Fairmont, W.Va. – Businesses looking to expand their market mix to the federal government sector can learn how with the Federal Acquisition Management course. Barbara Weaver of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Government Contracting will teach this six-segment course, held two days a month, at Pierpont Community and Technical College beginning July 29. Weaver’s penchant for sharing her contracting experience derived from over 30 years of government contracting experience makes this one of the most sought after government contracting courses in West Virginia and surrounding states.
Doing business with the federal government can be complex. It is a highly collaborative process that requires an understanding of the numerous federal business rules a contract may take. To help facilitate the government contracting learning curve, the Federal Acquisition Management program has been and continues to be a key component in the successful growth of West Virginia’s small businesses.
The Federal Acquisition Management Program is based on the regulations, using case studies throughout the six classes derived from problems and situations experienced by real small businesses.
“This program provides a safe and neutral forum for learning how to avoid worst-case scenarios,” said Weaver in describing the genesis of the program. “I have loved teaching this class primarily because we at SBA are seeing fewer problems with our small business clients,” Weaver continued. “We believe because small businesses are investing in sending their employees to FAM they are operating in the federal arena at a much higher level than ever before.”
Leah Heimbach and Patricia Hodges, owners of Healthcare Management Solutions, a small woman-owned and previous SBA 8(a) certified company, see the course as a way to provide their employees with the tools they need to help them successfully compete in the federal marketplace and continue growing their company.
“Providing services to the federal government requires compliance with numerous rules and regulations which is quite different than working in the public sector,” Heimbach said. “Without a doubt, having our staff attend the FAM classes has given us the foundation for solid adherence to the executive directives, regulations, and statutes related to government contracting.”
“The FAM instills in our employees an awareness of the many facets of government contracting. We strongly believe the Federal Acquisition Management course has given HMS a maturity notoften found in small / medium sized businesses and a definite edge over our competitors,” Hodges said.
Course topics cover Marketing and Winning Federal Contracts, Planning for Strategic Growth, Negotiated Procurements and Negotiating, and more. Register now as class size is limited and the first session begins Wednesday, July 29, 2015. For information and to register, contact the Pierpont Community & Technical College at 304-367-4920, via email at [email protected] or visit them at www.pierpont.edu/ce.