts Vendor Public Meetings each year for upcoming solicitations and rollover modifications for VIPR Opportunities.

Some regions have began rollover modifications and are slowly opening up solicitations to bid for this upcoming season.                   

Alliance Northwest Q&A

3/9/2023        12:00 PM - 1:00 PM   

Please join us for one of these informal sessions to go over best practices and your questions about Alliance Northwest         

NETWORKING EVENT -I-405 RENTON TO BELLEVUE EXPRESS TOLL LANES PROJECT

3/9/2023        4:00 PM - 7:00 PM                 

Tabor 100, 7100 Fort Dent Way Suite 100, Tukwila, WA 98188

This $705 million WSDOT design-build project widens 12 miles of I-405 between Renton and Bellevue. This is a state-funded project with goals of 10% MBE, 6% WBE, 5% VBE, and 5% SBE.

We strongly encourage any and all MSVWBE firms to attend.

Preparing to Bid the Washington State IT Development Solicitation #16322

Explore a statewide contract opportunity for IT Development Services currently posted on WEBS (search reference #16322). This multiple award, long-term contract will authorize state and local government agencies to use your services for IT Development. This workshop is brought to you by PTAC in collaboration with DES Diverse Business Support Program. In the session, participants will dissect the solicitation using take-home tools including a pre-bid checklist and bid/no-bid decision matrix that can be customized their unique needs.

Indirect Cost Rate Workshop

3/15/2023, 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

3/22/23, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM  

Does your organization need an indirect cost rate to ensure longterm success in government contracting?

Work with a CPA that specializes in indirect cost rates to learn the basics. The CPA will walk you through your financial statements to understand how indirect cost rates are determined and how they help your business. Firms without financial statements that are ready for this analysis are welcome to use sample ones provided by the instructor.   

King County Disparity Study Public Introduction Webinar

3/15/2023, 2:00 – 3:30 PM          

King County is conducting a disparity study for its Contracting Opportunities Program, aka Small Contractor and Suppliers (SCS) Program. The County seeks to ensure that minority and woman-owned business enterprises have equal access to contracting opportunities and that the County’s current initiatives remain legally defensible and administratively successful.

Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

3/22/2023, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Did you know the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act applies to your business if you perform work around "navigable" waterways?

You will learn:

• Details of the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act
• Why special insurance is needed for navigable waterways
• Consequences of not having the appropriate insurance coverage
• SBA contact information to confirm if your firm is subject to the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act 
• Where to find surety companies to purchase insurance policies         

Upcoming Events - Monthly Sessions

University of Washington Virtual Workshops for Suppliers, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM 3/2/2023

The orientations will provide a learning opportunity to assist in navigating potential business prospects at the University and with other state agencies, as well as educational and other resources to assist businesses. 

PTAC & SBDC First Friday Follow-up, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 3/3/2023

Friday Follow-up is an open forum, round table for businesses to get answers from your local PTAC counselor and SBDC Advisor. Bring your questions regarding government contracting and learn from knowledgeable Small Business Experts. Our main focus is to share resources for growing your business.

Wednesday with the Deputy for Small Business, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM   3/29/2023

Wednesday with the Deputy for Small Business is an opportunity for Industry partners to learn about doing business with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport.

Doing Business with the State – DES, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM 3/16/2023

On the third Thursday of the month, the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) facilitates an interactive conversation with state procurement professionals who can provide information and insight on how to do business with the state. 

Upcoming Events - Series Courses

Washington PTAC, an APEX Accelerator, has created a 10 part virtual Public Works Contracting Series for contractors wanting to know how to perform on public works projects. The target audience are contractors ready to transition into public works. For contractors new to public works there will be a number of ah ha moments throughout the training series. You will learn from instructors with years of experience in the topics they are presenting. Their real life experiences lend to the curriculum and enhance the conversations.

Expect to receive resource tools to support the session’s main points. The 2-hour sessions start at 3:00-5:00 PM on Tuesdays. If you are interested in learning more about public works contracting get registered.

Fundamental Sessions

Session 4 – Accounting – March 7th

Session 5 – Insurance – March 14th

Bidding Sessions

Session 6 – Business Plan and Pursuit Schedule – April 4th

Session 7 – Spec and Schedule – April 11th

Session 8 – Pricing – April 18th

Session 9 – Bidding – April 25th

Session 10 – After Bid Submission Etiquette – May 2nd

Upcoming Events - Tradeshows and Conferences

EmPower Women's Leadership Conference 3/9/2023 Seattle, WA

2023 NUWC Division Keyport Industry Day 3/14/2023 Keyport WA

3rd Annual Women's Wednesday for Small Business 3/15/2023 online

Alliance Northwest 2023 3/16/2023 Greater Tacoma Convention Center, WA

Coastal 29 Remove Fish Barriers Project Outreach with Kiewit 3/21/2023 Aberdeen, WA

A Virtual Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Matchmaking Event with GSA Prime Contractors 3/23/2023

DoD Mentor Protege Summit 2023 3/27-30/2023 Orlando, FL

Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla Industry Day 3/29/2023 Walla Walla, WA

AWMB Contractors' Day 3/30/2023 Seatac, WA

Bridging Partnerships 4/12/2023 Kennewick WA                      

Govology classes, live and on demand, are Free for Washington PTAC clients – contact your PTAC counselor for access. Click here for the list of Govology this month’s live classes. 

Recorded webinars available.