The TN APEX Accelerator is dedicated to empowering businesses by providing a comprehensive range of services designed to assist them in competing successfully in federal, state and local government contracting. Whether you're new to government contracting or have some experience with it, the TN APEX Accelerator offers expert guidance in areas such as getting started with government contracting, market research, and solicitation and proposal review.
We take a personal approach, tailoring a plan for each client based on where they are in the government contracting journey and their goals for moving forward. With a focus on innovation and results, we are your trusted partner in driving sustainable growth and achieving your contracting goals.
Ready to get started?
Getting started with government contracting can be a game-changer for your business, but it is not an easy undertaking, and it isn't for every business. Your TN APEX Counselor will work with you to answer several crucial questions in order to craft your personal plan of action for government contracting.
- Are You Procurement Ready?
This critical question determines your business's ability to successfully navigate and compete in the world of government contracting. Before you can explore your options for competing on government contracts, your business needs to have a firm foundation. This means legally setting up your business, crafting a business plan, identifying commercial (non-government) sales avenues, and more. While the TN APEX only assists with government contracting, we are proud to partner with the Tennessee Small Business Development Centers (TSBDC) who offer no-cost assistance on starting and running a small business. If we determine you are not procurement ready yet, we will refer you to your local TSBDC office for assistance.
- Who Buys What You Sell?
It is crucial to identify the specific target market (Local/State/Federal agency or prime contractor) and contract opportunities that align with your products or services. The TN APEX Accelerator will assist you in learning to do market research to identify those target customers and related opportunities.
- What Registrations/Certifications Do I Need?
Once you have identified your target market, then you must register your business with the appropriate government systems, and obtain any certifications that may give you a competitive edge. Some common systems you may need to register with include:
- System for Award Management (SAM)
- Edison (State of TN)
- Local municipality vendor systems
In addition to those registrations, it is often beneficial to pursue certain socio-economic certifications if they align with set-asides used by your target customers. Contrary to popular belief, while the government does have goals to do business with certain categories of businesses, having a socio-economic certification does not guarantee you a contract. Here are some common federal socio-economic programs:
- Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB)
- HUBZone Certification
- Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
- Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB)
- Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB)
- Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB)
Ready to go to the next level?
Taking your government contracting efforts to the next level involves refining your strategies, expanding your capabilities, and deepening your understanding of the procurement landscape. As you grow, it's essential to build strong relationships with key government agencies, leverage advanced technologies for efficient contract management, and continuously improve your proposal processes. The TN APEX Accelerator offers specialized help in several advanced areas.
- Construction Firms
- Bid and Proposal assistance
- Guidance with pre-qualifications
- Contract performance and compliance
By offering these services, APEX Accelerators play a vital role in helping construction firms navigate the complexities of government contracting, improving their competitiveness, and increasing their chances of success in securing and completing government contracts.
- Cybersecurity Compliance
APEX Accelerators play a crucial role in helping businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, comply with cybersecurity requirements when pursuing government contracts. APEX Accelerators offer training and counseling to educate businesses about the latest cybersecurity regulations, such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) required by the Department of Defense. We help companies understand the specific cybersecurity standards they need to meet. By offering these services, APEX Accelerators help businesses of all sizes navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity compliance, making it easier for them to secure and maintain government contracts. Note: There are costs to become, and remain, cybersecurity compliant. They depend on the complexity of the business, the level you want to certify under, how many people handle sensitive data, and other factors. Cost include tools and technology solutions to implement compliant systems, 3rd party assessment costs, among other costs that depend on your business situation. Costs such as these are the business's responsibility.
- GSA Schedule
The GSA Schedule is a contracting vehicle used by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to streamline the procurement process for government agencies. It's essentially a long-term government-wide contract with commercial companies that provides access to a wide range of products and services at pre-negotiated prices. These contracts cover a variety of goods and services, including IT products and services, office supplies, professional services, and more. Government agencies can purchase from these contracts quickly and efficiently, without the need for lengthy bidding processes, saving time and resources for both the government and the vendors. In simple terms, GSA can be described as the government's version of Amazon. While a GSA Schedule can be a valuable tool in expanding your government sales, the process of obtaining one can be time-consuming and very complex. The first step in deciding if you want to pursue doing a GSA schedule is to determine if it is a good fit for your business. The APEX Accelerator can guide you through that decision-making process, and help you apply if it is a good fit for your business.
- Manufacturing for the Government
- National stock numbers and military specifications and standards
- Contract administration tools for invoicing and reporting
- Registration in vendor databases specifically geared towards opportunities for manufacturers.
- Mentor Protégé, Joint Ventures & Teaming Strategies
Mentor-Protégé Agreements, joint ventures, and teaming arrangements are strategic partnerships that businesses can form, particularly when seeking to participate in government contracting. Each serves a different purpose and offers unique advantages.
Mentor-Protégé programs are designed to encourage larger, more experienced companies (mentors) to assist smaller or disadvantaged businesses (protégés) in enhancing their capabilities and competing for federal contracts.
A joint venture (JV) is a business arrangement where two or more companies form a new, separate legal entity to pursue specific business opportunities, such as a government contract.
Teaming is a more flexible and less formal partnership compared to joint ventures. In a teaming arrangement, two or more companies collaborate to bid on a contract, but they do not form a new legal entity.
- SBIR/STTR & Other Innovation Programs
- Identification of target agencies for innovation efforts
- Research of topics
- Reviewing proposals at all phases
- 3rd party subject-matter experts available to APEX Accelerator clients
Let Us Help You!
APEX Accelerators play a crucial role in bridging the gap between government agencies, prime contractors, and the businesses they work with. For government agencies and prime contractors, APEX Accelerators provide valuable support by identifying and connecting them with qualified, procurement-ready small businesses and suppliers. This ensures a diverse and capable pool of vendors to meet their specific needs.
Additionally, APEX Accelerators offer training and resources to businesses, helping them understand and comply with government regulations, thereby reducing risks and improving the quality of partnerships. By fostering these connections and enhancing the capabilities of small businesses, APEX Accelerators contribute to more efficient, effective, and compliant procurement processes for government agencies and prime contractors.
- Direct Referrals
By becoming a stakeholder of the TN APEX Accelerator and keeping us informed of your current supplier needs, we can facilitate direct referrals of our clients to your organization if we believe they would fill your need. The benefit of these referrals is that an APEX counselor will work with the supplier to help them craft a strong capability statement, understand the nuances of the solicitations they are bidding on, and help them determine if they are a good fit.
- Matchmaking Events
Matchmaking services for large primes are designed to connect major contractors with qualified small businesses and suppliers that meet their specific needs. These services streamline the process of finding the right partners, facilitating meaningful connections that can lead to successful collaborations on government contracts. By leveraging matchmaking services, large primes can efficiently identify and engage with diverse, capable vendors, enhancing their supply chain and ensuring compliance with government requirements. The TN APEX Accelerator can work with you to craft a matchmaking event that meets the needs of your organization.
- SBLO Trainings
SBLO (Small Business Liaison Officer) trainings are specialized programs designed to equip SBLOs with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage and support small business subcontracting within large organizations. These trainings cover essential topics such as compliance with government regulations, developing successful subcontracting plans, and fostering strong relationships with small business partners. By participating in SBLO trainings, liaison officers can enhance their ability to promote small business participation, ensuring that their organizations meet federal requirements and contribute to the growth of small businesses in the contracting ecosystem.