Commerce Corp. hosts workshops on government contracting

THE R.I. COMMERCE CORPORATION'S Procurement Technical Assistance Center has announced its 2014 schedule of group training sessions and workshops to help Rhode Island businesses sell their products to federal, state and local government contracting agencies. The events will be held in coordination with the Small Business Administration's Rhode Island District Office.
THE R.I. COMMERCE CORPORATION'S Procurement Technical Assistance Center has announced its 2014 schedule of group training sessions and workshops to help Rhode Island businesses sell their products to federal, state and local government contracting agencies. The events will be held in coordination with the Small Business Administration's Rhode Island District Office.

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Commerce Corporation and the U.S. Small Business Administration will hold a series of workshops designed to help Rhode Island businesses navigate the process of contracting with federal, state and local government agencies.

Sponsored by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the R.I. Commerce Corporation’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center offers one-on-one counseling sessions and monthly group training to maximize the number of Rhode Island companies winning government contracts by helping these businesses sell their products in the government marketplace. Topics range from networking and targeted matchmaking events to assistance in identifying bid opportunities and post-award performance and compliance.

Marcel A. Valois, executive director of the R.I. Commerce Corporation, said in a release that the center’s active client base includes more than 400 local companies and accounts for than $200 million in government contract value annually.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center’s services, including the 2014 training and workshop sessions, are free for any existing company with an active presence in Rhode Island and at least two years of commercial experience.

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“We must do all we can to help Rhode Island small businesses get their fair share of government contracts,” said Mark S. Hayward, director of the SBA Rhode Island District Office. “The ongoing partnership between the SBA and the R.I. Procurement Technical Assistance Center will help the small business community continue to receive the training and assistance they need to succeed in the government contracting arena.”

The next procurement workshops will be held Tuesday, March 11, and Thursday, March 27. The first workshop, “Preparing for a Matchmaker and Developing Your Capabilities Statement,” will address how to get the most from short meetings with government representatives at matchmaker or outreach events.

The second event, “Government Market Research – Find Your Government Customers,” will focus on how to narrow down the list of contract-issuing government agencies to the customers most likely to purchase a specific company’s product.

Both sessions will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the R.I. Commerce Corporation offices at 315 Iron Horse Way in Providence.

To register, visit www.riptac.org. For more information, contact the R.I. Procurement Technical Assistance Center by email at ptac@commerceri.com or by phone at (401) 278-9173.

For a complete list of upcoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center events, visit www.commerceri.com.

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