Air Force’s (NETCENT-2) Set to Award $11 Billion to Small Business Contracts
Posted in: Blog, Government Contracting, News on January 31, 2012 | No Comments
The Air Force is set to award half of it’s $24 billion dollars for the Network-Centric-Solutions-2 (NETCENTS-2) to small business contracts. After several delays David Van Buren, the Air Force services acquisition executive, said on Jan 20, “We fully intend to award these contracts in the second and third quarters of 2012″.
The NETCENTS-2 is a five year $9billion procurement program for a range of network-centric supplies and services, including hardware and software for networking and various engineering, software development, system integration, security and telephone services. The NETCENTS-2 is based on the original Network Centric Solutions program.
$11 billion dollars, roughly half of the NETCENTS-2′s contracts, are set to be awarded to small businesses. Those contracts which are not set aside for small businesses, are required to have a minimum of 23 percent small business subcontracting. There will also be two small business companion contracts, for networking operations and application services available
The NETCENT-2 is going to be a promising contract to pursue in the coming quarters of this year for small businesses.Van Buren also said “The use of small business is a key part of the partnership between government and industry, and also critical to the innovation and broader Air Force transformation in 2012″.
Bidspeed University
Posted in: Blog, Using Bidspeed on | No Comments
Bidspeed’s simple training platform called Bidspeed University is now open. Here we will be teaching you everything you need to know to use Bidspeed effectively and properly. Bidspeed University has information for everyone from the beginning small business owner who is new to Government contracts, to the experienced capture management team. We offer training for people with all different levels of experience with Government contracts and the Bidspeed software. The categories offered are the following:
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New to Federal Government Contracts?
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New to the Bidspeed Software?
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Interested in DIBBS
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Looking for More Advanced Bidspeed Training?
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Interested in Teaming?
To access Bidspeed University please click here
For additional support please click her
3 Steps for Small Businesses to Win Federal Government Contracts
Posted in: Blog, Government Contracting, Using Bidspeed on December 30, 2011 | No Comments
- Know your capabilities
- Sources Sought
- Set Asides
Know Your Capabilities
The first thing you must know before attempting to respond to a Federal Government solicitation, is you must know your companies capabilities. What is your company good at? What have you done in the past? What can you provide to the Federal Government? The wrong idea is to first find what the Government is purchasing and then trying to produce that.
Sources Sought
Sources Sought is one of the best tools to compete against large companies in the Federal Government arena. This is because the Government contract sector is highly competitive, and small businesses must use every advantage they can to win contracts. By responding to a Sources Sought, this is a way to get your foot in the door. This does not mean that by responding you will win a contract, it does not even mean you will be considered for a contract, but it does mean it will increase your chances. It will increase the likelihood that the Federal Government will provide opportunities which meet your company’s capabilities, and set aside contracts which meet your set aside classification.
Set Asides
What are Set Aides? According to the Encarta World English Dictionary, “Set Aside” means to reserve something, to keep something, especially time or money for a specific purpose. This is exactly what a set aside is, part of the U.S. Government’s Small Business Act states that the Federal Government is required by law to reserve a variety of procurements which are partially or totally for small business participation. Which means that the Government must set aside a percentage of all Federal opportunities which meet certain small business set aside classifications. For more information regarding “Set Asides” and codes for classifications please go to http://www.fedbidspeed.com/set-aside.
In conclusion, if you are a small business, and you would like to respond to Government solicitations, first know your capabilities and set aside codes. Second respond to all sources sought relating to your business. By taking these three very simple steps you will greatly increase your chance in winning more Federal Government contracts.
Bidspeed and LSI Business Development, Inc. Win SBA Grant to Support Small Businesses
Posted in: Blog on November 18, 2011 | No Comments
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced Bidspeed and LSI Business Development, Inc. together are grant awardees for the SBA’s Small Business Teaming Pilot Program. The SBA awarded 11 grants in the effort to help small businesses nationwide compete for large government contracts (an arena typically dominated by large corporations and businesses) through the creation of teaming agreements.
To provide resources to help small businesses continue economic recovery, President Obama signed into law on September 27, 2010 the Small Business Jobs Act, the most important piece of legislation in over a decade to benefit small businesses. This new law made it possible for the SBA to create the Small Business Teaming Pilot Program. It also extended successful SBA enhanced loan provisions while offering billions more in lending support, tax cuts and other opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners. By providing more support for small businesses to win federal contracts through teaming, the U.S. economy at large will see benefits as more jobs are created.
Grant winners Bidspeed and LSI Business Development provide management tools, training, counseling and mentoring to small businesses for teaming relationships and competing for larger Federal contracts. Grantees will leverage their existing resources and collaborate with SBA District offices, resource partners and other federal, state and local government small business development programs.
Read full press release here: Bidspeed and LSI Press Release
2011 MacDill SDVOSB/VOSB Taking the Steps to Success Conference & Expo
Posted in: Blog on | No Comments
We will be at the 2011 MacDill conference on Dec 7-8, in Tampa, Fl at booth #722. Meet us at the conference, which is a great opportunity for your company to increase its market exposure, showcase goods and services, maximize business partnerships and increase sales. This years conference will be highlighting teaming partnership, educational breakouts, getting started, best practices and trends, and matchmaking. Last years event attendees were 70 of the largest U.S. businesses , 329 SDVOSB, 517 small businesses and 257 VOSB. Don’t miss out on this years event, for more information go to www.macdillsdvosb.net. See you there!
OSDBU Procurement Conference
Posted in: Blog on April 20, 2011 | 2 Comments
Bidspeed will be in booth 565 at the OSDBU Procurement Conference – http://www.fbcinc.com/osdbu. If you’re attending the conference, please stop by our booth and meet our team.
Bidspeed is a sponsor at the APTAC conference
Posted in: Blog on March 20, 2011 | No Comments
If you are attending the APTAC conference please stop by our booth and see what’s happening at Bidspeed. If you are checking in Sunday night please stop by and see us in the Miami room from 7:00 – 10:00.
Slides From NCAIED Conference
Posted in: Blog on March 16, 2011 | 1 Comment
Ryan Reid, one of Bidspeed’s founders, recently spoke at the RES2011 conference. The panel included Allen Shipes of Logistic Specialties, Inc. (LSI) and Becky Martin, a Small Business Specialist at the Missile Defense Agency.
If you are interested in the slides we’ve published them here in PDF format:
Bidspeed Slides: Bidspeed-NCAIED-Slides.pdf
LSI Slides: LSI-Federal Contracting Basics-RES2011.pdf
If you are attending the conference please stop by and visit us at Booth 118.
SBIR Extension passes the Senate
Posted in: Blog, News on December 23, 2010 | No Comments
Very good news for those of you interested in the SBIR / STTR programs. The senate just passed an 8-year reauthorization to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and
Small Business Technical Transfer (STTR) programs. (The programs have been running on seven short-term extensions since October 1, 2008.) The bill was in front of the house yesterday (Dec 22), and was held at the desk. This probably means it won’t pass until next year, but you may want to call your representative’s office today. (The easiest way for most of you to do this, is to call the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and give them your zip code, and they will connect you to your Representative’s DC office. If you know your representative’s DC number, you can simply call them directly.)
Read the senate press release here: SBIR Extension passes the Senate
Read the house status here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-4053
New Email Features
Posted in: Blog, Help on November 22, 2010 | No Comments
Bidspeed now allows you to send email directly from your email provider. You will only need to set this up once. Here’s how:
- Click Preferences
- Type your SMTP settings. Note that the user name in the email settings will be the email address used to send mail, not your user ID. Click here for common email provider settings.
- Before you close the preferences page, click the “Test Account Settings.” If the test succeeds, you will receive an email from yourself.
