Lost and don’t have resources to spend on a professional mentor to get you going in government contracting? Get help!
There are many nonprofits and organizations built to provide free tools and spaces for people just like you. The difference between thriving and failing completely depends on you! Don’t let a lack of resources stop you from getting help.
Services offered are mostly FREE – Here is a list of places you can reach out to if you need training or other help.
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
The OSDBU can be found within government departments and promotes participation of small businesses within the agency. Their goal is to ensure that disadvantaged legitimate business owners are hired to the greatest extent feasible. OSDBU prepares small businesses to by providing staff training, finance counseling, outreach events, and also by finding additional resources to make sure you have a chance if the passion and commitment is there.
Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
PTAC is a domestic network created to help local businesses effectively compete in the industry. Many locations around the world, they provide free or low cost training – they also provide a bid matching service that sends relevant bid opportunities to your email inbox daily!
All PTAC representatives are experienced in government contracting and provide support including classes, seminars, counseling, procurement history, etc. Many physical locations also offer ‘bid matching’ services – frequently sending you notifications for matching local opportunities.
Learn more about your local PTAC and offerings below.
https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/ptac
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
SCORE is a nonprofit with hundreds of chapters across the USA and has free resources such as counseling for aspiring entrepreneurs since 1964.
Learn more about SCORE!
https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/score
Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
SBDC provide entrepreneurs with a variety of free consulting and low-cost services including business plan development, manufacturing assistance, financial packaging and lending assistance, market research and 8(a) program support.