Get a Piece of the Fed’s $520 Billion in Annual Contracts; NMBC Announces New Initiatives

Nov. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- Help is not just on-the-way for the tenacious business owner determined to secure a Federal government contract, it’s already in place, according to Walter Oden, manager of the Long Island branch of the Federal Government’s Small Business Administration (SBA).
   “The biggest myth is that there is no help to understand the process,” Oden advised attendees at the recent 9th Annual Women’s Business Leadership Conference, produced by the National Minority Business Council (www.nmbc.org)   “Begin by registering online at SBA’s Central Contractor Registration Web site (www.uscontractorregistration.com).  Read the Federal contract regulations about qualifications and compliance. Go to the Women-owned Small Business (WOSB) repository and upload your credentials to establish yourself as a business that is owned at least 51% by a woman who is actively-involved in the day-to-day running of the business.”  He cautioned the mostly-female audience of business owners not to be a shell for businesses really owned and operated by their husbands.
   Oden added that key to successfully securing contracts with any level of government is following the application instructions exactly.  
   On the heels of Oden’s recent presentation, NMBC (www.nmbc.org) has announced it will be hosting two new events for entrepreneurs on doing business overseas and on working with Citi Procurement Services, a division of Citigroup, Inc.  On Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 3rd, NMBC will host its Winter Entrepreneurship Boot Camp on “Building Revenue through International Trade.”  
   On Thursday, December 8th, from 12 Noon to 2:00 PM, NMBC will be holding one of its regularly-scheduled procurement luncheons featuring I. Javette Hines, Esq., senior vice president of Citi Supplier Diversity and Sustainability, Citi Procurement Services, a division of Citigroup, Inc.  Both events will be hosted by BNY Mellon Bank in lower Manhattan.
   “Providing women, minority and Veteran-owned businesses with easier access to government contracts but to procurement opportunities with major publicly-traded companies is a primary focus of the National Minority Business Council (www.nmbc.org),” explained John F. Robinson, President and CEO of the not-for-profit membership organization based in New York City.  “For nearly 40-years we have been looking out for these business categories to make sure that they get a fair and equal shot at securing lucrative contracts, many of which are funded by taxpayer dollars.”  
   Oden, formerly a senior level executive in sales with both MTV and Black Entertainment Network, prior to his appointment with the SBA, further advised Women’s Business Conference attendees to register their business status on ORCA, the Federal government’s Online Representations and Certifications Application process.  “Accurately representing your status on ORCA is an essential step in identifying appropriate contracting opportunities for a company’s or individual’s expertise.”
   Currently there is no repository of common information about qualified businesses shared by all levels of government, although Oden said “there is a concerted effort to develop reciprocity of information.  “Once you become certified with one government agency you could easily get certified with another,” Oden asserted.  But “be prepared to fund your work for the government for at least 90-days,” warned a conference attendees who is a veteran recipient of government contracts, a reality check on the government’s bureaucracy and its own cash-flow issues.
   To register for the upcoming NMBC workshops and to learn more about how to apply for and secure government contracts, contact NMBC headquarters at 212-693-5050.

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The National Minority Business Council, Inc. (NMBC), a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation, was founded in December 1972. The primary purpose of the organization is to enhance the success and profitability of the small business community through the provision of high-quality services, programs, advocacy and networking support. The secondary purpose is to act as an information clearinghouse for women (MWBE), minority and veteran-owned business enterprises.