GACO passes milestone in contract assistance for regional businesses
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
CALIFORNIA – California University of Pennsylvania’s Government Agency Coordination Office said Friday it achieved a significant goal by helping area businesses obtain more than $3.1 billion in government contracts.
The office began operations in 1985 and over the past 29 years provided the support, advice and technical assistance a business needs to enter into this market. The program began at California University, but expanded its operation to include two satellite offices in Pittsburgh and at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Each office is staffed with procurement professionals that provide the guidance businesses require to enter into government contracting.
According to Deborah S. Wojcik, GACO director, clients reported receiving 49,349 contracts and subcontracts totaling more than $3,154,535,936. GACO is now assisting 1,631 regional businesses in their contracting endeavors.
“Since initiating our contracting assistance program we have helped many regional businesses understand the procurement process and become suppliers of goods and services to government agencies,” Wojcik said. “Our program basically gives businesses a chance to compete for an opportunity to sell to the government on the federal, state and local level and to prime contractors.”
GACO’s assistance services include; identifying federal supply class codes, service codes, and NAICS codes; notifying companies of bid opportunities for federal, state and local government contracts and subcontracts; advising on bid preparation; assisting with filing applications for placement on state and local bidders’ lists; providing specifications and standards data for federal contracts; and researching historical cost data to provide past procurement information on products. It also provides its clients with training in government contracting procedures and issues through seminars, webinars and an annual procurement fair.
GACO operations are supported by grants from the Sarah Scaife Foundation and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Area businesses interested in obtaining additional information about GACO services can call Tracy Julian at 724-938-5881 or access www.calu.edu/business-community.