The Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) has transitioned from DLA to the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and has changed our name to Illinois APEX Accelerator. The APEX Accelerators program plays a critical role in the Department’s efforts to identify and engage with a wide range of businesses entering and participating in the defense supply-chain. The program provides the education and training that all businesses need to participate to become capable of participating in DOD and other government contracts. This is the tip of the iceberg - Here in Illinois we will begin the rebranding process in the first quarter of CY23 targeting completion by Summer 2023.
Please note, our mission, and assistance will not change. We are still here to assist Illinois businesses with all of their government contracting needs - Federal, State, local and related subcontracting. What will be changing is our scope and DoD resources will increase in order to do more for the businesses we assist. So, whether we are called a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) or an APEX Accelerator, we will continue to be here for you, our clients, partners, and stakeholders. More specifically, assistance is given to small businesses in the pursuit of federal, state, and local government contracts. This includes help with the small business certification process, registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), identification of contracting opportunities, help understanding requirements and preparing bids, and assisting with the early stages of starting a business.
In addition to the assistance listed specifically by APEX Accelerators, local APEX Accelerators list the following forms of assistance, and more:
- Free and confidential one-on-one counseling
- Vendor website registration assistance
- Electronic Bid Matching Service
- Interpreting government solicitations
- Government contract research assistance
- GSA Federal Supply Schedules
- Identification of contract teaming and joint venture partners
- SAM registration and registering your business in government databases
- Marketing to government and prime contractors
- Responding effectively to solicitations
- Obtaining federal Set-Aside certifications
- Research strategies for accessing federal, state and local government markets