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.

TargetGov at Marketing Outsource Associates, Inc.
Phone: 1-866-579-1346
Contact: Gloria Berthold Larkin
Email: info@targetgov.com
Web site: www.targetgov.com
Address: 6044 Lawyers Hill Rd. Elkridge, MD 21075

This release was published on openPR.