Procurement FAQ

What is the UNA-PTAC?

What can the UNA-PTAC do for me?

Is there any cost for UNA-PTAC services?

What does the government buy?

Does the government always award the contract to the low bidder?

Does the government pay on time?

Do I need to be on a GSA schedule in order to do business with the government?

Do I need to be certified in order to bid on government contracts?

What are the SBA's small business programs and where can I find additional information concerning these programs?

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What is CCR?

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How do I register in CCR?

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Does registering in the CCR market my company to the government?

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Are there web sites where I can see what the government is buying?

What is the UNA-PTAC?
The University of North Alabama Procurement Technical Assistance Center, funded by the University of North Alabama, the U.S. Department of Defense and the State of Alabama provides businesses with the marketing know-how and technical expertise they need to win and perform under federal, state and government contracts. The goal is to create and maintain jobs for businesses in Alabama.

What can the UNA-PTAC do for me?
We can help you decide if you can successfully compete in the government marketplace by assessing your capablilities and identifying potential buying agencies for your products and services. We provide an overview of the government contracting process and will help you identify government small business programs for which your company may qualify. Your company will be entered in an electronic bid matching system.

Is there any cost for UNA-PTAC services?
There is no charge for our basic services. There is a nominal fee for seminars and conferences. Periodically you are required to complete and return contract award information. You are also asked to complete a Client Satisfaction Survey.

What does the government buy?
Federal, state and local government agencies buy everything from toothpicks and cleaning services to spaceships and cancer research. The key is to determine which government agencies buy the products and/or services you sell and to develop a focused marketing strategy targeting those agencies. The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) can help you identify potential government customers and learn how to approach them. The UNA-PTAC provides free consulting to help businesses in northwest Alabama.

Does the government always award the contract to the low bidder?
No. In many instances the government awards the contract to the company that provides the best value, and this does not necessarily mean the company offering the lowest price. Other factors such as technical capability, past performance and quality may also be considered. The PTAC can help you interpret a request for bid or proposal so that you understand which evaluation factors will be used in determining who gets the contract.

Does the government pay on time?
Provided your shipping and invoicing documentation is correct and complete, you can expect a timely payment. In fact, federal agencies offer a prompt payment in return for a discounted price, and prefer to pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to speed up the payment process. Sometimes federal agencies also pay interest on the amount they owe you if they delay payment past the stated terms of the contract. The PTAC can help you with your paperwork and also help you register to be paid electronically.

Do I need to be on a GSA schedule in order to do business with the government?
No, although it may be beneficial to you in the long run. Think of the General Services Administration (GSA) as a buying activity for other federal government agencies. GSA awards "schedules" or long-term contracts to vendors who provide certain goods and services required by those agencies. Then, when the agencies have a need for a particular product or service, they can buy it from one of the vendors on the schedule for the pre-determined price. A vendor might get lots of business by being on a GSA schedule, but there are no guarantees. The PTAC can help you determine if your company is a good candidate to apply for a GSA schedule as well as help you through the application process.

Do I need to be certified in order to bid on government contracts?
No. Except for certain "set aside" contracts, the government does not require any type of certification for a company to be eligible to bid on contracts. However, being certified as a woman-owned, minority or otherwise disadvantaged business can level the playing field and provide more opportunities for you to bid. Since federal, state and local government agencies have different certification programs with different eligibility factors and application processes, you should first determine which agencies you want to do business with, and then look into the applicable certification programs. The PTAC can help you determine if you are eligible for certification and help you apply.

What are the SBA's small business programs and where can I find additional information concerning these programs?
Currently there are five social-economic programs managed by the SBA. They are:

1.	8(a) – The SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program - named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market. Visit SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program website.

2.	Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) – While the 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged firms, SDB certification strictly pertains to benefits in federal procurement. 8(a) firms automatically qualify for SDB certification. Visit the Small Disadvantaged Business Certification Program website.

3.	HUBZone - The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program was adopted to stimulate economic development and create jobs in urban and rural communities by providing federal contracting preferences to small businesses. These preferences go to small businesses that obtain HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) certification in part by employing staff that live in a HUBZone and maintain a "principal office" in one of these specially designated areas. [A principal office can be different from a company headquarters]. The program resulted from provisions contained in the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. Visit the HubZone website.

4.	Women Owned Business - America's women-owned businesses employ many people and contribute greatly to the economy, yet women continue to face unique obstacles in the world of business. The SBA is doing more than ever to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Visit the Online Women's Business Center website.

5.	Veteran and Service Disabled Veteran – Veterans and service-disabled veterans may qualify for certain preferences by providing proof of service and/or service disability classification. Visit the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program website.

The 8(a), SDB and HUBZone programs require companies to be certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

What is CCR?
CCR stands for Central Contractor Registration, which is an online database created by the Department of Defense to collect information about its vendors. The information collected in the CCR database is used in the procurement process and to facilitate electronic payment to vendors.

How do I register in CCR?
The recommended method is online at www.ccr.gov. You will need to have certain company information on hand, such as your DUNS number, before you begin the registration process. If you do not have the required numbers and codes, the PTAC can help you obtain them.

Does registering in the CCR market my company to the government?
Since the government has integrated PRO-Net, the SBA’s Procurement Marketing and Access Network database, now listed as DSBS (Dynamic Small Business Search), into the CCR database, registering your company in CCR will now also serve to market your company to government buyers. This change was effective on January 1, 2004. Previously, you had to register your company in PRO-Net for the marketing function, while the main purpose of registering in CCR was to make sure the government would be able to process an electronic payment to your company if you were awarded a contract. The integration of the two databases makes it easier for small businesses to do business with the government and makes it easier for government buyers to find qualified small business vendors. PTAC can help you with the CCR registration process.

Are there web sites where I can see what the government is buying?
Yes, the federal government posts many of its contracting opportunities online. The primary site is www.fedbizopps.gov, where all federal agencies are required to post contracting opportunities that are estimated to be valued over $25,000. Most agencies also post acquisition forecasts, which are lists of the purchases the agencies expect to make in the coming months, on their home pages. The Federal Acquisition Jumpstation provides links to most federal agency home pages.