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FEATURE

Governor's Office of Economic Development Hosts Second-Annual Procurement Symposium

The U.S. Government is likely the single largest consumer of goods and services in the world, and odds are, if your company provides a product or service, the government has a potential buyer for it.

Garnering more government contracting dollars for Utah companies is the objective of Utah's second-annual Procurement Symposium, hosted by GOED this October 18 in the South Towne Expo Center (9575 S. State Street, Sandy). Utah companies interested in government contracting opportunities should plan to attend the symposium, which runs from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fred Lange, director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) in the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), says large and small Utah businesses will have the opportunity to meet senior officials from Air Force and Army purchasing, Veterans Affairs, State purchasing and local government purchasing offices. Small businesses are especially encouraged to attend the symposium because many federal contracts require that large prime contractors outsource a portion of the work to small businesses, and the state is becoming very proactive in working with large contractors to develop mentoring or teaming relationships with small Utah businesses.

The symposium will feature a luncheon address by GOED Executive Director Jason Perry, while breakout sessions and panel discussions will teach Utah companies the processes, pitfalls and successes that are possible via government contracting. Breakout session topics include:

• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
• Benefits of a GSA Schedule and How to Get One
• The Advantages of Being a “Disadvantaged Business!” (8(a), HUBZone, Veteran Owned, Woman Owned Bid Proposals 101)
• ISO 9001 vs. ISO 9100
• Bid Proposals 101/Understanding FAR
• State Procurement
• Strategic Planning Part A
• Strategic Planning Part B
• Government Contracting: What Works, What Doesn't (Panel Discussion)
• "I Was Awarded the Contract, Now I Need Financing to Make it Work - Help!"
• Small Business Suppliers/Small Business Subcontracting Opportunities!
• How to Market to the Department of Defense (DOD)
• International Procurement Opportunities

Click here for complete descriptions of the Sponsor exhibits. Attendees can register for the symposium online or email their registration information to PTAC@utah.gov. For more information call Myrna Hill, (801) 538-8775.

Getting in the Contracting Game

Every year the federal government purchases billions of dollars worth of purchasing everything from weapons systems and information technology to uniforms and custodial work. State and local governments also spend millions of dollars purchasing goods and services each year. Are Utah companies getting their share of those contracting dollars?

Lange says there are billions of dollars in contracts issued each year for which Utah businesses could compete. In total, Utah prime and subcontracting companies are currently selling $1.9 billion per year in government and military contracts, but Lange says the potential is there to add in excess of $3 billion more. Last year Utah small businesses garnered well over $50 million in government contracts, which equates to approximately 2,000 new or retained jobs. “But we think we can do a lot better than that,” Lange says. Getting in the government contracting game requires four steps and the PTAC program is designed to help Utah companies through each step:

1. Obtain a DUNS number.
2. Register on CCR.gov—a prerequisite to doing business with the federal government.
3. Use GOED's proprietary software to find contracting opportunities—PTAC will help you define your business services with key words that the software uses to match what you do with available contracting opportunities. Once set up, you can view bidding opportunities via the Internet.
4. Submit your bids.

GOED operates nine regional PTAC offices at various locations around the state and small businesses are invited to contact any of them for assistance. “Our help is free, it's quick, and it's to the point,” says Lange.

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IN THE NEWS

Economic Development Headlines from the Past Week

New industrial park could boast as many as five million square feet

- A partnership between Chicago-based real estate investment trust First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. and the California State Teachers Retirement System has acquired 150 acres of raw ground in the Salt Lake Valley where it plans to develop an industrial park that eventually could house as much as five million square feet of buildings. (Enterprise)

Ground broken for 250-acre industrial park at Daybreak

-  Kennecott Land has broken ground on an 250-acre industrial park called Daybreak Commerce Park in South Jordan that will have 600,000 square feet of industrial space, (Enterprise)

Wasatch Front affordable housing available, but dwindling and expected to continue to do so

- Unprecedented growth in the Utah real estate market has left buyers looking for affordable housing with ever-diminishing options. (Enterprise)

New JCPenney complex adds to Riverdale lure as a retail mecca

- Next month, The Boyer Co. will open a 202,000-square-foot shopping mall at 550 W. Riverdale Road, in an area that already is heavily populated with box stores and major retail outlets. JCPenney will be the anchor store in the new complex that will feature at least 11 retail stores and restaurants. (Standard-Examiner)

Incentives lure insulation firm to Nephi in '08

- Thursday, the North Logan mayor and city administrator asked the Cache County Board of Education to turn over a portion of property tax revenue to create an economic district the city believes will pay off with more dollars for the district in the long run. (Herald-Journal)

Sugar House plans unveiled

-  Two companies that plan to redevelop Sugar House's beloved Granite Block unveiled their plans Wednesday to transform aging warehouses and storefronts into a mixed-use development much like The Gateway shopping center in downtown Salt Lake City. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Council rejects a moratorium on Sugar House demolitions

- (Morning News)

Layton industrial research park promising

- Over the next year, Layton residents should expect to see a transformation of 500 acres of open land into a thriving industrial and business park. (Morning News)

Economist's book offers rosy outlook

- Economist Jeff Thredgold is a Zions Bank consultant and well-known authority on the Utah and national economy. He has written a new book, EconAmerica: Why the American Economy is Alive and Well . . . and What That Means to Your Wallet. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Tourism board banks on golf

- If skiing is a big promoter of Utah tourism, why not golf? State tourism officials have recognized that golf outings could have the same potential as ski trips to attract out-of-staters to spend their recreational dollars in Utah. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Utah's Economy Attracts Undocumented Immigrants

- Immigration reform may have reached a stalemate in congress, but Minutemen and undocumented workers in Utah can agree on one thing: The lack of economic opportunity abroad is the No. 1 reason people illegally cross the border to work in the Beehive State. (KCPW)

$7M for airport land buy granted

- The city has received a new $7 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for its airport, which will be earmarked for land purchases. (Spectrum)

Master plan receiving facelift

- Cedar City's master plan has remained untouched for 13 years. And, although discussion has been under way since January, the process to update the plan is now accelerating. (Spectrum)

East-West Connector route is sounding good to Lehi

- While Utah's Department of Transportation and the city of Lehi remain at odds over plans to build the Mountain View Corridor, a new road has both entities ready to cooperate. (Morning News)

Fasttrac Program in Davis County Paves the Way for Business Success

- Entrepreneurs in Davis County have a new path to direct them on the road to business success. The Fasttrac program, a series of workshops and classes, provides new business owners the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the marketplace today. (Utah Business Magazine)

Utah's Booming Economy Shelters Local Real Estate Market

- Office space at a premium, a strong housing market and new national retailers continuing to see Utah as a viable market—all these are signs that the Beehive State's real estate scene remains strong, despite the softening of this sector nationally. (Utah Business Magazine)
 

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CALENDAR

Sept. 12-14: Utah League of Cities and Towns (Salt Lake City)

Sept. 16-19: International Economic Development Council (Phoenix)

Sept. 27: What's Going Down Up North (USU Innovation Campus - Calibration Auditorium, Logan). For more information contact: Monica Nielson (435) 797-9610 or email: whatsgoingdownupnorth.usu.edu

Oct. 6-10: Industrial Asset Management Council (St. Louis)

Oct. 18: PTAC Symposium (Sandy, Southtowne Expo Center)

Oct. 28-31: CoreNet (Atlanta)

Nov. 7: EDCUtah Quartely Update

Dec. 19: EDCUtah Holiday Open House