What you are far less likely to be aware of is that much of this 400 billion dollar "pie" is awarded to small businesses.  Approximately 95% of government contracts fall between $2,500 and $100,000, and are reserved for small, small disadvantaged, small woman-owned, and small veteran-owned businesses.  And if you think that these contracts are just for "insiders" or established companies, consider that in 2005, there were 8,881 small businesses that received their first government contract valued at $25,000 or more.

The other thing that you probably do not know is that there is a lot of help out there for businesses that want to sell their goods and/or services to the government, in the form of the Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), a statewide agency with its headquarters located in Bangor at Eastern Maine Development Corporation. 

In 2006 PTAC helped Maine-based businesses obtain 1,492 small business prime contracts and 203 small business subcontracts, representing 123 million dollars and creating or retaining 2,397 jobs. 

In addition to federal contracts, PTAC assists businesses interested in marketing to state and local governments.  With PTAC's assistance, a business can explore opportunities as either a prime contractor or a subcontractor (which is where you work for a prime contractor - you don't need to have all the resources or skills for the entire project, just a portion of them, and you don't need to do as much paperwork; it's often a good way for small businesses to enter the government contracting arena).

So, what types of businesses are good candidates to get government contracts?  Well, PTAC is searching very hard for businesses in the following sectors, many if not all of which exist in Piscataquis County: manufacturing, construction, maintenance, electrical, sand and gravel, landscaping, engineering, architecture, land surveying, janitorial, design and advertising, and also businesses offering technologically innovative products or services.

PTAC assists businesses in identifying appropriate federal, state, and local agencies and developing targeted marketing strategies They visit facilities, evaluate prime and subcontract opportunities, and provide technical assistance from bid preparation to final payment.  Businesses can also sign up to be notified via e-mail about bid opportunities in the federal, state and local government markets that match their products or services.

PTAC can also assist qualified businesses in Piscataquis County and elsewhere in the state interested in obtaining certification in the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program.  HUBZone-certified small businesses can get preferential treatment when it comes to certain federal government contracting opportunities, which can include set-aside awards, sole source awards, and price preferences in full and open competition purchases.  (This is a program that PTAC would like to see more qualified Piscataquis County-based businesses participate in, as the entire County is considered a HUBZone.) 

PTAC also assists those entities looking to purchase goods and services, such as towns and hospitals, in bid dissemination.  They can make sure that bids reach a wider group of businesses and vendors (more than 800 in Maine) in a timely manner, resulting in a better value to a town or hospital, through increased competition.

And the best part is that PTAC provides these services at no cost to its clients. They can do this because they are a non-profit agency, funded primarily by the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency, with matching funds from the State of Maine and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.

If you are interested in learning more about whether your business can benefit from the services provided by the PTAC program, visit their website at www.maineptac.org, where you can also register to become a client. Or you may contact me at the PCEDC, or Pat Rice, Director of Maine PTAC at Eastern Maine Development Corporation (price@emdc.org or 207-942-6389).

About The Author: Thomas Kittredge is the Executive Director of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC), a countywide organization whose mission is to stimulate long-term sustainable economic development and growth throughout the region.  He can be reached at 1-800-539-0332 or tkittredge@emdc.org.