JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2022)– In celebration of Inaugural National Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center Day, (PTAC) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District Small Business office, the First Coast Business, Alliance, in partnership with the Florida PTAC at the University of North Florida hosted a day of networking, consulting, training and gaining valuable resources.
Kimberly Daniel-Ray, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville Deputy District small business chief, said the objective and purpose of the event is to provide direct access to Corps business officials, networking experience and to help businesses understand the federal procurement process.
She said, the Jacksonville Small Business office is focused on networking, helping businesses with Corps contracting and recruiting potential businesses.
“Our focus is to answer any questions, build relationships and position them where they might find an opportunity to bid on federal opportunities with the Corps or other federal agencies,” said Daniel-Ray.
Daniel-Ray said the small business office works to educate business professionals about available tools and resources and provide them with current information on how to get assistance with the procurement process.
“We have a distribution list to keep businesses abreast of new solicitations coming out and that is one way we try to make the process easier, “said Daniels-Ray. “Corps of Engineer is committed to small businesses and providing assistance to make the process easier,” Daniel-Ray said. “Sometimes getting work with the Corps, seems like a daunting experience. But the Corps’ small business mission statement includes the statement, ‘Developing small businesses and maximizing their opportunities to participate in our procurements thereby ensuring a broad base of capable suppliers to support the Corps of Engineers’ mission and strengthen our nation’s economic development.”
According to Marie Myszkier, a PTAC procurement specialist and event coordinator with the University of North Jacksonville, more than 90 small and large businesses, partners and key partners attended the one-day event with a focus of learning about programs, marketing to the government, assisting businesses with advice, training and information to help business owners make sound decisions.
“This is an amazing turnout and I think this is a win-win for everyone, “said Myszkier. “Not only are agencies and business partners able to identify small businesses, but small businesses were able to learn what the requirements are for each of these groups.”
Myszkier works with Florida companies who are interested in pursuing federal, state, county, and local government business. PTAC serves 18 counties with offices in Duval, Putnam, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Marion, Alachua and Suwannee Counties.” Her 15 plus years of government experience encompasses the Department of Energy (DOE), contractors, civilian agencies and all facets of business operations.
PTAC Services:
- One-on-One Consulting Services: PTAC works with established government contractors and companies newer to the procurement process. Regardless of where you are in the process, we will help you identify and prioritize your actions steps and hold you accountable to get them completed. Government Contracting Action Item Checklist.
- Marketing and Business Development Support: PTAC Consultants are able to help you develop marketing collateral (i.e. custom capability statements, DSBS, website strategy, etc.), develop an ongoing networking and relationship strategy, and support your opportunity capture and proposal development efforts. Download Capability Statement Template.
- Research Support: PTAC helps our clients develop sustainable research strategies using both publicly available tools such as Contract Opportunities, FPDS, and USAspending but also PTAC-specific tools such as FedMine, Gov$pend, TeamingPRO, and Bid-Match. Take the Research Challenge.
- Professional Development: Through our partners at the SBDC, SBA and other agencies, PTAC offers a training calendar throughout the year designed to help business owners, and their staff, better understand key aspects of government contracting. PTAC clients also have access to ‘Govology’ a live and on-demand training resource at no-cost. Govology Course Directory.
Daniel-Ray said the partnership with the PTAC community is vital because they assist and help the contractors prepare their capability briefings.
"We have a great relationship with PTAC and always look for opportunities to work with them," said Daniel-Ray. "Their process prepares businesses so when they come into the USACE Jacksonville Small Business office they are better equipped to provide what they do, how they do, with updated and quality information."
Building on that statement, the 43 Corps of Engineers districts are challenged and directed to award specific percentages of contracts every year to small businesses, She added.
“The key takeaway…Is that the Corps is very serious about maximizing opportunities,” said Daniel-Ray. “If they attended today, got our information, they definitely have an opportunity and if not work with the Jacksonville District, then with what’s currently going on… regionally with the Corps or nationally.”
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District on the district’s website at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JaxStrong.
