Rhode Island Procurement Technical Assistance Center |
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VA Direct Access Program - Amazon Business
'How to become a Seller on Amazon Business'
Virtual Business Opportunity Session
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual session powered by Cisco Webex
Amazon Business, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Direct Access Program is participating in a virtual business opportunity session. Back by popular demand, Amazon will host another virtual session on January 28, 2021; expanding their reach for potential Amazon sellers.
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NASA SEWP
Industry Provider Training Webinar
January 21, 2021
12:00 - 1:00PM
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In this Session the Industry Team will address:
• What is NASA SEWP? • Which federal agencies use SEWP? • What products and services can be acquired through SEWP? • Why do federal contract officers choose SEWP? • Emerging federal acquisition trends. • And perhaps most importantly, how you can leverage NASA SEWP for your federal sales and marketing efforts.
To register send an email to: PTAC@RIPTAC.org
Include: your name, business name, phone number and Subject: NASA SEWP
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8(a) Participants to Receive One-Year Extension Through COVID-19 Bill
Congress has included in the new COVID-19 relief bill a one-year extension of the term for participation in the 8(a) Program. Under the provision, any small business concern participating in the 8(a) program on or before September 9, 2020 may “elect to extend such participation by a period of 1 year”. This is good news, especially for those concerns in their last year of viability in the 8(a) program who may have felt shortchanged from COVID’s effects on the economy.
This provision is found under Section 330 of the “Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act” (Division N, Title III of the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021”). If you’re trying to find it, it’s at page 2183 of the 5593-page (!) law. .
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Product Service Codes Updated |
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Product service codes, also referred to as federal supply codes, are used by the United States government to describe the products, services, and research and development purchased by the government.
Product Service Codes Update:
Product Service Codes (PSCs) classify products, services, and research and development items purchased by the federal government. These PSC changes:
· Activated 155 new research and development (R&D) PSCs while end-dating 721 R&D PSCs
· Activated 40 new information technology PSCs while end-dating 68 IT PSCs
· Activated two product codes--PSC 6835 (new) and PSC 6830 (revised)
· Renamed PSC Q901 to Healthcare Environmental Cleaning from Aseptic Housekeeping Services
Federal systems, including beta.SAM.gov, SAM.gov and FPDS.gov, updates to the PSC codes have been implemented.
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Top Business Trends for 2021 |
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For small businesses across America, 2020 has been one of the most challenging years in history. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, small business owners have been resilient, pivoting, and adapting their business models to navigate continually changing conditions. With the new year on the horizon, there are potential new opportunities to take advantage of and ways to adapt to challenges you may face.
Here are a few business trends that are likely to dominate in 2021, along with tips on how to position your business for growth:
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Rhode Island PTAC
Staff contact information
Melody Weeks PTAC Program Manager
(401) 528-9619 email: melody.weeks@commerceri.com
Kaileigh Carroll PTAC Counselor
(401) 528-9466 email: kaileigh.carroll@commerceri.com
Charlene Bouthillette, Program Coordinator
(401) 278-9129 email: charlene.bouthillette@commerceri.com
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Upcoming Webinars
January 2021
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RI PTAC subscribes to Govology, a government contracting training webinar service and our subscription benefits PTAC clients!
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Creating Your Government Market Opportunity Forecast (2021 Update)
January 6, 2021
1:00-2:30pm
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Every year, Federal agencies publish a forecast of planned acquisitions, which provides advanced notice on opportunities before publication in the contracting opportunities portal at beta.sam.gov. However, these agency forecasts do not give a full picture of all upcoming opportunities and don’t extend beyond a one-year outlook.
In this session, you will learn how to find and take advantage of available agency published forecasts. You will also learn how market research techniques can help you uncover additional opportunities not published in agency forecasts. These techniques are especially critical for contractors seeking to land long-term IDIQ contracts with government agencies.
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The Top 10 Mistakes in Federal Contracting
(2021 Update)
January 7, 2021
1:00-2:30pm
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This webinar explains the most common mistakes that both new and experienced government contractors tend to make. These mistakes can lead to short- and long-term consequences that could cause a significant financial impact on a company. We’ll discuss examples, best practices, and mitigation strategies.
After taking this training, you will
- Know the most important aspects of federal government contract performance;
- Understand the consequences for non-compliance under a federal award;
- Develop mitigation strategies to ensure positive performance as a federal government contractor.
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Streamline Your Period Closing Process
January 12, 2021
1:00-2:30pm
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In this webinar, we’ll discuss how the timely and efficient closing of books can speed up cash flow and the steps you can take to streamline your period closing costs.
This webinar will help you
- Develop a comprehensive checklist with responsible parties and due dates;
- Design templates for common or repetitive tasks;
- Categorize tasks as pre-closing, closing, and post-closing;
- Eliminate wasted time, steps, forms, routings, etc.
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Federal Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Programs & CVE Verification
January 14, 2021
1:00-2:30 pm
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The federal government spends more than $20 billion annually on contracts with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. But the rules governing SDVOSB eligibility can be complex and confusing – starting with the fact that the government runs not one, but two SDVOSB programs. In this webinar, government contracts attorney Steven Koprince demystifies the key SDVOSB eligibility requirements in plain English, covering ownership rules, control requirements, and common mistakes and misconceptions, as well as an overview of the process of obtaining a formal SDVOSB verification from the VA’s Center for Verification and Evaluation.
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REAs and Claims: Key Strategies for Contractor Compensation
January 19, 2021
1:00 - 2:30pm
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This webinar will help you:
- Understand the differences between REAs and Claims;
- Identify the appropriate times to use REAs v. the appropriate times to use Claims;
- Familiarize yourself with common claim bases;
- Review the procedures involved in the dispute resolution process;
- Discuss strategies to counter common government defenses.
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How to Build a Strong Government Sales Strategy – 8 Core Activities
January 21, 2021
1:00 - 2:30pm
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This session will help you connect the dots, from who buys what you sell to how you collect intelligence and win. We will provide the necessary tactics, strategies, and recommendations you need to keep your sales strategy on track. Webinar attendees will receive templates and other resources discussed in the session. ... |
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If you are a PTAC client and interested in viewing any of the above Govology Webinars, contact your PTAC Counselor or email: PTAC@RIPTAC.org for
log-in information.
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DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Monthly
SMALL BUSINESS WEBINARS
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The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Office of Small Business Programs offers monthly webinars to educate small businesses and others about DLA's mission and opportunities to participate in our various military supply chains.
Hear directly from experts at the diverse buying commands as they discuss the DLA Small Business Program and requirements, which include procuring military spare parts, food, fuel, uniforms, medical supplies, and construction material for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, 10 combatant commands, other federal agencies, and partner and allied nations.
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Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Resource Information for Small Business Assistance
COVID-19 Info Line: (401) 521-HELP
Please visit the Commerce website for information about programs and initiatives available for businesses
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