This is a forum post by the user zexy
: The U.S. government is the world's largest purchaser of goods and services so it's no wonder that many small businesses aim to fatten their bottom lines by landing a lucrative federal contract.
At least 23 percent of federal agencies' spending must go to small firms. Women-owned businesses have landed a surprisingly small percentage of government contracts, currently receiving about 3.4 percent, or $11 billion, out of the $400 billion in contracts awarded annually. Congress mandated that women-owned firms should garner at least 5 percent, but that goal has never been met.
Lawmakers and the administration have been feuding for years over a strategy to help more women win more contracts from the federal government, but a new private-sector initiative is aiming to close the gap while the differences fester.
American Express OPEN partnered with public policy group Women Impacting Public Policy to launch the Give Me Five initiative last month.
The national program has been designed to educate women business owners on how to apply for and secure federal procurement opportunities.
"We want to help women realize that if they have a project or service they might be able to offer something to the federal government," said WIPP President and COO Barbara Kasoff. "In our research before launching Give Me Five, we found that many women thought that it was too complex or confusing to try and get a federal contract, and if they were interested they didn't know where to start...We want to demystify the process for them."
Phase one of the plan provides resources and information to make it easier for women to register at the Central Contractor Registration, a requirement to become eligible to apply for the contracts. The project then intends to teach women the next steps after they've been properly registered. It will offer webinars, teleconferences and a mentorship program to help navigate the process, American Express OPEN Vice President Marcy Shinder told the Small Business Blog.
The goal is to educate 100,000 women per year on federal contracting opportunities.
"Give Me 5 matches first-time federal contracting participants with experienced mentors to help them register their business on the Central Contractor Registry to gain eligibility to apply for federal contracts," Shinder said. OPEN and WIPP have coauthored the guide OPEN Book: Government Contracting. An online version of the book, which includes articles about each step of the process, tips for applying for federal contracts and case studies is available here [link to external website]
zexy...you have to be my sister or something.
There is another program for women or minority owned businesses titled 8a. All kinds of contracts are set aside for small businesses with this distinction. I work for a 8a company. Their revenues are through the roof. And the president and vice president are some of the most responsible, coolest, down to earth black folk you could ever work for (they treat me like a son). I'm preparing to do my own thing...and the wisdom that I can call on from these guys...I'm blessed to say the least. Crabs in a barrel my azz..that's all I have to say.
Hopefully you can remember the two IT jobs that I advertised during a forum topic not too long ago (we were supposed to be networking lady!). Those jobs are still open...folks sleeping on the type of company they could be working for.
atltx Flag post zexy...you have to be my sister or something.
There is another program for women or minority owned businesses titled 8a. All kinds of contracts are set aside for small businesses with this distinction. I work for a 8a company. Their revenues are through the roof. And the president and vice president are some of the most responsible, coolest, down to earth black folk you could ever work for (they treat me like a son). I'm preparing to do my own thing...and the wisdom that I can call on from these guys...I'm blessed to say the least. Crabs in a barrel my azz..that's all I have to say.
Hopefully you can remember the two IT jobs that I advertised during a forum topic not too long ago (we were supposed to be networking lady!). Those jobs are still open...folks sleeping on the type of company they could be working for.
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my company will be eligble for 8a certification next year.
i'm gonna email you my number. do me a favor and give me call tomorrow to discuss those positions...
as a side note before i go, think of how much power we got in this forum alone.
let's say we have a company called MTO Solution INC, just from garnering the little information i know of some of you, we could have a structure something along the lines of
CEO- CAT
CFO- SexyfFem, she does contracting so i know she's got to know about the far and the dfar and should be able to set up subcontracts
CIO- Nyindr, currently working in this capacity
Facilities Management- Siafu, currently doing logistics
got a ton of it folks got anlayst on her got ton of adm folks on here
Just think, based on the resouces here alone we could make something happen. isn't it a pity we can never come together on this such as this???
hmmmmmmmmm
