TargetGov Celebrates the Vital Role Entrepreneurs Play in Innovation, Job Creation and Economic Recovery as a Partner in Global Entrepreneurship Week

This November, young people around the globe will get together to change the world. To celebrate the vital role entrepreneurs play in innovation, job creation and economic recovery, TargetGov is participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week on Nov. 16 – 22, 2009 to inspire, connect, mentor and engage young people.

As a part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, TargetGov will hold a No-Cost teleconference, “How To Do Business With The World's Fortune One Customer,” on November 17, 2009 to learn about how you can start doing business with the U.S. Federal Government. Hear real-life experiences from business owners who started as very small businesses and have become multi-million dollar firms through government contracting.

Co-founded in 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in the United States and Make Your Mark, a business-led government-backed campaign in the United Kingdom, Global Entrepreneurship Week will connect young people through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, non-profit leaders, government officials and others will participate in a host of activities that include virtual and face-to-face events, large-scale competitions and intimate networking gatherings.

In 2009, the Week is estimated to exceed the 3 million people and 8,800 organizations around the globe that participated in the inaugural Global Entrepreneurship Week in 2008. Already, more than 650 organizations in more than 80 countries have signed up.

“I think it is important for TargetGov to participate in events, such as Global Entrepreneurship Week, because getting young people involved in small business leads to innovation, and especially in these tough economic times, that is truly what’s needed,” said Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov. “Plus, I believe it is important that we try to instill in young people how important their contributions to business can be, no matter their age.”

“The world knows that entrepreneurship is the key to economic recovery, and the next generation of innovators holds that key,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. “Now more than ever, we need to unleash the creativity and ingenuity of our youth by engaging them in the endless possibilities of entrepreneurship.”

To register for this teleconference, visit http://www.targetgov.com and sign up, or call toll-free 1-866-579-1346.

About TargetGov:

TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development (GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, contract administration and expert federal contracting services. The parent company, MOA, provides corporate business development and marketing-related services including current customer analysis to determine profitability, client profiling, targeted prospect identification and list development, database, marketing plan and strategy development, graphic design, marketing communications and calendar development and execution (advertising, direct mail, fax, email, newsletters, postcards, brochures, etc.) Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit http://www.TargetGov.com

About Global Entrepreneurship Week

With the goal to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week will encourage youth to think big, turn their ideas into reality, and make their mark. From Nov. 16-22, 2009, millions of young people around the world will join a growing movement to generate new ideas and seek better ways of doing things. Tens of thousands of activities are being planned in dozens of countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week is founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Make Your Mark campaign. For more information, visit www.unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people's eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. It also works to prepare students to be innovators, entrepreneurs and skilled workers in the 21st century economy through initiatives designed to improve learning in math, engineering, science and technology. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org, and follow @kauffmanfdn on Twitter.

Make Your Mark

Make Your Mark is the campaign to give young people in the UK the confidence, skills and ambition to be enterprising - to have ideas and make them happen. Run by Enterprise Insight, which was founded by the four leading UK business membership organizations – the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors. Their Director-Generals sit on our board, which is chaired by entrepreneur Peter Jones, from BBC’s Dragon’s Den. It is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills andendorsed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. www.makeyourmark.org.uk

Avoid These Government Contracting Mistakes

When trying to enter the federal marketplace as a government contractor, it is important to present your company in as professional and knowledgeable of a manner as possible. The mistakes noted below scream “novice” and will close the door on your success.

1. Don’t try to market to every federal agency that MAY be a potential customer. Instead, target the top 5 or 10 agencies.
   
2. Don’t bid on every contract. Pick and choose those that you can effectively manage. Companies have gone out of business “winning” contracts they cannot perform.
   
3. Do not try to be all things to all people. If you go outside your core competency, be prepared to lose focus and confuse your buyers and program managers.
   
4. Do not rely on electronic communications 100% of the time. It is impossible to give a warm handshake in an email. The people you want to do business with want to get to know you. Personally.
   
5. Do not ignore the associations and organizations in which your market participates. Become a member. Be seen where they are seen. Do everything you can to build relationships.
   
6. Do not assume that your web site is 100% government contact and contract-friendly. Government procurement personnel, program managers and end users should be able to see that you are ready to do business on their terms right from the home page. And it goes without saying – your email should reflect your web site, never use a free or non-professional domain name. You may have a multimillion-dollar company, but if you are using something like doug123@yahoo.com or anything@aol.com, you will be perceived as a non-professional.
   
7. Do not expect people to stay year to year. Realize that turnover in government procurement exceeds 40% a year. The people you knew last year may not be there this year. You have to maintain regular contact and take the time to build new relationships when needed.
   
8. Do not expect contracting officers to make it easy for you. Instead, go out of your way to make their job as easy as possible. Do your research and be totally prepared at each point of contact – claiming ignorance is a huge turnoff to doing business.
   
9. Do not expect “low hanging fruit.” It takes time. You may be lucky enough to pick some low hanging fruit, but don’t bet the farm on it. Plan for a 12 to 18 or even 24-month business development cycle.
   
10. Do not be inconsistent. Pleasant persistence pays. Be in touch regularly. Take the time to touch base. If you don’t your competition will.

Government contracting is a complicated process, and successful business development is key to creating the relationships that will open the door to winning contracts. Invest the time to learn the ropes for business development success.

For more information visit http://www.targetgov.com.

TargetGov’s National Veterans Teleconference Scheduled

TargetGov’s National Veteran’s Teleconference will be held on Friday November 13, 2009. This teleconference that will provide any veteran or employee of a veteran-owned business information that can put a business directly on the path to success in the government contracting market. Registration for this teleconference is being offered at no cost. In addition to the ability to attend this teleconference, with registration, customers will receive a 35 page Toolkit, in PDF format.

Other covered topics by this teleconference include: 13 Steps On How To Do Business With The Government, Registrations Required for Federal Government Contracting, The Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, The Ft Detrick Business Development Office, The Department of Veterans Affairs, and an Introduction to Business Development for the Federal Government Market.

“Any veteran entrepreneur in this country, or any employee of one, can benefit tremendously from this teleconference. Without this information, breaking into government contracting can seem lengthy and impossible. With this information however, becoming a contractor of the world’s Fortune One customer can become a reality,” said Gloria Berthold Larkin, the expert speaker for this teleconference.

Gloria Berthold Larkin is the President of TargetGov and the national Procurement Committee Co-Chair for Women Impacting Public Policy. She is an expert at government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development, GSA Schedules, proposal management and development, contract administration and federal contracting services.

Said Jon Bailey, President, Wood Street, Inc.: “If you need to do business with the Federal Government, you need to connect with Gloria. Gloria has her finger on the pulse of marketing and selling to the Feds.”

To register, visit http://www.targetgov.com, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-579-1346, at no cost.

About TargetGov:
TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development (GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, contract administration and expert federal contracting services. The parent company, MOA, provides corporate business development and marketing-related services including current customer analysis to determine profitability, client profiling, targeted prospect identification and list development, database, marketing plan and strategy development, graphic design, marketing communications and calendar development and execution (advertising, direct mail, fax, email, newsletters, postcards, brochures, etc.) Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit http://www.TargetGov.com

TargetGov’s Writing Winning Proposals Teleconference Scheduled

TargetGov’s national teleconference, “Writing Winning Proposals,” will be held on Thursday December 10, 2009. In addition to the ability to attend this teleconference, customers will receive a 40 page Toolkit with specific details about Writing Winning Proposals. This toolkit, in conjunction with the teleconference, will cover the skills necessary to respond convincingly to an RFP or task order requirement, as well as the top five reasons for failure, how to prepare for oral presentations, how to request a debrief and what to expect, and determining if a protest is a viable option.

Other covered topics include: the personnel required to write winning proposals, a timeline for the proposal process, uniform proposal format, solicitation and contract types, go-no go decision tips, solicitation analysis, understanding the grading system, costing and pricing tips, and writing and negotiation tips.

“There is much more to writing a winning proposal than writing ability. It takes specific knowledge of what the government looks for in a proposal, and how they score the responses. Only businesses with this knowledge will score highest and win the contracts,” said Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov. “This teleconference can help ensure that the time a business spends on its proposal is not wasted, and that a business can come out of the proposal process victorious.”

Expert speakers for this teleconference are Jack Peace, President and Founder of Pease Consulting, Mike Parkinson, founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, and Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov.

Jack Pease is the President and Founder of Pease Consulting. Jack has over 20 years of IT and Business Process Outsourcing experience that spans the Federal, State and Local Governments, as well as the Commercial sector. He has managed a portfolio of IT accounts with a total contract value in excess of $100M.

Previously, Jack worked for two of the world’s largest Systems Integration and Consulting firms, CSC and EDS. He also worked for Mobil Oil Corporation, was a High School teacher and coach and a U.S Air Force Captain.

Mike Parkinson has spearheaded multi-billion dollar projects and created thousands of graphics resulting in billions of dollars in increased revenue for his clients. As co-owner of 24 Hour Company, Mike leveraged his design experience to help his partners transform the company into an industry leader. In 2006, he founded Billion Dollar Graphics to offer articles, books, tools, and resources that provide secrets, tips, tricks, strategies, and best practices to non-designers and designers alike.

Gloria Berthold Larkin is the President of TargetGov and the national Procurement Committee Co-Chair for Women Impacting Public Policy. She is an expert at government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development, GSA Schedules, proposal management and development, contract administration and federal contracting services.

Register at http://www.targetgov.com, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-579-1346, for only $97.00.

About TargetGov:
TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development (GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, contract administration and expert federal contracting services. The parent company, MOA, provides corporate business development and marketing-related services including current customer analysis to determine profitability, client profiling, targeted prospect identification and list development, database, marketing plan and strategy development, graphic design, marketing communications and calendar development and execution (advertising, direct mail, fax, email, newsletters, postcards, brochures, etc.) Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit http://www.TargetGov.com

TargetGov’s “How to Do Business With the Government” Teleconference Scheduled

TargetGov’s national teleconference, “How to Do Business With the Government,” as a part of Global EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, will be held on Tuesday November 17, 2009. This teleconference, being offered at no cost, will teach how to start doing business with the U.S. Federal Government. Hear real-life experiences from business owners who started as very small businesses and have become multi-million dollar firms through government contracting. Customers will also receive a 40+ page Toolkit with even more detailed information about selling to the federal government.

Other covered topics include: how and where to register as a government contractor, where to find free help, counseling and business development assistance, how to determine if the government buys what you sell, how to locate and do business with the government agencies right in your own backyard, and how and where to find announcement of government contracts for your products and services.

“Virtually every product and service is used by the Federal Government. This teleconference is perfect for business owners looking to grow their businesses, or get involved in government contracting, or even those interested in starting a small business,” said Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov, and expert speaker for this teleconference. “There is no reason to not explore tapping into this market, because it is absolutely perfect for buy from small business.”

Gloria Berthold Larkin is the President of TargetGov and the national Procurement Committee Co-Chair for Women Impacting Public Policy. She is an expert at government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development, GSA Schedules, proposal management and development, contract administration and federal contracting services.

TargetGov is one of the organizations joining together in an unprecedented effort to inspire and encourage young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice and to celebrate America’s unique culture of inventiveness during Global EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, November 16 - 22, 2009.

To register at no cost, visit http://www.targetgov.com, or call toll-free at 1-866-579-1346.

About Global EntrepreneurshipWeek USA:
Global EntrepreneurshipWeek USA will include events and activities in communities across the country to inspire, educate and prepare young people, primarily ages 14 to 25, to be America’s next great entrepreneurs and innovators. With the theme, “What’s Your Big Idea? Take it On!” the initiative is designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and to turn their ideas into action – whether that means starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a problem that makes society better. Official events are being planned in cities across the country, culminating in Washington, D.C, where the focus will be on the importance of policy to the nation’s entrepreneurs.

For more information about Global EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, visit the web site: http://www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com.

About TargetGov:
TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development (GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, contract administration and expert federal contracting services. The parent company, MOA, provides corporate business development and marketing-related services including current customer analysis to determine profitability, client profiling, targeted prospect identification and list development, database, marketing plan and strategy development, graphic design, marketing communications and calendar development and execution (advertising, direct mail, fax, email, newsletters, postcards, brochures, etc.) Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit http://www.TargetGov.com .

National Teleconference Offers Insight and Timely Advice About Successful Sales Strategies That Win Government Contracts

The National Teleconference, “SUCCESSFUL SALES STRATEGIES THAT WIN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS” will be held Thursday, October 15, 2009. Registration is available at http://www.targetgov.com.

Business revenues can increase dramatically if a contractor can tap into the 500 billion dollar federal contracting market. Successful contractors know that the federal market demands different sales strategies and processes compared to the commercial market. Registrants dial into a central phone line to discover the strategies and tactics that work.

“Many businesses struggling right now, but those doing business with the government are getting more contracts and hiring more people.. Using the tips in this teleconference, a business can turn the Federal Government into their client by learning how to sell to the government and why it is so different from corporate sales.” said Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov.

Critical topics covered in this teleconference include: Why Government Sales is Different from Commercial Sales, How to Create an Effective "Elevator Speech" for Federal Decision Makers, Tactics That Open the Doors to Business, Tactics To Avoid That Prevent Success, and How to Identify and Obtain Meetings with Key Decision-Makers.

The cost for the live teleconference and the 62 page exclusive TargetGov Toolkit created specifically for this teleconference is $97.00. The Toolkit details what a business person needs to know to build government business including: Business Builder Checklist, a Five Step Guide to Sales Success in the Federal Government Market, hundreds of contacts in federal agencies including names, emails and phone numbers, Annual Budget Forecast Information and the Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid.

The featured speakers are nationally recognized experts and authors, Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov and Beth Goldstein, President of Marketing Edge Consulting Group.

Gloria is an expert in process of successful government procurement and related business development and marketing services with success stories of clients winning multi-million federal contracts. With 25 years of entrepreneurial sales and marketing experience, Beth helps business owner answer the questions that keep them up at night including: “What can I do to increase profit and revenue?”, “How do I improve customer loyalty?” and “What’s the best proactive approach to winning new customers?”

About TargetGov:
TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development, capture management and marketing services including business consulting, Capability Statement creation and contract vehicle development (GSA Schedules, etc.), and proposal management. Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit www.TargetGov.com or www.VeteransBusinessGuide.com

About Marketing Edge Consulting Group:
Based outside of Boston, MA, Marketing Edge’s goal is to help each client turn their business vision into reality. Through research, surveys, interviews and one-on-one conversations with our clients’ customers, prospects and business partners, we help business owners develop and launch targeted sales and marketing programs that generate revenue, increase loyalty and improve their bottom line. Services range from sales and marketing engagements, coaching services, customized training programs, market research/surveys, sales development and product rollouts. Marketing Edge was founded by Beth Goldstein, adjunct professor at Boston University and author of “The Ultimate Small Business Marketing Toolkit (McGraw-Hill)” Visit: www.m-edge.com or www.MyMarketingGoals.com for more information.

TargetGov Partners With The Center for Business and Technology Development to Present Fall 2009 Government Contracting Institute Seminar Series

TargetGov has partnered with The Howard County Economic Development Authority's Center for Business and Technology Development and the Maryland Governor's Office of Minority Affairs to present the Government Contracting Institute (GCI), a series of seminars designed to help businesses break into, and then excel in government contracting.

The seminars will be held at The Center for Business and Technology Development, 9250 Bendix Road, North, Columbia, MD 21045. Space is limited to ensure an optimal learning environment. Pre-Registration is required for all seminars. To register or learn more, please contact The Center for Business and Technology Development at 410-313-6550 or visit https://www.center-tech.biz/events/index.cfm?mode=registration_selection.

The schedule for the seminar series as is follows:

Class 101: Introduction to Government Contracting
Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

This morning session is geared toward existing and new businesses who want to sell their products or services to federal, state, county and other government agencies. This is a $500+ billion market, $21 billion of which goes to Maryland-based companies of all sizes every year. The course is a concise introduction to government contracting. Participants will learn the required registrations, the basis of contracting law, rules, and key players involved in contracting. Participants will also learn the types of contracts, their uses, and an introduction to how the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) control how contracts are written, advertised, competed and awarded.

Class 102: Getting Certified, Is it Right for Your Company?
Tuesday September 15, 2009, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Learn the basics of certification: what is certification, who qualifies, what certifications are available at the federal, state, and county government levels, what are the benefits, what is the process to get certified, the timeline, and what agencies use certified companies. We cover certifications for businesses owned by: women, veterans, and minorities, as well as geographic and other small business certifications including 8(a), HUBzone, SDB, WBE, MBE, SDVOB, and others.

Class 201: Getting and Using Your GSA Schedule
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The GSA Schedule is one of the most powerful business tools you can have when doing business with the Federal Government. In this class, we will give you the information you need to know about the GSA schedule process and how to win the contract. Specific topics to be covered are:

· Overview of the GSA Schedule
· Scope of Services and Products
· The Importance of the GSA Schedule
· Benefits of the GSA Schedule for Agencies/Contractors
· The GSA Schedule Process
· GSA Schedule Pricing Strategies

Class 301: Marketing Your Business to Win Government Contracts
Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

This program focuses on a specifically detailed process of identifying your target market, learning about the strategies involved in being a prime or a subcontractor, teaming, mentor-protégé programs, evaluation of opportunities including Requests for Information, Requests for Quotes, Requests for Bids, Sole Source Contracts, the bid/no bid decision making process, purchase thresholds, simplified acquisitions, and how market intelligence can build your pipeline. Registrants will receive a Capability Statement Template and other important marketing materials recommendations.

Class 302: The Business of BRAC and Stimulus Opportunities
Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process and the Stimulus Program translates to billions in contracting opportunities for the businesses that know how to find, capture, and perform for these special operations. Attend this information packed workshop to find out how to open the door to construction, IT, services, consulting, and products and materials needed to complete the largest people transfer, construction, and services programs in US history.

Class 401: Proposal Writing to Win Contracts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

This seminar provides attendees the skills necessary to respond convincingly to an RFP or task order requirement. The focus is on understanding what government evaluators want to see, structuring the response so that they find it easily, as well as ensure that government evaluators find what they read to be both compliant and compelling. We will also cover the top five reasons for failure, how to prepare for oral presentations, how to request a debrief and what to expect, and determining if a protest is a viable option.

Class 501: Contract Management for Federal Contracts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 noon

This session will discuss the techniques to manage contract delivery, budget, staffing, risk, and quality while fostering the client relationship; being responsive to needs of project staff, meeting company financial and project goals, creating third party relationships to add value or fill gaps, and understanding differences between risks and threats, and how to manage risk and avoid threats. We will review contract types, the differences and challenges associated with each, identify the stakeholders associated with each project, and how to deal with their expectations.

Class 601: Accounting for Government Contractors
Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Government contracting requires very specific setup, systems, reports, processes, and tracking. Attend this session to understand government cost accounting standards, pricing strategies, discussion of software applications including QuickBooks and other alternatives, and audit preparation. Who should attend? Accountants, CPAs, bookkeepers, CFOs, and any business owner who wants to win government contracts, be profitable, and satisfy all federal accounting requirements.

Class 602: Legal Requirements (FAR) for Government Contractors
Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The federal government has incorporated very specific legal requirements into every aspect of government contracting, from the initial budget process, to identifying the acquisition process, methods of payment, contractor eligibility, prime and subcontracting issues, small business programs, communications during the lifecycle of an opportunity, contractor debarment procedures and more. Attend this special session to learn how to translate legalese into understandable terminology, how the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clauses can cost you the contract, or worse, put you out of business. Most importantly, learn how to perform within the legal limits of a proposal and contract.

Class 701: Security Clearances
Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Attendees will learn what a security clearance is, types of clearances, the procedures and requirements for obtaining a facility and personnel security clearance, which agencies require clearances, differing application processes required by various agencies, related timelines, what to do if you do not pass the first time, and the conditions that disqualify someone from receiving a security clearance.

About the Government Contracting Institute:
The Government Contracting Institute (GCI) offers businesses the opportunity to receive instruction from leaders in the government contracting market on topics such as getting registered as a contractor, certifications, business development, market research, proposal writing, oral presentations, accounting and legal issues, project and contract management, and security clearances. For more information about The Government Contracting Institute, please visit http://www.hceda.org/CBTD/programs.aspx.

About TargetGov:
TargetGov is a woman-owned business offering national business development and consulting services for companies that want to enter and become successful in the federal government contracting market. TargetGov offered the first national teleconference series highlighting government contracting processes, and its president, Gloria Berthold Larkin, teaches and speaks nationally about this unique market. She is author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business” (book) and of many articles that have been published nationally and internationally. She has been interviewed on television and radio shows and has been quoted in national publications such as USA Today, Government Executive and Entrepreneur magazine. Visit: http://www.targetgov.com for more information.

About The Center for Business and Technology Development:
Founded in May 2000, the Center is dedicated to the discovery, stimulation, nurturing, growth, and success of entrepreneurship in Howard County. It has gained a national reputation for creating innovative programs to foster entrepreneurship in the greater Washington/Baltimore region. Among its many service offerings, the Center provides assistance to over 1,000 entrepreneurs annually through its Business Resource Center and facilities for NeoTech Incubator companies. A “one stop shop” for entrepreneurial services, the Center is one of the few facilities in the nation that combines a business incubator and business resource center under one roof. With the addition of the Howard Technology Council to encourage business growth and develop educational programs for the technology community, it makes The Center even more the place for small businesses to be in Howard County. For more information about The Center for Business and Technology Development, please visit www.thecenter.biz.

The Center for Business and Technology Development is part of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, a public-private partnership whose primary goal is to promote economic growth and stability by supporting existing businesses, targeting new businesses, and attracting corporate/regional headquarters. The Authority also maintains several programs aimed at the special needs of small, minority-owned, and agricultural business communities. Additionally, the Authority strives to preserve the distinctive quality of life in Howard County. The Authority can be reached on the Web at http://www.hceda.org.

Writing Winning Proposals Teleconference Now Available for Download

TargetGov’s national teleconference, “Writing Winning Proposals,” is now available in an MP3 audio download. In addition to the MP3 audio file, customers will receive a 40 page Toolkit, in PDF format. These two files cover the skills necessary to respond convincingly to an RFP or task order requirement, as well as the top five reasons for failure, how to prepare for oral presentations, how to request a debrief and what to expect, and determining if a protest is a viable option.

Other covered topics include: the personnel required to write winning proposals, a timeline for the proposal process, uniform proposal format, solicitation and contract types, go-no go decision tips, solicitation analysis, understanding the grading system, costing and pricing tips, and writing and negotiation tips.

“There is much more to writing a winning proposal than writing ability. It takes specific knowledge of what the government looks for in a proposal, and how they score the responses. Only businesses with this knowledge will score highest and win the contracts,” said Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov.

Expert speakers for this teleconference are Jack Peace, President and Founder of Pease Consulting, Mike Parkinson, founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, and Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov.

Jack Pease is the President and Founder of Pease Consulting. Jack has over 20 years of IT and Business Process Outsourcing experience that spans the Federal, State and Local Governments, as well as the Commercial sector. He has managed a portfolio of IT accounts with a total contract value in excess of $100M.

Previously, Jack worked for two of the world’s largest Systems Integration and Consulting firms, CSC and EDS. He also worked for Mobil Oil Corporation, was a High School teacher and coach and a U.S Air Force Captain.

Mike Parkinson has spearheaded multi-billion dollar projects and created thousands of graphics resulting in billions of dollars in increased revenue for his clients. As co-owner of 24 Hour Company, Mike leveraged his design experience to help his partners transform the company into an industry leader. In 2006, he founded Billion Dollar Graphics to offer articles, books, tools, and resources that provide secrets, tips, tricks, strategies, and best practices to non-designers and designers alike.

Gloria Berthold Larkin is the President of TargetGov and the national Procurement Committee Co-Chair for Women Impacting Public Policy. She is an expert at government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development, GSA Schedules, proposal management and development, contract administration and federal contracting services.

The MP3 and Toolkit download is available at http://www.targetgov.com/, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-579-1346, for only $39.95.

About TargetGov:
TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development (GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, contract administration and expert federal contracting services. The parent company, MOA, provides corporate business development and marketing-related services including current customer analysis to determine profitability, client profiling, targeted prospect identification and list development, database, marketing plan and strategy development, graphic design, marketing communications and calendar development and execution (advertising, direct mail, fax, email, newsletters, postcards, brochures, etc.) Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit http://www.targetgov.com/

Bid No Bid Decision Process Teleconference Now Available for Download

TargetGov’s national teleconference, “Bid No Bid Decision Process,” is now available in an MP3 audio download. In addition to the MP3 audio file, customers will receive a 50+ page Toolkit, in PDF format, detailing one of the most important but least practiced steps to winning government contracts: using an informed bid-no bid decision process. This MP3 will teach business owners and executives the 20 steps required for a solid bid no-bid decision process, who should be involved, what a decision timeline looks like, and critical questions.

Other topic covered include: reasons not to bid on a contract, government bid win probabilities, bid-no bid decision questions, and post-award recommendations. The accompanying toolkit also includes a bid-no bid timeline as well as a sample opportunity and relationship building process, plus much more.

“This teleconference is perfect for all those involved in proposals and bids,” said Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov, adding, “a business is not likely to win a government bid by submitting a blind bid with little or no knowledge of or exposure to the client. This teleconference helps teach the process necessary to focus on the bids a company is most likely to win. This information can save any business hundreds of hours of wasted effort.”

The expert speaker of this teleconference is Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov and national Procurement Committee Co-Chair for Women Impacting Public Policy. She is an expert at government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development, GSA Schedules, proposal management and development, contract administration and federal contracting services.

The MP3 and Toolkit download is available at www.targetgov.com, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-579-1346, for only $39.95.

About TargetGov:
TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development (GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, contract administration and expert federal contracting services. The parent company, MOA, provides corporate business development and marketing-related services including current customer analysis to determine profitability, client profiling, targeted prospect identification and list development, database, marketing plan and strategy development, graphic design, marketing communications and calendar development and execution (advertising, direct mail, fax, email, newsletters, postcards, brochures, etc.) Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit www.TargetGov.com

How To Create a Powerful Capability Statement Teleconference Now Available for Download

TargetGov’s national teleconference, “How to Create a Powerful Capability Statement,” is now available in an MP3 audio download. In addition to the MP3 audio file, customers will receive a 63 page Toolkit, in PDF format, detailing a sample Capability Statement, specific instructions to craft a business’s best development tool, and over 200 contacts within federal agencies to which to send it. A well done Capability Statement will open doors to great business opportunities, while a poorly done Capability Statement will slam the door shut before a business can reach square one. This teleconference will ensure that doors are always open for business.

Topics covered include: the five key mistakes contractors make in their Capability Statement, the key features of a great Capability Statement, how to create a Capability Statement that can be used for more than one agency or prime contractor, the differences between Core Competencies and Differentiators, the ideal length of a Capability Statement, and the difference between a Capability Statement and a Capability Brief, and when to use each.

“The ideas given on setting up the core competency section were the most useful for us. They were ones that we had overlooked… The template was very helpful and, obviously, all the contacts listed are wonderful!” said C. Hashim, President of a government contracting firm. D. Harvey, business development director at a services provider added, “the teleconference was very helpful...With the guidance [the teleconference] gave and [now] having the handbook will give me the help that I need to put it together. I also saw what we need to work on to give us an “edge” that we so desperately need.”

The expert speaker of this teleconference is Gloria Berthold Larkin, President of TargetGov and national Procurement Committee Co-Chair for Women Impacting Public Policy. She is an expert at government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development, GSA Schedules, proposal management and development, contract administration and federal contracting services.

“A Capability Statement is now a required tool in order to do business with government agencies. Those firms that create targeted Capability Statements will be much more successful that those who have poor ones. This teleconference will make sure that a business makes a powerful first impression,” said Gloria Berthold Larkin.

The MP3 and Toolkit download is available at www.targetgov.com, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-579-1346, for only $39.95.

About TargetGov:TargetGov focuses on government procurement and related business development and marketing services including minority certification services, contract development (GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, contract administration and expert federal contracting services. The parent company, MOA, provides corporate business development and marketing-related services including current customer analysis to determine profitability, client profiling, targeted prospect identification and list development, database, marketing plan and strategy development, graphic design, marketing communications and calendar development and execution (advertising, direct mail, fax, email, newsletters, postcards, brochures, etc.) Gloria Berthold Larkin is the author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.” Visit www.TargetGov.com

July 2009 I.1.

-Greetings!

July 1. What does this date mean to you?It can begin the second half of the year, six more months to go in 2009. Ho hum, time to go on vacation.

Or, if you are in government contracting business, you know you just entered the busiest, richest time of year, the last fiscal quarter. The rush is on because you know the federal fiscal year ends September 30, not Dec 31.

More business gets done in the next three months in federal contracting than any other time during the entire year! Informed business people are reaping the benefits of all their hard work in the next three months. This is the use-it-or-lose-it process at work.

This is the true test of your marketing strategy, because, remember, people do business with people they know and trust. Do the right people know you and your company? We can help.

We can help you:
- Be informed.
- Be strategic.
- Be selective.
- Work smart.
- Be a winner!

And by the way, if you do lose, make sure to request a debriefing and find out why you lost so that you can fix the issue, apply the improvements and win the next time. We can help with that too. Call us.

Here's to your success!

SBA ARC Loan Program

If your small business is stressed meeting expenses during these economic times, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a new loan program designed just for you. SBA's America's Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability. Each small business is limited to one ARC loan.

Click here for more information

An Entrepreneurial Silver Lining

A new study has confirmed it. A close look at our entrepreneurial history reveals that entrepreneurship is an engine for job creation and economic growth even during difficult economic times. This new study by the Kauffman Foundation suggests that policies that support entrepreneurship also support recovery. It also reveals that job creation from startup companies tends to be less volatile and sensitive to downturns when compared to the overall economy. ©2009 The Public Forum Institute
Click here for the full story

Best Advice

Would you like to hear the best advice Tiger Woods ever received? How about Jim Sinegal, Co-founder and CEO, Costco Wholesale Or Mort Zuckerman Chairman, Boston Properties; chairman, editor-in-chief, U.S. News and World Report?

Thanks to Fortune and CNN Money for the interesting peaks into the psyches of some very successful people.

Click here for the full story.

Gearing Up For Fiscal Year End Sales

Date: Thursday July 16, 2009
Time: 1PM to 2.00PM ET
Location: your phone!

Do you spend the time complaining about slow sales or capturing the left-over funds that the federal agencies have to spend before Sept 30?

Successful contractors know that now is one of the best times of the year to build government business. If you want to increase your end-of-summer revenues by getting a slice of this business, attend this information-packed teleconference. Learn the strategies and tactics that WORK!

Click here for details

Stay Tuned: Golf Class Coming Up!

I just attended a great golf class that covered all the rules and etiquette needed for a non or new business golfer to feel comfortable playing in tournaments, fund raisers and with clients. We also had a full lesson with the course pro covering swings, stance, irons and woods, putting and short and long games.

I am looking into sponsoring a class for all interested TargetGov readers. If you are interested in attending this golf for business-people hands on training, call or email us to hold a space for you. More details will be posted in the next newsletter.

BUYER BEWARE

Like me, you may have recently received a mailed "invitation" to attend yet another "workshop" that is called "How to Win U.S. Government Contracts for Your Business." Enclosed in this "invitation" are tickets with a "value" of $375 clearly indicated. There is a compelling message about recession, tight credit and safeguarding your future. They also state you'll have "little to no marketing expenses and higher profit margin." These people are very good at writing misleading ad copy, and beware, because this "workshop" is nothing but a pitch to sell you more services.

A different organization that hides behind a "non-profit" status as a supposedly national organization representing government contractors is nothing more that a vehicle to sell questionable products. Please, before you spend a dime on any products from any "non-proft association" check to see if you can actually find the board of directors or other leadership that any legitimate non-profit will be happy to disclose. Another huge red flag is If they do not have a real mailing address and phone number where a real person answers.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!

You know what organizations I mean-- you can always Google them by name and also check for complaints at ripoffreport.com and other sites.

Redefine failure

Michael Jordan once said: "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Society may have brought you up to fear failure. But if you can rethink failure not as something to fear but rather useful feedback it can improve your life immensely. A failure may hurt for a while but then you can learn one or many lessons from it. And then you try again. And again. And failure becomes less and less frightening. All successful people have failed many, many times. But they know that there are still a lot of great new people and opportunities out there. So they try again. And sooner or later they have success once again.

Click here to view Source

GSA may phase out GWAC programs

Agency might also merge GWACs into the schedules programThe era of governmentwide acquisition contracts might be coming to a close at the General Services Administration.Washington Technology has an infomative article on this development, which, if it actually happens, will impact every single successful government contractor's business development strategies.

Click here for more details

Government Contracting … Is It for You?

On July 7, the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce’s (WAACCC) Small Business Council will host its third in a series of seminars geared at gleaning hands-on information. The guest speaker will be Gloria Berthold Larkin of TargetGov, who will be discussing the ins and outs of government contracting.

The meeting will be held at Madison Interiors at 8 a.m. A continental breakfast will be provided. To register, visit www.westcountychamber.org or call the WAACCC at 410-672-3422. Cost to attend is $10 for chamber members in advance, $15 for non-members and at the door.

June 2009 I.2.

-Greetings!

You know my focus is business growth. In every newsletter, I usually pontificate on a related issue. This morning is a bit different.

I had an epiphany over the weekend. I was grocery shopping and as I turned a corner I came within a hair of being run over by a boy riding his bike. In a grocery store, with his mother pushing a cart behind him. When I asked the mom to tell her son to take the bike outside because it was dangerous, her blank stare in response was unsettling.

How can the mom not know, her son not know, how can people who lie, steal, cheat, kill, maim, not know? The epiphany: Our problems have a common root cause: instead of being strengthened in every generation, our ethical foundation is crumbling.

Webster says "ethic" is: "the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation or a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values" And "moral" is: "of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior"

I found it intriguing (and refreshing) that there is not a mention of religion in these definitions. That tells me that perhaps one can be moral and ethical while practicing any religion. What a concept! We have begun to rely too much on political laws to tell us right from wrong, when in fact we should know in our gut when something is right or wrong.

What do you think of these as starting guidelines (that anyone can teach)?

--Pre-school ethics: be nice; don't hit
--Kindergarten ethics: share; don't bite
--Grade school ethics: be caring; don't lie
--Middle school ethics: be respectful; don't steal
--High school ethics: give of yourself; don't hurt or kill
--College ethics: protect those who are weaker; don't waste
--Grad school ethics: be responsible for your legacy; don't manipulate the system
--Business ethics: be honest; don't steal
--Parental ethics: feed, clothe, discipline & love your children; don't abuse

Can it work? Can we actually change the pendulum's swing by simply acting on what we already know is right and wrong? More laws won't do it for us. We will do it by simply, doing it.

Here's to our ethical success!

Gearing Up For Fiscal Year End Sales

Date: Thursday July 16, 2009
Time: 1PM to 2.00PM ET
Location: your phone!

Do you spend the time complaining about slow sales or capturing the left-over funds that the federal agencies have to spend before Sept 30?
Successful contractors know that now is one of the best times of the year to build government business. If you want to increase your end-of-summer revenues by getting a slice of this business, attend this information-packed teleconference. Learn the strategies and tactics that WORK!

Click here for details

Government Withholding Relief Coalition Update

One Year Delay of Implementation of Three Percent Withholding on Government Contractors.

The proposal would delay for one year the implementation of the provision enacted in 2005 that would require three percent withholding on payments made by government entities after December 31, 2010.

This proposal is estimated to cost $291 million over ten years.

Click here to read more from Chris Braddock of the US Chamber of Commerce

Still wondering if it’s worth the hassle to obtain a federal security clearance?

The Corridor Inc magazine states:

“BRAC-affected agencies and contractors have already initiated recruiting efforts to find workers in Maryland and they’re willing to pay a premium for individuals with security clearances.

For example, a 26-year-old electrical engineer with three years experience and a security clearance can get “a $25,000 salary bump” over a comparable engineer without a clearance, said retired Brigadier General Mike Hayes, director of DBED’s Office of Military and Federal Affairs.”

To find out more about Security Clearances for yourself and you company, sign up today to attend the Security Clearance Seminar at The Center for Business and Technology in Howard County.

Click here for more information. Space is limited to the first 30 registrants.

WIPP News: IRS Issued Proposed Rule Implementing 3% Tax Withholding for Contractor Goods and Services

WIPP is a part of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition. The coalition just sent a memo stating that:

Government Withholding Relief Coalition

The IRS has issued their proposed rule implementing the 3% Tax Withholding. It will appear in the Federal Register tomorrow, December 5th. We will discuss this at the meeting on December 16th as well.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28789.pdf

IRS PROPOSES RULES ON WITHHOLDING UNDER TAX CODE SECTION 3402(T)

The Internal Revenue Service Dec. 4 issued proposed rules (REG-158747-06) relating to withholding under tax code Section 3402(t).

IRS said the proposed regulations reflect changes in the law made by the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (Pub. L. No. 109-222) that require federal, state, and local government entities to withhold income tax when making payments to persons providing property or services. The proposed regulations provide guidance to assist the government entitiesin complying with Section 3402(t), IRS said.

The regulations, which will appear in the Dec. 5 Federal Register, also provide certain guidance to persons receiving payments for property or services from government entities, IRS said.

ODNI Announces New Security Policy for Information Systems

A groundbreaking new policy from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence changes how the intelligence community and, by influence, the entire federal government will build, validate and approve information technology systems. The policy requires common security controls and risk-management procedures – a unified approach to enhance collaboration.

Click here for the entire article

Have you won a government contract?

Send your announcement with the following information included and we’ll consider it for the Winning Contracts column for Corridor Inc.

Major Wins
Winning Contracts Presented by



Click here to see a recent column on the Corridor site.

Please include this information:
1. Your company name
2. Your location (City, State)
3. Your contact information (name, email, phone)
4. What agency awarded the contract
5. The contract amount
6. What services or products you are providing
7. Any other appropriate information

Please send the information to info@targetgov.com

Very Important Message to ALL Vendors from GOVPRO.com

Excerpt: Vendors, don't forget: The federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30! by Michael Keating, GOVPRO.com

"...It's right around the corner. The federal government's fiscal year 2008 ends Sept. 30, and all 1,300 federal agencies will be working to spend down their budgets before the witching hour..."

Click here for the entire article

SBA Further Increases Small Business Size Standards Due to Inflation

This rule increases the nonmanufacturer anchor size standard from $6.5 million to $7.0 million. This rule also increases the size standard for Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512) from $23 million to $25 million. Click here for more info on this latest increase.

National Minority Enterprise Development Week

TargetGov to Exhibit

September 4, 2008
Omni Shorehame Hotel
Washington D.C.

The National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference, September 3-5, 2008, is the largest federally sponsored Conference held on behalf of minority entrepreneurs and business enterprises. Tools, strategies and resources for developing global and strategic partnerships, accessing capital through partnerships and becoming an active player in global trade will be made available to participants.

Make sure to stop by the TargetGov booth

Click here for details

TUNE IN TO CHANNEL 98

If you are located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland and want to see a television show regarding BRAC business opportunities, please tune in!

Click here for airing times and topics

Upcoming Speaking Event

The 20th Public Procurement Forum
Hampton, Virginia

"Enhancing the outcome of your supplier development programs"

Gloria's sessions are designed to help buyers better understand the risks and rewards suppliers face when doing business with government so you can enhance the outcome of your supplier development programs.

Click here for more information

Prompt Payment Policy Directive

“Kudos to Maryland for instuting a prompt payment directive. Too bad we needed a directive to make sure our small businesses get paid for doing work on state contracts.” ~ Gloria

August 4, 2008

RE: Prompt Payment Policy Directive Issued by Governor O'Malley

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to inform you that Governor O'Malley, through the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA), has issued a Prompt Payment Directive to ensure timely payment for all subcontractors, including small and minority business enterprises who participate on State projects.

What Does This Mean for Small and Minority Businesses? Untimely payment of subcontractors is a re-occurring concern for small and minority businesses. As small business owners, minority business leaders, legislators, and others who are on the front lines advocating for fair treatment of small and minority firms, you know all too well the impact payment disputes have on small businesses, especially MBEs. Payment disputes top the list of the most frequent complaints GOMA receives from MBEs who work as tier two and three subcontractors on State projects.

This Prompt Payment Directive provides specific remedies for Cabinet Level Agencies that, effective immediately, are authorized to include provisions in solicitations and contract documents that sets forth guidelines requiring prime contractors to remit timely payment to subcontractors for work performed. This directive also empowers agencies to ensure that subcontractors listed on contract participation schedules are receiving compensation and it requires agencies to notify GOMA of all subcontractor payment complaints. State Procurement Law currently contains a prompt payment requirement that applies to construction related contracts. This directive applies to all other State procurement contracts in excess of $25,000 thereby effectively giving prompt payment protection to all State contracts and procurements.

To assist small and minority businesses who encounter prompt payment issues when working on State contracts, GOMA has developed an informational Guide to Prompt Payment for Non-Construction Subcontractors. To view or download a copy, click here. We invite and encourage all parties who serve small and minority firms, to share this information with their members and constituents.

Efforts such as this "prompt payment" policy directive are just one example of the O'Malley-Brown Administration's progress towards ensuring greater inclusion and fair treatment for Maryland's small and minority businesses. Maryland's small and minority business laws and support of policy initiatives like "prompt payment" are unprecedented anywhere else in the country. It is our expectation that this will bring much needed relief to small and minority firms who contribute to the base for Maryland's middle class and help sustain our economy.

The O'Malley-Brown Administration continues to strengthen its commitment to the success of Maryland's small and minority businesses; as well as promoting inclusion initiatives that will enhance the vision of One Maryland.

Sincerely,

Luwanda W. Jenkins, Special Secretary
Governor's Office of Minority Affairs

US Innovation is Strong – with Federal Help

Today’s innovation is not your father’s—or your grandfather’s---innovation. The way that new products, services, and technologies emerge has changed. A new study sponsored by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation analyzes decades of data with interesting results. One major finding is that the role of Federal investments in supporting innovations has grown rapidly.

Click here for more of the report’s interesting results.

$162 Billion War Appropriations Bill Signed

President Bush on Monday signed legislation to pay for the war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of his presidency and beyond, hailing the $162 billion plan as a rare product of bipartisan cooperation...The legislation will bring to more than $650 billion the amount Congress has provided for the Iraq war since it began more than five years ago...

Click here to read the entire article

Is Your Firm A Gazelle?

New SBA Office of Advocacy-sponsored research offers compelling evidence in support of findings that should come as no surprise: high-growth gazelle firms matter. The research uses a new data set developed by the Corporate Research Board to get a sense of what high-impact firms look like and how they affect the economy. The study reviews the period between 1994 and 2006, and, in the last time frame of 2002-2006, it identifies more than 376,000 high impact firms... There’s a reason why these companies are called “high impact.”

Click here to read the entire article

© 2008 The Public Forum Institute and the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship

Have you heard?

Good News for Small Business and the DoD
"Notice of reinstitution of small business set-asides under the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program."

Click here for more details

IRS Gas Mileage Reimbursement Going Up
"The IRS announced on Tuesday that beginning July 1, the standard rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business purposes will be increased to...the highest rate ever"

Click here to read more

House appropriators approve DHS spending bill
"The House Appropriations Committee Tuesday approved an fiscal 2009 spending bill for the Homeland Security Department, after voting on a handful of Republican amendments...$2.3 billion more than President Bush requested."

Click here for more details

Teaming for Growth: Diversity Procurement Fair

The Diversity Fair is an opportunity to participate in a forum for regional companies and professionals, Tuesday, June 24, 2008, to explore the unique and lucrative business of Government Prime and Subcontracting. The day will feature strategic networking opportunities and several educational workshops where TargetGov will present: "New Strategies and Tactics to Win Government Contracts"

Click here for more information on the conference and how to register

Certifications: Learn the Basics and the Crucial Next Steps

Do you qualify for certifications? Attend the Certifications: Learn the Basics and the Crucial Next Steps conference, Thursday, July 17, 2008, sponsored by TargetGov and the Center for Business and Technology Development. This conference is specifically designed to teach the small business owner to use certification as a tool to open the door to increased business opportunities.

Learn to tap into over $15 billion in federal contracts set aside for companies meeting Minority, Disadvantaged and other certifications.

Click here for more information

Diversity Procurement Conference

Teaming for Growth is a Diversity Procurement Fair that you won’t want to miss. The Fair will be held on June 24th, 2008 at the Engineer’s Club beautiful Garrett Jacobs Mansion in the historic Mt. Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore City. The purpose of the fair is to create a forum for regional companies and professionals to explore the unique and lucrative business of Government Prime and Subcontracting. The day will feature; scheduled one-on-one matching sessions with purchasing and procurement officers from Government Agencies and Prime Contractors who have small and diversity business goals. It will also include several educational workshops and strategic networking opportunities.

Click here for more information about the conference

We've Got Good News and...

'Churn' Good for Growth and Productivity

"Job losses and business failures are certainly distressing to the individual... the churning process replaces lower productivity businesses with new, more productive ones, thereby increasing productivity and raising living standards."

Click here to learn more

Wells Fargo/Gallup: Small Business Confidence at Record Lows

"confidence has been dropping for more than a year...A number of factors are scaring small business owners--especially concerns about future cash flow."

© 2008 The Public Forum Institute and the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship

Click here to learn more

340 out of 351 Contractors Win Navy IDIQ

The U.S. Navy is awarding indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts to 340 contractors that will provide for their competition for service requirements solicited by Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Strategic Systems Programs, Office of Naval Research, Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the United States Marine Corps.

Click here for the entire listing

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS ETHICS GUIDANCE NOW AVAILABLE

"Under new Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 3.10 that took effect last December, all government contractors are now required to establish ethics programs suitable to the size of the company and the nature of their federal contracting to help prevent fraud and drive ethical conduct," said Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG) President, Carole Stern Switzer. "But like similar regulations imposed on other industries and activities, these regulations don't tell contractors how best to comply.” Click here for more details.

Clean Contracting Act

Congressman Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Government Reform Committee, which has jurisdiction over government contracting, introduced a wide ranging contracting amendment last week called the “Clean Contracting Act” that will affect ALL government contractors.

A sampling of the changes include:

TITLE XLI—ENHANCED COMPETITION
Sec. 4101. Minimizing sole-source contracts.
Sec. 4102. Limitation on length of certain noncompetitive contracts.

TITLE XLII—CURBING ABUSE-PRONE CONTRACTS
Sec. 4201. Regulations to minimize the inappropriate use of cost-reimbursement contracts.
Sec. 4202. Preventing abuse of interagency contracts.
Sec. 4203. Prohibitions on the use of lead systems integrators.

Additional acquisition, fraud and transparency topics are covered as well. Click here for the full text.

I am looking for feedback from contractors regarding the suggested changes. This amendment will be proposed as part of the DOD Authorization bill. Let me know what you think! Deadline for replies to me is June 13, 2008. Email me at info@targetgov.com. Of course, feel free to contact your Congressperson to let them know what you think of the bill as well!

WIPP announces 2008 Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship

Women Impacting Public Policy is pleased to announce the release of the application for the 2008 Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholoarship: this year’s application deadline is June 30th. The Scholarship, established in 2006 honoring Senator Dole as the WIPP Congressional Award Winner, is completing its first program year watching young women business owners grow and thrive in their community. It has been an exciting and educational process and we are eager to begin the process for the coming program year.

The scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and guidance from successful women business owners – as well as have a chance to receive a cash award to help grow their business!

The Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship is a bi-partisan effort, established to recognize high potential young women business owners who are leaders in their community, with resources and guidance to excel their businesses and personal success.

Here are the qualifications to take advantage of this opportunity:

• At least 51% woman-owned
• Entrepreneur between the ages of 21-35
• U.S. Citizen
• Business 5 years old or less
• Revenue of $500, 000 or less for service industries OR $1milion or less for manufacturing industries
• The business has capacity to assume more debt
• Owner has a satisfactory personal credit history

Interested in supporting the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship?

WIPP also invites you to join us as a sponsor of this important effort. Sponsorship opportunities are available for as low as $50.00 and all sponsors will be recognized along with the program and at the 2008 WIPP Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Sponsorship of the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship sends a powerful message of women business owners helping women business owners.

If you or know someone who might be interested, click here for more details

Calling All Ant Fighters: Texas Needs You!

"If you open a computer, you would find a cluster of ants on the motherboard and all over. You'd get 3,000 or 4,000 ants inside, and they create arcs. They'll wipe out any computer."

Hoards of aggressive ants are damaging computers and other electronic equipment in Texas. The “crazy rasberry ant” has been named after Tom Rasberry, owner of Budget Pest Control in Pearland, Texas. Exterminators have found it nearly impossible to kill the ants. Yes, you can kill some of them, at least the first wave, maybe. However, there are so many more ants coming behind them, that the insecticide becomes ineffective. Even NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is threatened by these tiny creatures.

For more details go to: http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm

Are the DHS Small Business Figures Accurate?

In 2007, the Homeland Security Department was one of the few federal agencies to state that they met each of the government's small business contracting goals.

House lawmakers now have suggested those figures may have been boosted by creative double counting, in which small firms that fall into more than one socio-economic category are counted more than once for each contract they were awarded.

"DHS has met each of its federal contracting goals for small, minority, and disadvantaged businesses, but crediting a single procurement action to more than one contracting goal may create a misperception of the participation of small, minority and disadvantaged businesses." according to a report issued by the majority staff of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Click here to read full article

SBA increases size limits for small firm contracts

Dallas Business Journal

Kent Hoover Washington Bureau Chief

The U.S. Small Business Administration plans to increase the size limits on federal research contracts made to small companies through the Small Business Innovative Research program.

Eleven federal agencies with outside research budgets of $100 million or more are required to award at least 2.5 percent of this R&D spending to small businesses through the SBIR program, which was created in 1982.

The awards are granted in phases, with up to $100,000 available to test the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology, and $750,000 available for additional research and development and evaluation of the technology's commercial potential.

Click here to read the full article.

New Sessions for Government Contractors

TargetGov and the Center for Business and Technology Development are sponsoring two sessions
for government contractors.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Introduction to Government Contracting: Entering the Market

This workshop is designed for the novice and will provide an overview of how and what the government buys, registrations, certifications, purchase vehicles, the capability statement, marketing processes, and more.

time: 8:30am-12:00 noon

Advanced Government Contracting: Winning the Contract

The advanced session is designed for those already in the procurement arena and will include discussion of the federal purchase process, evaluating the various bid offers, analyzing opportunities for the best match, the prooposal and response process, strategies for securing the contract, contract management, and more.

time: 1:00-4:30pm

Preregistration is required. Cost: $129 each session, $229 for both sessions

Location:
The Center for Business and Technology Development
The Thomas Dorsey Building
9250 Bendix Road, North
Columbia, MD 21045

For more information and to register:
www.hceda.org/CBTD/busevents.aspx
Phone: 410-313-6550

Business Week’s Most Innovative Companies

The latest issue of Business Week contains its rankings of the world’s 25 most innovative companies. The list, developed in cooperation with the Boston Consulting Group, is based on surveys of more than 2500 leading corporate executives. Not surprisingly, Apple tops the list for the third straight year. Most respondents lauded Apple for its introduction of the iPhone which has, in only ten months, pushed Apple to #3 in the global smartphone market. Other innovative firms include (in rank order): Google, Toyota, General Electric, and Microsoft.

“The 25 Most Innovative Companies: Smart Ideas for Tough Times,” appears in the April 28, 2008 issue of Business Week.

© 2008 The Public Forum Institute and the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship www.publicforuminstitute.org/nde.

New National Innovation Foundation Proposed

A new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Brookings Institution suggests that a new National Innovation Foundation could do a better job of structuring key Federal agencies to support innovation. The study recommends that a newly created National Innovation Foundation serve as the Federal government’s primary support mechanism and point of contact for issues related to innovation. The report proposes three possible structures for a new NIF: housed within the Commerce Department; a publicly-sponsored corporation similar to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; and, as an independent federal agency like the National Science Foundation. Regardless of the final structure, the NIF would seek to:

Catalyze industry-university research partnerships through national sector research grants.
Expand regional innovation-promotion through state-level grants to fund activities like technology commercialization and entrepreneurial support.
Encourage technology adoption by assisting small and mid-sized firms in implementing best-practice processes and organizational forms that they do not currently use.
Support regional industry clusters with grants for cluster development.
Emphasize performance and accountability by measuring and researching innovation, productivity, and the value-added to firms from NIF assistance.
Champion innovation by promoting innovation policy within the federal government and serving as an expert resource on innovation to other agencies.

It is anticipated that legislation will soon be introduced in the Senate. This promises to kick-off a new round of discussion about how big a role the Federal government could or should play in unleashing America’s innovation capacity.

Download the April 2008 report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, Boosting Productivity, Innovation and Growth through a National Innovation Foundation, by Robert Atkinson and Howard Wial.

© 2008 The Public Forum Institute and the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship www.publicforuminstitute.org/nde.