Breaking into Government Contracting

Are you contemplating selling to the government? The Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at Bradley University wants this marketplace to be as accessible as possible. As a result, we are offering this webinar for those newly considering government contracting. The content will enhance your basic understanding of the procurement process and introduce resources to help you determine if this customer is a good fit for your business. We will discuss our no-cost bid matching service, necessary vendor registrations (at all governmental levels- SAM, IPG, etc.), and tools such as small business certifications that can help you succeed. What is government contracting, you ask? Government contacting is the process that lets you, the small business owner, sell your goods or services to the government and their agencies. The government has an agreement/contact with you whereby it purchases what you do or produce. U.S. government agencies buy a lot from small businesses (nearly $100bn worth of goods and services each year)! This includes everything from complex space vehicles to janitorial services. Goods and services provided by the private sector are critically important for government operations. Combine the federal marketplace with state and local government agencies, the total government marketplace tops $7 trillion in annual spending. If you want to make the government your customer, there's a good chance there's a need for what you offer. Unfortunately, for a small business the procurement process can be complex and challenging to navigate. Who should attend: • Businesses and organizations who are exploring or have acquired a government contract - either as a prime contractor or a subcontractor • Newly hired or re-assigned professionals in all government contracting roles at all levels and all sizes of organizations • Specialists who have been working in limited areas of procurement; those who have not had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the total picture Discussion Topics: • Market research • Awareness of statutes, laws and regulations • Identifying the different types of contracts • State of Illinois contracting • Obtain basic knowledge on small business certifications Speaker: Ms. Krueger-Huhra has 28 years of progressive career growth in automotive manufacturing integrating Procurement and Supply with the organization’s strategic objectives. Prior to joining the Illinois PTAC program, she was General Manager/Director, Procurement and Supply at Mitsubishi Motors North America Manufacturing Division where she was responsible for 32 direct and indirect management and staff engaged in Procurement Administration, Cost Engineering, Production Purchasing, Material and Services Purchasing, Supplier Quality Assurance and New Model Engineering and Development directing annual spends of $740M in Global Sourcing with suppliers in 266 global locations. Ms. Krueger-Huhra has received the globally recognized CPSM designation by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). She is a Past President and held numerous positions on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Purchasing Management – Central Illinois, Inc. an affiliate of the ISM. In May of 2017, she was awarded New Rotarian of the Year for District 6490 of Rotary International. Ms. Krueger-Huhra is currently President for Daybreak Rotary Club in Bloomington-Normal, IL and is a Paul Harris Fellow. A graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, she is currently a MBA candidate with a Supply Chain Management concentration at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Class of 2019. Co-sponsors of the event are: Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), Minority Business Development Center (MBDC), and SCORE Peoria. Registration Required No Cost to Attend