/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • PTAC • Showcase for Commerce/ 0 Comments

JARI PTAC Announces Supplier Briefing

Join us on Thursday, May 31, 2018 for a special presentation by BAE Systems to learn about their current supplier needs and how to do business with them. BAE Systems, a global defence, aerospace and security company, sells a wide range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology, and support services. BAE requires a strong supply chain that includes almost 27,000 suppliers worldwide. See the event flyer for additional information.

Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Click here to register by May 25, 2018. If you have questions, please contact Lenora Leasure, JARI PTAC Program Manager, at  or (814) 254-4022.

/ By Lauren Thompson / PTAC/ 0 Comments

SBA HUBZone Webinars Announced

The SBA is holding several webinars on HUBZones over the next few weeks. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, they will be archived on the SBA’s YouTube Channel. The upcoming webinars are:

How Does HUBZone Consider Employees and Affiliation?

February 28 | 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

During this webinar, you will learn who to count as an employee for the purpose of the HUBZone Program. The webinar will also help you understand when to combine the employees from your other businesses to evaluate the principal and employee residency compliance of the HUBZone firm.  Click on this link 10 minutes before the webinar begins.

Understanding How HUBZones are Designated
March 7 | 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

During this webinar, you will learn how areas become designated as HUBZones. Click on this link 10 minutes before the webinar begins.

HUBZone Protests and Appeals
March 14 |2:00-3:00 p.m. EST
During this webinar, you will learn the process for filing HUBZone protests and appeals; and for responding to protest notices. Click on this link 10 minutes before the webinar begins.

Please contact us for any of your government contracting assistance needs at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • PTAC/ 0 Comments

RNDT Receives WBENC Certification

RNDT Inc., provider of nondestructive testing and weld inspection services, just received certification as a woman-owned small business from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Jimma Raco, President, previously served on the JARI Board and recently became a member of the Women’s Presidential Organization Greensburg Chapter.

The WBENC certification can open government contracting and subcontracting doors for RNDT. The Federal government has statutory goals established by the Federal Executive Agencies, including a 5% prime and 5% subcontracting goal for women-owned small businesses. Various states and local government have similar programs, including Pennsylvania’s Small Business and Small Diverse Business Contracting Programs. Contracting opportunities can be “set-aside” for women-owned businesses.

If you would like to learn more about woman-owned business certifications or have any government contracting assistance needs, please contact the JARI PTAC at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • PTAC/ 0 Comments

Registration Open for BUILDing Connections

Registration for BUILDing Connections is now open. The free workshop is a special session for small to medium sized construction contractors interested in government contracting or subcontracting and will feature presentations from the PA Department of General Services, the PA Department of Transportation, and JARI PTAC staff. Attendees will get the opportunity to speak to representatives from both the PA Department of General Services, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities and the PA Department of Transportation, Bureau of Office Services. Plenty of time will be available for networking and Q&A.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at the JARI Center for Business Development, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Registration is required and can be completed here or by emailing . Seating is limited, so register early. A special thank you to our event sponsor, Bantly Hardware, who will be providing light refreshments.

If you would like to learn more about this workshop or have any government contracting assistance needs, please contact the JARI PTAC at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / PTAC • Somerset County/ 0 Comments

Augustine Die & Mold Receives HUBZone Certification

Congratulations to Augustine Die & Mold (ADM) on their recent HUBZone certification. Due to designation updates in July 2017, ADM was able to take advantage of the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program. The program helps urban and rural small businesses gain additional access to federal procurement opportunities. Benefits of being HUBZone certified include competitive contracting, a 10% price evaluation preference, and even sole sourcing. The federal government has a goal of awarding 3% of prime contracts to HUBZone certified small business and prime contractors also have a 3% subcontracting goal.

Although there are several eligibility requirements including the business be physically located in a HUBZone, companies often have trouble meeting the employee residence requirement.  A minimum of 35% of a company’s employees must live in a HUBZone in order for a business to be eligible to apply for HUBZone certification. Prior to July 2017, only a few census tracts within Somerset County were eligible. Now, the entire county is designated as a HUBZone, thus opening the program up to more Somerset County businesses.

Congratulations, again, to Augustine Die & Mold. If you would like to learn more about the HUBZone or have any government contracting assistance needs, please contact the JARI PTAC at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / PTAC/ 0 Comments

Save the Date – BUILDing Connections Workshop

Please join us at a new workshop being offered by the JARI Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Small to medium sized construction contractors considering Federal, State, or local government contracting or subcontracting will benefit from three great presentations by the PA Department of General Services, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities, the PA Department of Transportation, Bureau of Office Services, and the JARI PTAC. There will be ample time for questions and networking. The workshop will be held at the JARI Center Conference Room (Richland), 160 JARI Drive, Johnstown, PA, on Thursday, March 1, 2018, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Pre-registration is required.

Please contact us with questions or for any of your government contracting assistance needs at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / PTAC/ 0 Comments

SBA 8(a) Application Process Changes

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a new initial application process for the 8(a) Business Development Program.  New applicants for the 8(a) program will need to submit the initial application through the SBA.gov website starting November 15, 2017.  Eligible small, disadvantaged businesses are encouraged to attend one of the two webinars the SBA is holding to learn how to navigate the new website application process.  The identical webinars are scheduled to be held on Thursday, November 9th from 2 PM to 3 PM EST and Monday, November 13th from 10 AM to 11 AM EST.  Pre-registration is not required for either session.

The SBA’s 8(a) Business development program was created to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the government marketplace.  Businesses that are at least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may be eligible to apply for this program.

Please contact us to learn more about the SBA’s 8(a) program or any of your government contracting assistance needs at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • PTAC/ 0 Comments

NCMA Greater Johnstown Announces National Education Seminar

The Greater Johnstown Chapter of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) is hosting a National Education Seminar (NES) on Wednesday, November 15, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM.  “FAR Essentials” is a one-day NES workshop that presents the essential topics from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): the source of the uniform policies and procedures for acquisition by all U.S. federal government agencies. This seminar will explore in-depth the 28 essential topics of the FAR to be mastered by government and industry contract management professionals.  Topics to be discussed include:
  • General Acquisition Planning
  • Contracting Methods and Types
  • Socio-Economic Programs
  • General Contracting Requirements
  • Contract Management

Registration for this workshop closes October 31, 2017.  See the attached flyer and registration form for additional details.  Please contact us for any of your government contracting assistance needs at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Media Releases • PTAC/ 0 Comments

Kitron Event Marks Expanded Capabilities in the U.S.

Peter Nilsson, Kitron CEO and Jason Galiote, Kitron US General Manager, announced expanded capabilities during a Government Business Development Forum held on October 6, 2017. Recently Kitron, an electronics manufacturing services company, installed a Surface Mount Technology (SMT) line at its Johnstown facility. This technology allows Kitron to offer its customers a complete solution including printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), box-builds, and high-end assembly.

Kitron also announced a strategic partnership with JWF Industries. This partnership will allow Kitron and JWF Industries to explore opportunities for which they may not otherwise be qualified. Additional partnership building is expected as new opportunities arise. Kitron intends to continue to grow its Defense sector business but the new line and partnership creates additional market opportunities.

Please contact the JARI PTAC for any of your government contracting assistance needs at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .

Left to right: Ed Sheehan, CEO – Concurrent Technologies Corporation; Jason Galiote, US General Manager – Kitron; Peter Nilsson, CEO – Kitron; Bill Polacek, CEO – JWFI; and Frode Ilebekk, Business Development Manager – Kitron

/ By Lauren Thompson / PTAC/ 0 Comments

HUBZone Maps Have Been Updated

Somerset County in its entirety was added to the Small Business Administration HUBZone program with the release of the Qualified Non-metropolitan County (QNMC) unemployment data at the beginning of August. The online interactive map has just been updated to reflect that change. Businesses located in Somerset County who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for the program if interested or are currently doing business with the Federal Government.

If you would like to learn more about the HUBZone Program or have any other government contracting needs, please contact us at (814) 254-4022 or (814) 254-4023 or via email at .