Regional Contracting Assistance Center
The Regional Contracting Assistance Center Inc . ( RCAC ) is the statewide procurement technical assistance center ( PTAC ) for West Virginia . Its goal is to assist companies with federal , state and local procurement opportunities .
“ We educate clients on how to bid , where to find opportunities and how to market themselves to government agencies ,” says Program Director Sommer Straight . “ We provide assistance with System for Award Management as well as socioeconomic certifications such as HUBZone , Veteran-Owned , 8 ( a ) and Women-Owned Small Business .”
The RCAC-PTAC has been assisting the West Virginia business community on how to sell to the government for 35 years . During the last Fiscal Year , which ended on July 31 , 2022 , the organization assisted 353 clients in winning more than $ 115 million in federal and state contracts .
There is significant overlap between the type of government contracting the RCAC-PTAC helps with and the defense industry .
“ Our national defense industry procures thousands of goods and services annually to support the war fighter ,” says Straight . “ In addition to the U . S . Department of Defense , all other federal agencies procure goods and services that are needed throughout the U . S . In West Virginia for example , agencies such as the Bureau of the Fiscal Service , U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , National Energy Technology Laboratory and the FBI are all agencies that have procurement needs that West Virginia businesses can help to fulfill .”
The RCAC-PTAC is a service provider assisting companies in understanding what it takes to participate in bidding , including bids on defense industry contracts .
“ The defense industry means opportunity for West Virginia businesses . We have such a skilled workforce that is fully capable of competing in the government arena . Many companies just need to know how to get there , and we want to assist in that ,” Straight says . “ There are endless opportunities to supply products or services to the federal government and defense industry . It takes commitment in understanding the process , marketing your company , reviewing opportunities and submitting quotes or proposals . Consistency is key in being successful .”
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