Government contracting resources available

Small business owners interested in securing a government contract may find they have a daunting task ahead of them.

“There's a maze to get into federal contracting — and you have to understand that maze to get in it,” said Horace Bates, the 27th Special Operations Contracting Squadron Director of Business Operations.

Luckily, there are free resources available in Clovis for small business owners looking for guidance in the process.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Program office in Clovis taught local business owners the in's and out's of government contracting at the Business Enterprise Center Tuesday.

Business owners from various industries, including construction and recycling, attended the event to learn about the steps it takes to secure a government contract and do business with Cannon Air Force Base.

PTAP Procurement Advisor Jonnie Loadwick discussed federal certifications, accounting practices, marketing strategies, contracts, and resources for small businesses in the morning during a government contracting basics class.

In the afternoon, Loadwick and other instructors got more specific about doing business with Cannon.

“There is good money to be made at the base,” Bates said. “You just have to know what you are doing.”

“Anything you can imagine, the base probably needs,” Bates added.

Bates helped the business owners navigate through Federal Business Opportunities, instructed them on how to write a bid, clarified federal certifications questions, and explained the total contracts Cannon has awarded to small businesses.

“Cannon would not be where they are at right now without small businesses,” Bates said.

Loadwick said although the common industries she works with include construction and agriculture, she has helped a variety of business people secure government contracts, including an artist, a car owner who supplied old vehicles for bombing targets, and hotel owners.

“There is a wide range of things, it's wonderful,” Loadwick said.

Although the discussion focused on federal contracts, Loadwick said the PTAP office can assist with state and local government contracts as well.

During the last class of the day, Loadwick walked the attendees through the complex System for Award Management (SAM) registration process. She said it's important to know that applying for a Dun & Bradstreet number and registering in SAM are free, and warned the business owners that some companies try to charge for these services.

She said the best way to avoid losing time in the process is to consult a PTAP advisor.

The PTAP office offers free workshops as well as one-on-one help for business owners who need more information about government contracting. They can be reached at 575-935-7827.