* Mission: To partner with Contracting, industry, trade and advocacy organizations to create, foster and utilize small business solutions in support of MCIEAST Operating Forces and tenant commands
* Vision: That MCIEAST will continue to embrace a culture of shared responsibility that recognizes the crucial role small businesses play in advancing the Marine Corps’ warfighting capability and strengthening our nation’s economy
* Customers: Bases and stations of Marine Corps Installations East as well as many of the tenant commands and activities located there in.
* Small Business Programs/categories utilized by Marine Corps Installations East:
-- Small Business (SB): Located in U.S, organized for profit, including affiliates is independently owned & operated, not dominant in field of operations in which it is bidding on Government
contracts, AND meets Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards included in the solicitation. The size standard is based upon the North American Industrial Classification Standard
(NAICS) assigned to the specific procurement dependent upon product/service purchased.
-- Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB): Small Business, unconditionally owned & controlled by ≥ 1 socially & economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character & citizens
of the U.S., and self certified.
-- Small Disadvantaged Business 8(a) Certified [8(a)]: Small Business, SBA-certified into the 8(a) Business Development Program for a period of 9 years.
Limited sole source authority without advertising. http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/8abd/index.html
-- Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone): Small Business, owned & controlled 51% or more by ≥ 1 United States citizens, AND SBA-certified as a HUBZone concern (principle office located in an economically-distressed HUBZone area and > 35% of employees live in any designated HUBZone). Limited sole source authority without advertising. https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/index.cfm
-- Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB): Small Business, at least 51% owned by ≥ 1 women, AND management & daily business operations controlled by ≥ 1 women
-- Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB): Small Business, veteran-owned as defined in 38 USC 101(2), ≥ 51% owned by ≥ 1 veterans, AND management & daily operations controlled by > 1 veterans.
-- Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SD-VOSB): Small Business, veteran-owned, > 51% owned by > 1 service-disabled veteran, AND management & daily business operations controlled by > 1 service disabled veterans OR in the case of a veteran with permanent & severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such a veteran. Disability rating can be 0-100% as defined in 38 USC 101(16) & documented on a DD-214. Limited sole source authority without advertising.
-- Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Institutions HBCU/MI): HBCU is an accredited institution established before 1964 whose principal mission is education of black Americans. MIs are institutions meeting requirements of Higher Education Act of 1965 and Hispanic-serving institutions defined at 20 USC 1059. The Secretary of Education must designate HBCUs/MIs. A list can be located at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html
* Priority among programs:
* Subcontracting -- Any contractor receiving a contract for more than the simplified acquisition threshold must agree in the contract that small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns will have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in contract performance consistent with its efficient performance. It is further the policy of the United States that its prime contractors establish procedures to ensure the timely payment of amounts due pursuant to the terms of their subcontracts with small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns. Each solicitation to perform a contract or contract modification, that individually is expected to exceed $550,000 and that has subcontracting possibilities, shall require the apparently successful offeror to submit an acceptable subcontracting plan unless the offeror themselves is a Small Business.
http://www.esrs.gov/
* Partner & Support Organizations
-- Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC). PTAC's are a local resource available at no or nominal cost that can provide assistance to business firms in marketing products and services to the Federal, state and local governments. Centers are located in every state. http://www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm
-- Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, VA and Washington, DC and has 389 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with 10,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors. SCORE was founded in 1964. http://www.score.org/index.html
-- Chambers of Commerce.
Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce http://www.jacksonvilleonline.org/
Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce http://www.beaufortsc.org/cwo/Home
-- North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC). a business development organization and a collaborative effort between North Carolina business and the North Carolina Community College System. Funded in 2004 by the North Carolina General Assembly and opened in 2005, the NCMBC operates under the supervision of Fayetteville Technical Community College and has offices at eleven Community Colleges across the state. The mission of the Military Business Center is to leverage military and other federal business opportunities for economic development and quality of life in North Carolina. http://www.ncmbc.us/index.php
* Top Ten Biggest Mistakes in Gov't Contract Bidding
10. You didn’t request a post award debriefing in a negotiated procurement.
9. You didn’t check your bid or proposal for compliance with the solicitation through a procedure such as Red Team/Blue Team, or other method.
8. You didn’t understand the evaluation factors in an RFP or you failed to base your bid on the evaluation factors.
7. You submitted a nonconforming bid or noncompliant proposal.
6. You took verbal advice, or took advice from someone not authorized to give you valid advice or answers.
5. You didn’t follow instructions in the solicitation.
4. In a negotiated procurement, you expected to have discussions and be allowed to submit a final proposal revision.
3. You didn’t submit your bid or offer on time.
2. You didn’t ask a question about an ambiguity in the solicitation.
1. You didn't read the entire solicitation, including all of the amendments and all of the clauses incorporated by reference.
(Source: Richard D. Lieberman; government contracts attorney, McCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaway, P.C)
* It is the policy of the Government to provide maximum practicable opportunities in its acquisitions to small business…concerns. (FAR Part 19)
* "…small business is not just a policy, it is our responsibility!“ (Mr. John Thackrah, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development, Acquisition)