The Kentucky Procurement Technical Assistance Center will host two workshops, Finding and Winning Simplified Acquisitions to Grow Your Business and Joint Ventures, Teaming, Mentor Protégé Agreements and Federal Laws Impacting Your Bottom Line on Aug. 27 at the Frankfort Convention Center. Sessions will be concurrent at 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT.

The federal government uses a purchasing vehicle, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, to help small businesses secure government contracts. This reduces the stress in obtaining federal contracts by providing maximum opportunity to meet small business concerns. Uncle Sam has also added new program changes to create more opportunities for small businesses within the federal government. These sessions will offer a wealth of knowledge on how to win federal contracts to those with a business already working with government contracts or those looking to grow revenue.

“Small businesses are missing opportunities with the federal government,” said Dee Dee Harbut, Kentucky Procurement Technical Assistance Center director. “Billions of dollars are being awarded to large companies that should be going to small businesses. We are offering these free workshops to educate Kentucky businesses on how to take advantage of these opportunities and grow their revenue with federal contracting.”

Finding and Winning Simplified Acquisitions to Grow Your Business with Guy Timberlake.

In spending hundreds of billions of dollars each fiscal year, federal agencies leverage a number of procurement methods to purchase goods and services to support operational needs. More than 60 federal agencies, boards and commissions use simplified acquisition procedures, and they are one of the few areas of government spending with consistent increases. Despite overall government spending decreasing by nearly $100 billion from 2010 to 2014, spending under these procedures increased an average of $1 billion overall during that same period.

Purchases made under the simplified acquisition threshold are reserved for small business concerns. This workshop will be very collaborative, providing attendees with solid background on how to capitalize on these opportunities.

The session is led by Guy Timberlake of The American Small Business Coalition, who leveraged simplified acquisitions in the early 1990’s for his first million dollar contract with the Navy in support of training systems for the F/A-18 Electronic Classroom and assisted a member company in securing a $2 million simplified acquisition purchase at the end of 2014.

 Joint Ventures, Teaming, Mentor Protégé Agreements & Federal Laws Impacting Your Bottom Line.

Michelle F. Kantor, partner in the law firm McDonald Hopkins, heads up the federal government contracting practice group. She has more than 28 years of experience in federal and local government contracting, procurement law, corporate law and small business program certifications.

Kantor will guide attendees through the many important factors to consider when pursuing joint ventures, mentor protégé and other teaming opportunities. It is crucial to understand the legal and financial requirements, along with other potential risks before a teaming or joint venture agreement is prepared.

This session will also provide an overview of the new federal laws affecting small business, and what to be aware of when pursuing solicitations and performing project work. Additional discussions will include new changes to the Women Owned Small Business, new Small Business Administration’s Mentor-Protégé Program and its rules, new small business joint venture rules, new 8(a) Program rules and other new rules and laws that bring opportunities to create a competitive edge. The session will be highly interactive and questions are encouraged.

All sessions are free, but preregistration is required for each. Limit two registrations per session per company or organization.

For more information about the workshops or to register, visit http://www.KentuckyPTAC.comor contact Kristy Coates at 859-257-7668. The deadline for registration is Aug. 21.

The Kentucky Procurement Technical Assistance Center falls under the Kentucky Small Business Development Center, part of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. KSBDC’s network of 15 offices located throughout the state helps existing and start-up businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. KSBDC is a partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information on KSBDC services is available online at http://www.ksbdc.org/.