DOING BUSINESS WITH THE GOVERNMENT – WHERE DO I START?

The mission of the statewide network of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) in Michigan is to achieve government contracting success for clients through the connection of educational resources, advanced-level counseling engagements, and network/resource introductions.

The PTAC staff are subject-matter experts on procurement opportunities and contracting activities, providing the most current and relevant information available. The PTAC will provide insight into the research process and coach you in the use of the information obtained.

Following are a few resources to help with government contracting:

FEDERAL CONTRACTING RESOURCES

Internet Access
Government contracting is conducted mostly online. Having a reliable internet connection and ease of use on the computer is necessary. Having your own company website is also important. This access helps the government research your company and then reach out to you.

Market Research
Is the government buying what you sell? How often? In what quantities? Conduct market research to find the answers to these questions. Here are some helpful websites:
USA Spending: usaspending.gov
Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS): www.fpds.gov
DLA Internet Bid Board System: https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil/default.aspx

DUNS
The D&B D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identification number for your business. In order to register in the System for Award Management (SAM), you will need a DUNS number. Ensure that entering your business address here is consistent with the address you will enter in SAM in order to complete both process successfully.
Website: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform (follow the steps for government access)

NAICS and PSCThe government uses codes to identify the products and services available for government contracting. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) provides six-digit numbers to classify the type of work performed or products sold. Another code is also used for classifying businesses: Product Service Codes (PSC). The two work together to identify the type of work involved in federal government contracting. Please use this website to help determine the codes that apply to your business:
NAICS Codes: http://www.census.gov/naics/2007/index.html
PSC: outreachsystems.com/resources/tables/pscs/

System for Award Management – SAMSAM registration is required of all who wish to contract with the federal government. It involves self-certification of your business. This includes everything from your NAICS codes to your deposit bank account for accepting payment from the government, from contact information to agreeing to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clauses for your business.
The System for Award Management SAM is the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. There is NO fee to register for this site. Entities may register at no cost directly from sam.gov. Registration assistance is available at no cost from the PTAC office network.
Website: https://www.sam.gov

PTAC
If you need help with any of the above steps contact your local PTAC counselor: ptacsofmichigan.org. If you’re outside of the State of Michigan, you can find the PTAC serving your area at www.aptac-us.org.

 STATE CONTRACTING RESOURCES

Internet Access
Government contracting is conducted mostly online. Having a reliable internet connection and ease of use on the computer is necessary. Having your own company website is also important. This access helps the government research your company and then reach out to you.

Research
Is the State of Michigan buying what you sell? How often? In what quantities? Conduct market research to find the answers to these questions. Here are some helpful websites:
DTMB-Procurement Contract List:http://www.michigan.gov/micontractconnect/0,4541,7-225-48680—,00.html
Receive the Upcoming Bid List:http://www.michigan.gov/micontractconnect/0,4541,7-225–330900–,00.html

Registrations
PTAC provides a bid matching services which includes searching for State of Michigan opportunities as well as federal and local. In order to view the full detail of each opportunity, registration is required. Here are the registrations to review opportunities in Michigan:
Buy4Michigan (State Level): www.buy4michigan.com
Bid4Michigan (Counties, Cities, etc.): www.bid4michigan.com
MITN (Counties, Cities, etc. from Ann Arbor to the East Coast):www.mitn.info

PTAC
If you need help with any of the above steps contact your local PTAC counselor: www.ptacsofmichigan.org. If you’re outside of the State of Michigan, you can find the PTAC serving your area at www.aptac-us.org.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

DAU

Defense Acquisition University provides formal courses in-person and online, events and workshops, job support tools, consulting and more.

Defense Acquisition University:  www.dau.edu

AUSA AoD

The Association of the United States Army – Arsenal of Democracy Chapter represents businesses and individuals who wish to advance the interests of the men and women serving our country.  They provide educational, advocacy, and support resources.

Arsenal of Democracy:  www.ausaarsenalofdemocracy.org

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

To gain a head start on the information, please consider downloading two documents available at no charge to learn more about government contracting and the opportunities available to you:

Procurement Opportunities Guide:  http://www.aptac-us.org/braddocks-procurement-opportunities-guide/.

The Winning Edge Supplier Guide:  http://www.aptac-us.org/braddocks-winning-edge-supplier-guide/.