APTAC 2017 Fall Conference Recap

Melanie Berman, APAC's program manager, along with Mary Love, procurement counselor, and Stacey McCullough, assistant director of the Community and Economic Development unit, attended this year’s Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) fall conference in Washington, D.C.

Along with 265 other PTAC professionals from across the country, Berman, Love and McCullough received training delivered by federal agency officials, private industry experts, and experienced PTAC colleagues. Participants received updates from the Department of the Navy, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), General Services Administration (GSA), and the Department of Energy (DoE) small business offices. Attendees learned critical changes to small business regulations and federal acquisition priorities, as well as gained a new understanding of topics ranging from accounting and cost proposals to cyber security.

Each year, APAC staff attend the fall and spring APTAC conferences. PTAC professionals from around the country have the opportunity to network and learn from one another in a supportive environment. While in the nation’s capital, APAC staff also had the opportunity to meet with Arkansas’ congressional staffers and share with them how Arkansas small businesses are greatly impacted by the Defense Logistic Agency's PTAC program. 

The PTAC Program was established to expand the number of businesses capable of participating in government contracts. The program is administered by DLA's Office of Small Business in cooperation with states, local governments and nonprofit organizations.

PTACs help businesses pursue and perform under contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and with government prime contractors. Most of the assistance PTACs provide is free.

PTAC support to businesses includes registration in systems such as the System for Award Management (SAM), identification of contract opportunities, help in understanding requirements and in preparing and submitting bids.

To learn more about the program, watch the following video: Connecting Business to Government