APEX Accelerator Services
One-on-One Counseling
One of the APEX Accelerator's most requested services, one-on-one business counseling, provides an opportunity to address specific client issues such as applications and registrations, marketing strategies, bid preparation assistance, subcontracting opportunities, pre-award survey preparation, quality requirements, contract modifications, electronic commerce, and troubleshooting.
Free Bid Matching Services
Finding relevant government bid opportunities for your company's product or service can be challenging and time consuming. We provide a web-based bid matching service that scans over 3,200 federal, state, and local government procurement websites every business day. We'll help you build your search profile and provide you with bid opportunities that match your profile in a single daily email. To ensure that you see only those bids you are interested in, we help you develop search profiles that contain keywords, Product Service Codes (PSC/FSCs), and National Stock Numbers (NSNs).
Proposal Prep, Submission, and Post-Award Assistance
Preparing a government contracting proposal can be an unfamiliar and stressful experience for many businesses. Your APEX Accelerator can help you navigate the process and provide valuable assistance in determining if you have included everything that is required by the government. We'll help you submit a quality proposal that follows all required rules and regulations. Once awarded, we can help you review your response/offer to ensure you are addressing all the necessary information in the correct format, as well as ensure your contracts are successfully completed.
Seminars, Training Events, & Workshops
We regularly offer workshops and webinars on a variety of topics related to government contracting, including an introduction to government contracting, marketing your business to the government, and more. We also provide individual training to you and/or your staff on government contracting topics of special interest to your company. Our educational events are an excellent way to connect with fellow local businesses.
Government Registration Assistance
We can save you time and frustration by helping you register as a potential contractor in federal, state, and municipal vendor pre-qualification systems, including System for Award Management (SAM) and SIGMA VSS (for the State of Michigan vendors). We can also help you prepare nd apply for small business certification programs with the Small Business Association (SBA) and Veterans Administration (VA), such as W@OSB, VOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone.
Subcontracting Assistance
The Federal Government has a legislated policy that socio-economic goals need to be met for small businesses and specified classifications of small business: disadvantaged, 8(a) certified, women owned, disadvantaged women owned, HUBZone, veteran owned, and service disabled veteran owned concerns. These small businesses shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the performance of Federal contracts. Federal contractors who receive contracts valued at $700,000 (or $1,500,000 for construction) are required to carry out this policy in the awarding of subcontracts to the fullest extent consistent with the efficient performance of the contract. APEX Accelerators can assist you in navigating through the subcontracting opportunities that are right for you.
State of Michigan Contracting Assistance
The Michigan DTMB-Purchasing Operations' Contract Connect provides information and educational services to businesses looking to contract with the State of Michigan. The Department manages the procurement of commodities, services, and information technology valued at $25,000 and above for all state agencies. Contract Connect also provides opportunities in design, construction, and real estate leasing. On the website, the contract list and procurement opportunities may be viewed and downloaded. You will also find training materials and upcoming events that will help guide you through the state contracting process, as well as contact information for individual state agencies handling procurements of $25,000 and below in the Buyer Contact List.
Market Research & Procurement Histories
APEX Accelerator counselors can help you research government purchasing trends related to the products or services offered by your business. Past procurement activity can help you determine if your price is competitive in relation to previous contract winners and provide potential subcontracting opportunities. APEX Accelerators can provide the federal purchase history of your product/service, including information about agencies that purchased your product, volumes purchased, contract award amounts, and who held previous contracts.
Government Marketing Assistance
Marketing to the government is often quite different than marketing to the general public. We can help you develop a government marketing strategy to help you draft marketing materials like a Capability Statement, a government page for your website, and an effective "elevator pitch".
Forms, Publications, & Specifications
Government contracts/solicitations frequently refer to a specific form or publication to explain rules and regulations that must be followed under the government contract at hand. Additionally, government contractors are often in need of government specifications and drawings. Your APEX Accelerator team can help you find the specific government form or publication needed and we have access to many government specifications, such as Military and Commercial Specifications and drawings.