Posted by admin on January 14, 2010 under The 8a Mentor Blog | 
In 2002 the CCR became the single repository of vendor data for the entire federal government. If you are serious about doing business with the federal government, you must get your company registered in the CCR.
There is no need to pay someone to register your company. Registration is free. Save your money and take time to get registered by yourself. Before you go to the CCR website, gather this information so you can quickly fill out the form:
Company Identification Numbers
- Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number
A unique nine character number provided by Dun & Bradstreet. If you do not have a DUNS number, you can contact them via the web or using a toll free number to register your business. Be prepared to provide them with your business name, address, phone number, business start date and type of business. There is no charge for getting a DUNS number.
- Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code
Commercial and Government Entity is a five digit number used primarily by the Department of Defense to identify specific companies. If you do not have a CAGE code, one will be automatically assigned and filled in for you as part of the CCR process. This is a free registration.
- U.S. Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN)
The U.S. Federal is a nine-digit number used for income tax purposes. This is also known as the EIN number – the Employer Identification Number. Contact the IRS to for your number. Note: If your company operates as a sole proprietorship, you must enter your social security number in the provided space.
Note: when entering any of the above codes, enter the numbers only, not the dashes.
Classification codes for your products and services
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes
Enter at least one NIASC code to identify your company products and / or services. It is ok to list multiple codes. This is how government buying offices identify your company as one that provides needed goods and services. The NAICS code is a six-digit code that you obtain free from several websites. Do a Google search on “NAICS” to locate a website.
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) information
As of Fall 2003 all payments from federal agencies are made to contractors (your business) using electronic funds transfer. EFT information can be obtained from your bank. You will need to provide:
ABA Routing Number - the 9-digit routing transit number for your financial institution. This number normally appears as the first nine digits in the lower left hand corner of your business check.
Account Number – your unique checking account number, normally located at the bottom of your business check. Or you may choose to enter a Lock Box Number, which you must setup with your bank.
Authorization date - The effective date when the EFT information is valid and in effect. If you change banks, you need to resubmit an authorization form.
- Business Point of Contact information
Enter the name of the person responsible for making business decisions, along with an alternate contact, the name of the accounts receivable and owner information. In some cases, one personal companies enter the same name in each of the four contacts.
Once you have gathered the information, it is time to go to the http://www.CCR.gov website and start filling out the information. If you have questions, there is a 800 number to call for help listed on the website.
Karen Miller, The 8a Mentor offers assistance to business owners preparing to do work with the federal government. Karen’s company, Design2Train is a SBA 8a company since 2005. In the process of completing her application, she learned valuable lessons that she had turned into an active business consulting business empowering business owners to expand their services into federal contracting. Get your copy of the Special Report at http://www.The8aMentor.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Miller
Posted by admin on under The 8a Mentor Blog |
Government contracts include specific quality standards listed in the Request for Proposal (RFP). The level or type of quality standard will depend upon the product or service they seek. One of the best ways to assure government purchasing agents is to present a well documented qualify assurance (QA) program. A good QA program should include these elements: company overview, product specifications, product evaluation, inspection, testing, calibration and monitoring.
By preparing a well written quality assurance manual your government customer will examine it to determine your product meets specific contract requirements. As a business owner, your manual will attract and assure government purchasing agents and save you money by helping you to identify problem areas that need be to corrected. A good QA manual will make you examine every aspect of your manufacturing and operating processes as well as the results of the processes. The information you receive will help you make changes necessary to improve your product to meet acceptable standards.
For example, a manufacturing company can improve by y products by implementing a quality control process that ensures that the end product meet all government factors. By setting up a good quality control system and committing to an ongoing process will pay for itself by reducing operational and material costs. Improving your processes will also impress customers and help grow your bottom line.
A high quality QA program will also assure the reliability of your product. Companies seeking to do business with the government need reliability data as well, since part of quality is the ability of a product to remain in service to meet certain criteria. The government agency will assure quality by reviewing the contractor’s inspection system, QA process or any other method used to assure contract compliance.
Be aware that quality assurance programs can be viewed in Part 46 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Any language used in an RFP to related to quality control consists of FAR language. Invest in quality assurance and reap the benefits of more acceptance in federal contracting opportunities.
Karen Miller, The 8a Mentor provides coaching services to small business owners to prepare for federal contracting. Karen’s company, Design2Train is a 8a certified business. Learn more at http://www.the8amentor.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Miller
Posted by admin on January 5, 2010 under The 8a Mentor Blog |
Sometimes you need to know the answer to one question that can make all the difference! In the case of the SBA 8a application, the right answer could mean $$$.
Is your question….
Are you wondering if your company is qualified for SBA 8a certification?
Do you have sufficient information to meet “the preponderance of evidence”?
What is the “preponderance of evidence”?
Has your application been rejected by the SBA and you don’t know what to do?
The 8a Mentor offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to business owners seeking individual help. No sales pressure, just the facts. Get answers to the questions you want answered.
It is easy to get the help you need. Visit The 8a Mentor website and sign up for the free narrative consultation.
> Click here www.The8aMentor.com
Posted by admin on January 4, 2010 under The 8a Mentor Blog |
January 5, 2009
The 8a Mentor has just released their updated version of the Narrative Toolkit. This affordable option helps small business owners prepare their social / economic narrative. This is the same winning formula that The 8a Mentor founder, Karen Miller used to prepare her narrative.
The Narrative Toolkit contains three documents: A comprehensive guide, the Personal Journal questions and the Narrative Template. This proven do-it-yourself product takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out how to meet the elusive “preponderance of evidence” or criteria that the SBA 8a Reviewer looks for as evidence of discrimination and harassment.
The Narrative Toolkit has been on the market since 2006 and has successfully helped people get organized to write their narrative. To learn more about the SBA 8a application process and narrative requirements download the free Special Report at www.the8amentor.com
Tags: 8a certification, 8a certify, 8a mentor, 8a narrative, 8a training, design2train, disadvantaged owner, economic narrative, karen miller, social disadvantage narrative, woman business owners
Posted by admin on January 2, 2010 under The 8a Mentor Blog |
Every business owner that applies for SBA 8a certification must prepare a disadvantage narrative as part of their application. How do you determine which type of narrative to prepare? Here are some tips to determining which narrative you need to prepare.
Eligible applicants for SBA 8a certification fit into two categories: designated groups or other. Designated groups are US citizens who are currently comprised of these five minority categories:
- Black Americans
- Hispanic Americans
- Native Americans (include:American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians)
- Asian Pacific Americans (persons with origins from Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands [Republic of Palau], Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Laos, Cambodia [Kampuchea], Taiwan; Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Macao, Hong Kong, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, or Nauru
- Subcontinent Asian Americans (persons with origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands or Nepal)
Which narrative do designated group members prepare? Since members of designated groups are considered socially disadvantaged by the SBA, they are responsible for only submitting economic narratives.
Other groups are US citizens who could be:
- Women
- Service disabled veterans
- Non-designated minorities – persons with origins from countries not recognized as “designated”. Some examples could include: Turkey, Palestine, Middle Eastern countries.
Which narrative do other group members prepare? Since members of other groups are not considered socially disadvantaged by the SBA, they are responsible for preparing both social and economic disadvantage narratives.
What types of information does the social disadvantage narrative contain? Your social narrative should include incidents of personal and professional discrimination and harassment from Personal Experiences, Education, Career and Business History.
What types of information does the economic disadvantage narrative contain? Your economic narrative should include incidents of personal and professional discrimination and harassment from Education, Career and Business History.
Another important aspect is to only include incidents that have occurred in the US. For example if you were born and educated in a foreign country, the SGA 8a Review Team does not take into account these incidents.
When the SBA expects you to deliver both a social and economic narrative, however it does not have to be two documents. You can prepare one document that addresses both requirements.
How long should the narrative be? Your narrative should reflect as many related incidents that you have experienced. Our client narratives are typically five to nine pages long, however this past year, we delivered a 20-page narrative. This was the exception, not the rule. Narrative length really depends upon your experiences.
Karen Miller, The 8a Mentor, offers advice to business owners seeking SBA 8a certification. Karen’s company, Design2Train, was certified SBA 8a in 2005. Get a free special report at website: http://www.The8aMentor.com
Posted by admin on under The 8a Mentor Blog |
Recently I attended a government contracting event and was the lucky winner of a copy of “Win Government Contracts For Your Small Business, authored by John DiGiacomo and James Kleckner.
I have found this book to be an excellent guide to helping me stay focused on locating federal contracting opportunities.
Here is a sample of excellent insights into government contracting to get you motivated to “take the plunge”.
- Who are the Top 10 Federal Agencies (in number of contracts and total dollar amounts)?Department of DefenseDepartment of Veteran Affairs
Department of Justice
Department of Health & Human Services
Social Security Administration
General Services Administration
Department of Agriculture
Department of State|
Department of Interior
Department of Treasury
- Did you know that 70% of all government purchases are for micro-purchases ( sums under $2,500) and are completed with a credit card?The biggest credit card users are in the Department of Defense and the Veteran’s Affairs, who account for almost $9.9 Billion.Why is this information important to you as a small business owner? You need to be able to accept credit card purchases from your website.
- Is there real opportunity for small business owners?Yes, many one-owner companies have gone from modest sales to multi-million dollar sales in niche areas. The SBA 8a program is just one way to get into federal contracting as a small business owner.
- Is your company ready to do business as a federal contractor? The book offers a checklist that includes topics such as:Business SizeFinancial Capability
Quality Assurance Program
Office Efficiency
EDI and Ecommerce Capabilty
Internet including a Company Website
- What is the FAR?The FAR or Federal Acquisition Regulation is considered to be the ultimate reference book for all rules governing contracting processes. You should have a basic knowledge of the FAR before attempting to do business with the federal government.
This book contains an extensive glossary, form templates and a comprehensive list of contacts and websites to get you up to speed on federal contracting. I recommend it!
