*Cross Timbers APEX Accelerator

Change is coming!

Did you know that PTAC’s across the country are sun-setting the name “PTAC”? Yes, that’s right! We will be launching a new moniker “APEX Accelerator” in 2023.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) is now under the management of the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and has changed its name to APEX Accelerators.

The 95+ centers will be transitioning to the new name in the coming months. Our mission and assistance will not change; we continue to be here for you with all your government contracting needs.
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 ****IMPORTANT NOTICE:

For information regarding contracting with FEMA in the wake of Hurricane IAN, please ensure your company is registered on SAM.gov and you have prepared a Capability Statement to be submitted to:

Damoris T. Smith

Contracting Specialist

FEMA Region VI | Mission Support Division | Procurement Branch

800 North Loop 288, Denton, TX. 76209-3698

Mobile: (202) 894-4799

Email:Damoris.Smith@fema.dhs.gov

Please see the link below to book an appointment to discuss your Company’s Capability Statement and Doing Business with FEMA.

Book an Appointment on "How To Do Business with FEMA Region 6" Today!

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Become a client of Cross Timbers APEX Accelerator.  

Click above to register your business.

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**Upcoming Opportunity**     

     

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REGISTER HERE!

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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Cross Timbers APEX Accelerator helps companies find contracts for work with local, state and federal governments. Our mission is to increase the number of contracts awarded to companies in the 72 county service area resulting in increased revenue and jobs in the area. Based at the University of Texas at Arlington, we provide one-on-one counseling, events, and up-to-date research in everything that has to do with selling to government agencies.  CTPTAC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency. 

SAM.GOV REGISTRATION INFORMATION
For a SAM. gov tutorial (one of the first steps in government contracting), click here.
For a webinar recording of SAM.GOV Registration 101, which gives a screen-by-screen tutorial, click here.

STATE OF TEXAS REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Vendor Information Center, click here.
How To Register as a Texas Vendor on the CMBL, click here.

VETERAN REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The Vets First Verification Program, click here.
Veteran Resources, click here.

DLA INTERNET BID BOARD SYSTEM (DIBBS) REGISTRATION INFORMATION
As a DIBBS user, you can access more business opportunities, and make it easier to submit quotes, view and download drawings, and compete for long term contract opportunities.
Find out more here, 

 

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FEMA Information

The key to acquiring FEMA contracts is to understand how to do business with FEMA. Click here to learn more. 

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Doing Business with the U.S. Department of State 

1. The U.S. Department of State has 46 Bureaus and Offices with vastly different requirements. 
2. Click here for a list of the Bureau Offices www.state.gov.  
3. The Foreign Affairs Manual https://fam.state.gov/ provides the organizational structure of the department, and gives a perspective of the different bureaus’ needs, missions, and priorities. 
4. Past procurements give detailed information on what kind of similar projects are ongoing, who are the current vendors, and what are the contract types, competition types, expiration dates, etc.
5. State Department Opportunities forecast list expected requirement for each fiscal year. 
   1. The forecast documents have the Point of Contact names responsible for the particular requirements- it is recommended   to reach out to them directly. 
6. Freight Management https://www.state.gov/key-topics-office-of-logistics-management/
7. DOS website, www.state.gov/smallbusiness/, has many more resources to increase awareness of requirements, environment, programs, and events - including some government-wide market research information.
   1. Specifically, look under Key Topics – Doing Business with the US Department of State.  There are directories, opportunities, and market research databases. 
   2. Make sure to review the Facility Security Clearance FAQ, most of professional services ad IT requirements will require a clearance.
8. Reach out to the program offices directly for information. They make programmatic and budgetary decisions
   1. The OSDBU office can help you discover the status of any identified programs / opportunities, assit you in getting in touch with contracting offices, etc. 

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*** IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR DLA/DIBBS USERS***

DLA will start removing DIBBS contractor access on August 16, 2021 to export controlled technical data if the business does not have a NIST 800-171 Assessment on file in the Supplier Risk Management System (The Interim Rule). 

https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil/notices/msgdspl.aspx?msgid=1068

Topic: NOTICE TO SUPPLIERS NIST 800-171 ASSESSMENTS EXPORT-CONTROLLED TECH DATA

Notice to DLA Suppliers: Export-controlled technical information is Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)/Controlled Technical Information (CTI). DLA suppliers seeking export-controlled technical data for DLA procurement opportunities must have a current National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171 cybersecurity assessment (i.e., not more than 3 years old unless a lesser time is specified in the solicitation) posted to the DoD Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) to be considered for award. DLA Suppliers who currently have an approved Enhanced Joint Certification (JCP) but have not posted their NIST SP 800-171 assessment to SPRS will not be able to access export-controlled technical data in DLA’s technical data repository after 16 August 2021. Instructions for posting an assessment on SPRS can be found at https://www.sprs.csd.disa.mil/. For additional information on NIST SP 800-171 assessments and other DoD requirements for safeguarding covered defense information please see DFARS Clause 252.204-7020 NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Requirements. If you have any questions, please e-mail DLAJ344DataCustodian@dla.mil.  

If you have questions about the Interim Rule, or if you need FREE compliance tools, contact Shelia.Birdow@uta.edu.

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SMALL BUSINESS LINKS & RESOURCES

      FEMA Industry Liaison Program: 

• If you are interested in supporting the response to COVID- 19 with your company’s goods and/or services, please submit your inquiry to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Procurement Action Innovative Response Team (PAIR) team at DHSIndustryLiaison@hq.dhs.gov. This will ensure your capabilities are received and reviewed by the appropriate acquisition office. 
  ***Click Here for more information***

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: 

  • USACE HQ has set up an inbox for contractors to submit their capabilities to be seen by all USACE Districts nationwide. If you wish to be considered for missions, please your send capabilities statements to perform "build-out or retrofit of existing space (arenas, convention centers, dorms, hotels, etc.) into alternate care space" to: COVIDContracting@usace.army.mil.
  • It is also suggested you include your response times (boots on the ground) by FEMA region or state to give those making decisions a better understanding of your capabilities.

• FDA Resource on Gowns, PPE, and Emergency Use Information

     Email Deviceshortages@fda.hhs.gov with COVID-19 related inquiries if:

  • You do not normally manufacture masks/gowns/gloves/PPE but might have capabilities to do so (such as you have a 3D printer, have a factory) and want to help ("Helper Companies and Individuals"), inside or outside the United States.
  • You need information on importing masks/gowns/gloves/PPE or ventilators/diagnostics from outside the United States.
  • You are outside the United States and want to ship masks/gowns/gloves/PPE or ventilators/diagnostics to hospitals and medical centers in the United States.
  • You would like to fast-track a new product to get on the U.S. market (including Emergency Use Authorizations).
  • You have questions related to reuse, re-sterilization, or substitution/modification of PPE/ventilators/diagnostics/accessories.

• Click Here for information on the Defense Contract Management Agency's Commercial Item Determination for supplies and services procured in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

• Click Here for SBA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

•  Visit https://business.defense.gov/ for Small Business COVID-19 Resources and Guidance to Protect American Small Businesses, Workers and Families.

•  Future acquisition forecasts, prepared by a number of organizations within DoD, can be found here: https://business.defense.gov/Small-Business/Acquisition-Forecasts/.

• APEX Accelerator Support to Defense Industrial Base Critical Infrastructure Workforce. Click Here for more information. (Return to Top)

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(Watch the video to learn more).

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*APEX Accelerators are non-profit, government, or tribal entities who received a DoD cooperative agreement award. Congress appropriates funding for this program to assist businesses in obtaining information and training related to contracting and subcontracting opportunities with DoD, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments. APEX Accelerators provide day-to-day assistance in the form of such services as helping prepare bids/proposals, marketing to potential buyers, setting up or improving quality assurance and accounting systems, complying with cybersecurity requirements, and resolving payment problems. APEX Accelerators are expected to teach businesses how to participate in government contracting but they are not allowed to do the work on behalf of the business, and they may not act as a representative of their business clients. In accordance with the law, APEX Accelerators are limited to helping with government-contracting-related issues and therefore they can’t help with general business issues such as business formulation and development, access to capital, or hiring and other human resources processes. APEX Accelerators are not government procurement officials and can not guarantee their clients will win contracts.