Terrell Stewart, PTAC procurement consultant

“When this opportunity became available, I jumped at the chance,” said Stewart, who moved to Huntsville from Jacksonville, Ala. in January. “I serve as a liaison between current and potential business owners, making it easier for small businesses to enter the market and matching large businesses with small businesses to prepare them for the procurement market. I’m a resource. I try to steer them in the right direction.”

“We are so pleased to have this opportunity to help our Chamber members with these services,” said Elizabeth Morard, vice chair of small business for the Chamber. “The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is dedicated to supplying the utmost in training and education for the citizens of Huntsville and Madison County in order to help them succeed in their business endeavors.”

“The IOC is honored to partner with the state’s PTAC program and the Chamber to offer small business owners and entrepreneurs free counseling services in order to better understand and navigate the government contract procurement process,” said Ben Johnson, executive director of the Institute of Commerce. “The Huntsville area has experienced more growth in the government sector than any other city in the state. The need was apparent, and we are happy to have played a small part in bringing this to the community.”

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) offers many services to businesses and entrepreneurs, including:

• Free government contracting assistance
• One on one counseling
• Business development at all levels including federal, state and local
• Assistance with certifications, registrations and database inclusions
• Explanation of forms, codes, regulations and requirements involved
• Industry specific best practices and guidelines
• Bid and proposal preparation assistance and solicitation development
• Networking, tradeshows, workshops and “Match Making” events
• Industry specific contractor and agency contact lists
• Database development and inclusion
• The PTAC specific “Bid Match” program
• Information on subcontracting opportunities and purchase procedures
• Targeted marketing assistance
• Contact point and liaison for buyers and sellers
• Assistance with research, data collection, assimilation and assessment

PTAC offers a bid matching service, which provides information on bidding opportunities from the Department of Defense, federal agencies, state and local government and educational institutions. Notices of subcontracting opportunities are also available through PTAC.

The Institute of Commerce is an Alabama non-profit organization formed to enhance economic development, increase employment and reduce business failure in Alabama through business education and workforce development. The IOC works in conjunction with the Alabama Small Business Development Consortium (ASBDC), Alabama colleges and universities and with other non-profit organizations.