Representatives of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) led a special edition of the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s Business Builder series with a focus on getting government contracts.
The chamber offers the series to provide information on issues that are key to area businesses. The sessions are normally held on Thursdays, and Rhodes Porter Business Development Logistics Management sponsored the special edition.
“In this series, we are sponsoring, thanks to Augusta Metro Chamber, we will have a common theme around resources and industries that we actually use within our company to execute growth and enhance our client’s ability to compete,” said Cynthia Rhodes. “Today, we are excited to hear from the speaker and how they will play a vital role in opening opportunities for small business, as well as how Rhodes Porter can add these to your business development plans and growth strategies.”
Julian Bailey and Crystal Langley presented “Procurement in the Peach State,” a primer on how to do business with Georgia, along with explaining the new Business Certification Program that began in January.
Bailey is the small business and diversity manager for the state. As such, she ensures small business owners understand the procurement process and the steps they must take to do business with the state.
Step number one is for businesses to register with the Team Georgia Marketplace (https://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/team-georgia-marketplace). Bailey said it is a simple, five-step process.
“There’s no cost involved and it only takes about 10 minutes to get registered. If you’re registering as a business, you must have a tax ID number. But you can also register as an individual, you must have a social security number. Step two is where you’re going to include some identifying information regarding your company,” she said.
The next step is to review the state’s National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) codes and choose the ones that best correlate with your goods or services.
“When you register in Team Georgia Marketplace, based on your codes, when a bid is posted in the Georgia Procurement Registry, you’re going to get bid alerts. You don’t even have to search; you will get bid alerts,” she explained, adding it is important to keep the business email address up to date.
In addition to contracts with state government agencies, the system will also provide information for requests for proposals (RFPs) and bids on local government projects over $100,000. That would include construction of the new James Brown Arena when the owner’s representative for the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority begins posting RFPs.
Bailey recommended reviewing the Georgia Procurement Manual for all the information needed. It is available at www.doas.ga.gov.
Bailey then moved to her specific position as the small business and supplier diversity manager.
It began in Georgia as an initiative, but became a state program following passage of House Bill 128 by the legislature. It is to ensure a level playing field for minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses and small businesses in competition for state contracts.
Gov. Brian Kemp (R) came to Augusta in April 2023 to sign the measure into law.
“This bill came out of the executive order issued last July (2022) directing the Department of Administrative Services to address the challenges these businesses faced in the procurement process,” Kemp explained during the ceremony. “The shared goal of that executive order and of House Bill 128 is straightforward: To cut red tape and support small businesses and this bill certainly does that.”
The expanded Georgia Business Certification program took effect on Jan. 1, 2024. There are six approved certifying bodies, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, the Greater Women’s Business Council, the National Veteran-Owned Business Association, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce.
Among the recommendations, Bailey made to lawmakers and the governor in the lead-up to creating the program was to have liaisons collaborating with her office in local communities to help businesses understand the process. She said there are currently 79 liaisons spread across the state.
ABD asked if the Augusta office of Georgia Tech’s APEX Accelerator could help small businesses navigate the state procurement system. She confirmed they are partnering with her office and recommended contacting the local office.
“Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center, now the APEX Accelerator, they are federally funded. They operate out of Georgia Tech, but they have offices all across the state. We do not do one-on-one mentoring. We give you the information and we leave,” she said, adding that is where the APEX Accelerator can help. “They’re wonderful partners, they are in place to help you with one-on-one mentoring. Any help you need to get your business going.”
The local office is at 2907 Professional Parkway in Augusta. Counselor David Hepner can be reached via email at: david.hepner@innovate.gatech.edu or by calling (803) 507-9986.
