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The Government Contracting Assistance Program is a business and technology extension program of the UNC System. Our purpose is to generate employment and improve the general economic condition of the state by assisting North Carolina companies, including those eligible for business development programs for local, state, and federal government contracts. We provide government contracting assistance by offering no-fee and confidential counseling on selling your products and/or services to the appropriate local, state or federal government agency.
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GCAP Director
(252) 737-1369
GCAP Counselor
Asheville / Cullowhee
(828) 251-6025
GCAP Counselor
Raleigh / Chapel Hill / Durham / Elizabeth City
(919) 513-0623
GCAP Counselor
Fayetteville / Pembroke
(910) 672-1359
GCAP Counselor/Events Coordinator
Hickory / Boone
(828) 322-5379
JACQUIE SPEARMAN
GCAP Counselor
Charlotte
(704) 687-0443
SUE CROTTS
GCAP Counselor
Triad
(336) 256-9302
JAMES CHESTNUT
GCAP Counselor
Wilmington / Greenville
(910) 962-3566
JARED WHITCOMB
GCAP Supply Chain Specialist
Statewide
(704) 351-8146
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Disaster Response Contracting: Fundamentals and Follow Through Are Key!
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Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC)
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With the hurricane season quickly approaching, it is prudent for North Carolina businesses to start their efforts now in order to be able to win government contracts post-hurricane.
In the aftermath of a disaster, potential contractors swarm to the site hoping for a piece of the clean-up and recovery effort. For inexperienced players, it can be chaotic, confusing, and cutthroat, as informal subcontracting agreements are made on the ground which may not be enforceable and third-party firms falsely promise no-bid contracts to those who pay big bucks to be on a "priority vendors list" (there is no such list). Government officials in charge of relief efforts are overwhelmed and information may be hard to come by. What is a small contractor to do?
Know the facts:
- The Thomas T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act requires FEMA to contract with businesses located in the affected area when feasible and practicable.
- State and local government agencies control a large proportion of disaster response activities, so many of the contracting opportunities will come through these offices. At the time of a disaster, they may initially rely upon contracts already in place.
- Potential contractors must be registered in the appropriate federal, state, and/or local databases to be eligible for contract awards.
Take care of the fundamentals:
- Make sure that you are registered in all applicable databases (see below) and that your company information is accurate, complete (including detailed capabilities listings), and consistent across all the various registrations (i.e., use the same company name, address, numbers, e-mail and web addresses). This will make it easier for government agencies to cross check your information. Note: Your SAM registration must match your IRS and DUNS information.
- Make sure your company is well represented on the internet, with an up-to-date website that clearly describes the goods and services you offer and (if possible) includes a link to your catalogue. Especially in emergencies, agency buyers may rely on the internet for market research.
- Actively research to find contract opportunities and then pursue them. See below for information on federal agencies (like FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers) as well as for state and local agencies in North Carolina.
Contact your GCAP: There are never shortcuts in government contracting. Your local Government Contracting Assistance Program (GCAP) can help you take the steps you need to be eligible, to find, and to bid on government contracts. Disaster recovery is a long process; doing the right things now will position you to take advantage of opportunities that are still weeks or months down the road.
For Federal government opportunities (FEMA; Army Corps of Engineers):
- Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.
- Complete the Disaster Response Information section in SAM indicating you want to be included in the Disaster Response Registry. The Disaster Response Registry is used by FEMA and The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to establish their list of contractors that want to provide disaster-response assistance through Federal Government procurement opportunities. Learn more about the Disaster Response Registry.
- Complete FEMA's Industry Liaison Program Vendor Profile form and submit it to [email protected]
- Look for contracting opportunities at the following websites:
- SAM.gov: Contract opportunities exceeding $25,000
- DHS Advance Acquisition Planning System: To monitor the DHS Acquisition Planning Forecast System - contract actions exceeding $150,000.
- Potential Subcontracting Opportunities with DHS Prime Contractors: Information on large business Prime Contractors who are interested in subcontracting with small, small and disadvantaged, women-owned small, HUBZone-certified, 8(a), veteran-owned small, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, complete with tips on how to pursue subcontracting opportunities with them.
State and Local Government Contracting
Establish relationships with municipal and county governments, as well as state procurement offices. Often these offices control much of the work that is done. In fact, FEMA doesn't do anything without request and concurrence from the state, local and (when applicable) tribal governments. The type, kind and quantity of assistance FEMA provides is entirely up to state and local authorities. If debris removal contracts are already in place for routine incidents, such as wind or ice storms, those contracts will probably be used for major disasters first. So, make sure that you are registered in any applicable state/local databases - not only those local to you, but those in areas you might travel to in response to a disaster.
North Carolina state contracting sites:
North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) is another great source of information for businesses in the state looking for assistance in the aftermath of a disaster. Home | ReBuild NC
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GCAP Provides a Wide Range of Government Contracting Help
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The Government Contracting Assistance Program (GCAP) is now two months old, and we have not missed a beat with our efforts to assist businesses with their government contracting efforts. Assistance topics include (but are not limited to):
- Determining Suitability for Contracting
- Securing Necessary Registrations (including SAM registration)
- SDB, 8(a), HUBZone and other certifications
- Marketing
- Researching Procurement Histories
- Networking
- Identifying Bid Opportunities
- Proposal Preparation Assistance
- Contract Performance Issues
- Preparing for Audit
Contact your local GCAP counselor for assistance with your government contracting efforts. Most services are free of charge.
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Cybersecurity Webinar -- Coming on June 21 and June 29
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You are invited to join the SBTDC Government Contracting Assistance Program and a panel of industry experts to learn the latest about federal Level 1 CMMC cybersecurity requirements, potential strategies and solutions. Following the panel presentation and discussion, participants will have an opportunity to join the discussion and ask questions. The webinar targets businesses with Department of Defense contracts, businesses seeking Department of Defense contracts and businesses performing or interested in all federal contracts. To learn more about each of these events and to register:
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GCAP client Carlos Romero has been working with the SBTDC for about four years now on various ideas based on art and digital technology. Carlos simply goes by the name 'Romero' and is starting to build up a reputation in the Greenville area as an Avant Garde artist on the cutting edge of the intersection of technology and art. Last year, Romero was awarded a contract by UpTown Greenville to commission a design for a first of its kind artistic wrap around a gray utility box on the streets of Greenville.
The work titled 'Social + Assembly' was stored in a Codex Blockchain account and the finished version contains an NFC tag on where one can simply scan the tag and find out all the background to include videos of the work.
This is the first known commissioned public work in the world authenticated and put on the block chain since 11/21/2019 and has started to attract attention by many in Greenville and beyond.
Romero has recently been included in the group of the Black Creatives of Pitt County that are known for mural painting in town to participate in a first in the world digital display of rotating #NFT art run by a process Romero calls IkoVuX. The digital art was on display for the whole month of May at the Pitt County Art Lab in Greenville.
For more information on Romero and to view additional pieces of his artwork, please feel free to visit: https://iko.haus.
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