Are you working hard? (of course you are, you’re a business owner)

Or, are you working smart? (er… maybe…)

As a business owner there is never a shortage of “stuff” to do. The Veterans Business blog (you should totally follow this blog) has posted a great tip on getting more done – smarter.
Oh & did I mention he’s one of our repeat speakers at the Government Procurement Conference? Just saying…

Veterans Business Resources

You come to work early and go home late, everyday. You’re busy from the moment you walk in until you turn the lights off at night.  Your business still is not running on all cylinders.  What more can you do?  Each night when you go home, you’re spent, completely exhausted.  There has got to be a better way.  Yep, there is, and we’re going to help you find it.

First thing first, get organized.  You must get and stay organized.  File or action all the stacks of paper on your desk.  Write out your “To Do” list the night before so your efforts will be focused and organized for the next day.  This way you don’t waste time the next morning trying to remember what you’re suppose to be doing.

Use the O.H.I.O. rule everywhere and every time you can.  Only Handle It Once.  It is important to say here…

View original post 105 more words

Not another top 5 list…

Yep – your worst nightmare (okay – probably not, but humor me!)

Just when you think people have stopped using Top ## lists, I’m here with one explaining why you should hurry over to the website and sign up for the 15th Annual Government Procurement Conference!

5. Buyers! Buyers! Buyers!

Only at the 15th Annual Government Procurement Conference will you be able to learn and network side by side with buyers and procurement professionals including expert speakers from state, local and federal government agencies and their prime contractors. (Lockheed Martin, L-3, Raytheon, DynCorp, Bell Helicopter…) What, you need more?

4. Value! Value! Value

If you only attend one conference this year the 15th Annual Government Procurement Conference is your best value! The Conference offers one of the most extensive and diverse education programs for small businesses along with new skills and knowledge to expand your business in the government sector. Your registration fee includes the keynote presentation, general and breakout sessions, breakfast, lunch, giveaways and more. (Act before July 31st to register for only $90) SERIOUSLY!

3. Networking! Networking! Networking!

You’ll be hard pressed to find a better conference where you can meet and develop a network of professional contacts, vendors and procurement experts. It’s not that often that you have the chance to have this many opportunities to build your network of government agencies and primes in such a short period of time. Don’t miss your chance to network pre-conference with other attendees and exhibitors on Twitter (#gpcdfw), Facebook or LinkedIn. (It’s the wave of the future now, people!)

2. Location! Location! Location!

This year’s location is the Arlington Convention Center situation in the heart of Dallas/Fort Worth’s entertainment district. (Read: Rangers Ballpark, Cowboys Stadium, Six Flags Over Texas and the best hospitality Arlington has to offer!) Plus, the Arlington Convention Center is midway between Dallas and Fort Worth and is only 15 minutes south of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. (You’ll probably see Conference staff next door at the Sheraton for an “Yay! We’re done!” celebration – that is if we still have the ability to walk at the end of the day!)

1. Education! Education! Education!

The 15th Annual Government Procurement Conference is a one-stop shop for all things procurement-related. Whether you’re a newbie and need Government Contracting 101 or would like to know more about expanding your marketing efforts to General Services Administration Credit Card Holders. (Yep! We got ’em!)

Finally – the best words ever: IT’S ALL INCLUDED!

Don’t miss out! Register today at http://gpc-texas.org

 

15th Annual Government Procurement Conference

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Arlington Convention Center

Interested in Exhibiting or Sponsoring? Check out these opportunities!

Spread the Word!

            

Doing Business with County Governments and Independent School Districts

Just announced Government Procurement Conference workshop “Doing Business with County Governments and Independent School Districts“.

 

Procurement professionals from Tarrant County, Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) share MUST HEAR information about the necessary steps to sell to their agency and what they’re looking for. For example, Did you know Tarrant County Procurement buys for the Medical Examiner’s Office? 

 

County purchasing departments are responsible to their various departments to procure commodities and services at the required quality and quantity, at the best possible price. This is accomplished by standardization, competitive bidding on the basis of adequate specifications and cooperative purchasing. ISD’s set goals to procure quality goods, non-professional services, and maintenance and repair services for their districts. This workshop covers on-line vendor registration systems and County/ISD supplier requirements.

 

Hear from Velina Willis (one of our Conference Speakers for 2011) and why Tarrant County continues to participate!

Only one more day until Early Bird pricing ends. Register today!

P.S. Happy Belated 4th of July!

Follow us!

        

U.S. Department of Defense Investing $1 Billion in American Manufacturing

Image via Wikipedia

Where’s my piece?

But seriously, According to the June 24th issue of Information Week, a new Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiative will funnel $1 billion over the next five years to help develop new technologies and innovations into manufacture-able processes and products quicker.

We know lots of you out there are innovating – so do you think your technology would be used by the local, state or federal government (or their prime contractors)? If so, it might be a good idea to attend the 15th Government Procurement Conference and see what you need to do to get on the right lists.

Having trouble innovating or looking for proven innovation processes? Look no further – Co-Host and Exhibitor TMAC will be on hand to answer questions about pathways to successful innovation processes, market research, process improvement and designing for manufacturability.

Can’t make it on the 10th? Contact us at the Cross Timbers Procurement Center for procurement assistance or TMAC for innovation and growth services.

We hope to see you next month!

P.S. Early Bird registration (only $80!) extended through Friday, July 8th – now you really have no excuse!

Follow us!

        

Related articles

• GSA Prepares $2.5 Billion Cloud Procurement (informationweek.com)

Social Media at the Government Procurement Conferece

Share

When you register for the Government Procurement Conference you will see that we’ve added a place for you to share your  Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profile web addresses with us (this will not be publicized).

Keep up with us through social media and remember to spread the word!

Follow us!

           

Is Your Business Part of the GSA Advantage?

It all started with one little Tweet:

Check out the new #GSA Advantage, the government’s premier online shopping system – http://go.usa.gov/YmD

The GSA launched their new GSA Advantage website, where government entities can go to shop for goods and services

E-Shopping

they need from approved businesses. From the GSA Advantage® Website:

Ensuring Best Value using GSA Advantage®

How the new GSA Advantage can help. 
With the launch of the new GSA Advantage, we have made it easier than ever to make a best value decision. Once you have narrowed down your search to a specific product, clicking the “Buy/Compare” button takes you to the Product Detail page.

* Tip – if a product is sold by more than one contractor, we display the number of contractors offering the product next to the “Buy/Compare” button.

On the Product Detail page, under “Compare Available Sources” all contractors offering this product will be listed (in price ascending order). From this table you can easily compare pricing, and terms and conditions (socio-economic status, delivery days, minimum order, FOB shipping). 

GSA Advantage provides the helpful tools and information to assist you in making an effective best value decision. 

The GSA is also touting its new Advantage® system has less of an environmental impact. So using Advantage® is convenient, economical and sustainable. From the GSA Advantage® Website:

Be “Green” by using GSA Advantage®

At GSA, we not only provide quality products and services, we encourage and enable environmental compliance. GSA is proud to be a leader and participant in Green initiatives, and we fully appreciate the need to pass it on! 

The new GSA Advantage makes is easy to identify and shop for environmentally friendly products.

• On the homepage, visit the “Environmental Program” aisle.
• On the Search Results, all “green” products will be marked with a green leaf icon indicating the “product has environmental attributes” making them easy to distinguish from non-green products.
• All green products will include a complete list of green attributes on the Product Detail.

Buying green is good for the environment, and good for the government. Using GSA Advantage can help agencies become environmentally efficient. 

So the question du jour is –

How can I get MY business’ products and services listed on GSA Advantage®?

You’re in luck – they have a handy-dandy Contractor Information section set up and ready to go.

But what if you still have questions?

Did you know that the GSA will be at the upcoming Government Procurement Conference?

Ready! Set! Register Today!!

Follow us!

         

Suggested Workshop Topics

What would I like to know about Government Procurement?

Every year we ask attendees what topics they’d like to see at future Conferences. This year, we’re doing it a little different – Visit our Facebook Fan Page and submit your answer about the topic you’d most like to see in the workshop offerings this year.

Early Bird Registration Ends next week (June 30th) so save some money and register today!

Don’t forget to tell your friends!

Follow us!

         

Why Do You Go to the Government Procurement Conference?

Tarrant County HUB Procurement Coordinator, Velina Willis, sat down with Cross Timbers Procurement Center and shared why she (& Tarrant County) think it is so important to keep coming back to exhibit at the Government Procurement Conference year after year.

Follow us!

         

Government Procurement Conference on You Tube!

Check out the new Cross Timbers Procurement Center channel on You Tube! See highlights from the previous Government Procurement Conferences.

Have you registered yet?

Follow us!

         

Government Contracting 101

Image via Wikipedia

So, you have a business and you’re really interested in selling to the government but where do you start?

If you aren’t in North Texas (actually – even if you are) you can start by contacting your local PTAC or Procurement Technical Assistance Center. PTACs exist to assist businesses seeking to compete successfully in federal, state and local government contracting. PTACs receive funds through Cooperative agreements between the DoD (Department of Defense) and state/local entities (in our case – The University of Texas at Arlington). There are 94 PTACs across the U.S. providing a range of expert services at little or no charge. You can learn more about your local PTAC by connecting to a center near you.

If you are in North Texas, you’re in luck because we happen to have the BEST (in my opinion) PTAC in the U.S. ready, willing and able to advise you and answer all your government procurement questions. The Cross Timbers Procurement Center, housed at the University of Texas at Arlington serves small businesses in 61 counties of North East Texas. We offer Training, One-on-One Counseling, Bid Match Services, Networking Opportunities and a host of events (like the Government Procurement Conference) throughout the year.

Every year, as part of our “newbie” track at the Conference, we offer a fast and furious Government Contracting 101 workshop – and we offer it twice! Below is a snippet of the workshop description for your reading pleasure:

Federal, state, and local governments in the United States are the largest purchasers of goods and services in the world, to the tune of $1.4 trillion annually. This introductory workshop provides you with the knowledge and tools to cut through the vast amount of information available. You will take away an understanding of the federal market and how to penetrate the market quickly and profitably.

Government contracting can open a brand new market to a variety of small businesses. We invite you to join us August 10, 2011 at the Arlington Convention Center to find out how you can bid for a piece of the “$1.4 trillion” annual government purchases.  Early bird registration is open until June 30th and is reasonably priced at only $80.

Can you afford not to attend?

Follow us!