The Procurement Division, 222 Pine Avenue, Suite 540, Albany, Georgia 31701, will receive sealed bids until 2:30 p.m., November 15, 2012, for the Resurfacing Project for Dougherty County in accordance with bid documents and specifications. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on November 8, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m. at 2038 Newton Road, Albany, GA in the Conference Room. All interested Contractors are strongly encouraged to attend.  Bid documents are available at Public Works Office. Contact Bill Bradley at (229) 430-6120 for additional information. For more information about this opportunity please contact the buyer directly.   Details are posted at http://www.turbobid.com/Procurement/Vendor/?me=localBids&list=0&cust=87&CFID=528880&CFTOKEN=34249255.  A Vendor Application may be obtained by contacting the Procurement Division at (229) 431-3211 or printing a copy of the application from the website. A copy of the commodity listing MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE to complete the application.

On behalf of Dougherty County, the Procurement Division, 222 Pine Avenue, Suite 540, Albany, Georgia 31701, will receive sealed bids until 2:30 p.m., November 22, 2012, for the contract of EMS Uniforms for Dougherty County in accordance with bid documents and specifications. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on November 14, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m. at 1436 Palmyra Road, Albany, GA in the Conference Room. County staff will be on site to answer questions. All interested Contractors are strongly encouraged to attend.Bid documents are available at the Procurement Office; on the County’s website at www.dougherty.ga.us  under County Projects; and at www.turbobid.com. For additional information, call Roselyn Daniel at (229) 446-2720 or email at su.ag.ytrehguodnull@leinadr. For more information about this opportunity please contact the buyer directly.   Details may be found at: http://www.turbobid.com/Procurement/Vendor/?me=localBids&list=0&cust=87&CFID=528880&CFTOKEN=34249255.   A Vendor Application may be obtained by contacting the Procurement Division at (229) 431-3211 or printing a copy of the application from the website. A copy of the commodity listing MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE to complete the application.

Plans and specifications for Renovations to the Dougherty County Central Library will be released for bidding on Monday, October 29, 2012.Plans and specifications on CD may be obtained from Hecht Burdeshaw Architects for $30.00. Contact Hecht Burdeshaw at 706-323-1814. All questions should be sent to Jeff Harper at moc.wahsedrubthcehnull@reprahj or 706-323-1814.The Pre-bid Conference will be at the Dougherty County Central Library on November 8, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. The Pre-bid conference is mandatory for any General Contractor that wants to bid the project.The bid opening will be at the Dougherty County Central Library on November 27, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. The bids will be opened publicly and read aloud. For more information about this opportunity please contact the buyer directly.  Details are posted at: http://www.turbobid.com/Procurement/Vendor/?me=localBids&list=0&cust=87&CFID=528880&CFTOKEN=34249255    A Vendor Application may be obtained by contacting the Procurement Division at (229) 431-3211 or printing a copy of the application from the website. A copy of the commodity listing MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE to complete the application.

Plans and specifications for Furniture Fixtures and Equipment for the Dougherty County Central Library will be released for bidding on Monday, October 29, 2012.Plans and specifications on CD may be obtained from Hecht Burdeshaw Architects for $30.00. Contact Hecht Burdeshaw at 706-323-1814. All questions should be sent to Jeff Harper at moc.wahsedrubthcehnull@reprahj or 706-323-1814.The bid opening will be at the Dougherty County Central Library on November 27, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. The bids will be opened publicly and read aloud. For more information about this opportunity please contact the buyer directly.  Details are posted at: http://www.turbobid.com/Procurement/Vendor/?me=localBids&list=0&cust=87&CFID=528880&CFTOKEN=34249255    A Vendor Application may be obtained by contacting the Procurement Division at (229) 431-3211 or printing a copy of the application from the website. A copy of the commodity listing MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE to complete the application.

A written solicitation document is scheduled to be issued on approximately November 13, 2012.

This acquisition is 100% set-aside for small businesses.

Details are now posted at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3620468d718869c578a33223524bb3c3&tab=core&tabmode=list&=.

The point of contact for this bid opportunity is Diane Heath, phone 229-639-6969, and email lim.cmsunull@htaeh.enaid.

All work must be performed in accordance with drawings, specifications, and other contract documents prepared by the City’s Engineering Department. Documents are available at the PCity’s Procurement Office for a non-refundable fee of $100.00.   (If bidding documents are to be mailed, please provide a check payable to the City of Albany and a Fed Ex Account number to cover shipping charges.)

A pre-bid conference is being held on Sept. 13 at 10:00 AM EST at the Procurement Office located at 222 Pine Avenue, Suite 260 Albany , GA 31701.

Any changes or updates to this project will be posted on Turbo Bid at http://www.turbobid.com/Procurement/Vendor/?me=localBids&list=0&cust=87&CFID=528880&CFTOKEN=34249255.

Below is a list of what coming up next.  To find more details, click on the class title.  To register for a class, just click on “Sign Up.”

Complete details are at http://www.turbobid.com/Procurement/Vendor/?me=localBids&list=0&cust=87&CFID=528880&CFTOKEN=34249255.

You benefit from our hard work because you can take advantage of free classes throughout the summer.

Below is a list of what coming up next.  To find more details, click on the class title.  To register for a class, just click on “Sign Up.”

These are the kinds of questions often posed by businesses we’re helping as a part of the Albany Small Business Procurement Program.  Fundamentally, businesses want to know how they can gain a competitive advantage by attending an event sponsored by a government agency.  The answer lies as much in preparation and follow-up as it does in actual attendance.

These kinds of events are what you make them.   If you go to just listen, you may come away disappointed.  If, on the other hand, you go to make something happen, you can come away with some good contacts,valuable insights, and solid business leads.

Here are a few tips …

1. Establish some objectives for yourself – what do you hope to accomplish by attending?  State this in concrete, quantifiable terms.
2. Think about the specific kinds of opportunities you want to go after and be prepared to explain how you represent the solution to the government’s contracting objectives.
3. Identify who is going to be in attendance and research in advance as much as you can about who will be there and those persons you want to meet.  Think about why they are going to the show and what they want to accomplish there – align yourself with their objectives.
4. Familiarize yourself with all details of the show so that you can envision how you are going to use the structure of the show to accomplish your objectives.
5. Be prepared with marketing materials, including business cards, brochures and/or product/service fact sheets, product samples/portfolio, and a detailed capabilities statement.  (Don’t have a capabilities statement?  See our article on this subject here.)  Tailor at least one of your handouts to the expo or show itself.
6. Be prepared to talk about pricing.  You may not need to, but be prepared just in case someone asks.
7. Begin to envision how your competitors at the show can be potential partners as a result of the show.
8. Develop and be prepared to deliver a 30-second “elevator speech” which explains in layman’s terms exactly what you are an expert at doing. Don’t be shy to explain what’s special about your company and why your products/services are the best.  (If you need help constructing an elevator speech, see our article at http://www.albanysmallbiz.org/2011/04/whats-an-elevator-pitch-and-why-you-need-one.)
9. Remember that buyers don’t have time to waste. Buyers want specific information, and buyers want to know what’s special about you (that’s your competitive advantage).
10. Preparation is essential. It’s better not to go than to go unprepared – you never have a second chance to make a good first impression.
11. Dress to impress. And wear comfortable shoes!
12. At the show, listen to how your competitors are selling themselves and learn as much about their marketing as possible.  Also learn from their mistakes.
13. Understand that follow-up after the show is critical. Gather all the business cards you collected, write follow-up notes or emails – promptly.   Set-up follow-up meetings/conference calls, if possible and appropriate.  Send more marketing materials.
14. Write yourself a report on lessons-learned. Review this report before planning to participate in another event.

We will be glad to elaborate on this topic and provide you with additional advice.  You can find our contact information by clicking right here.

On July 18th at 11:00 am you can come and learn all about “What is a “Capabilities Statement”? – and Why You Should Have One!”

In order to effectively market yourself in the government sector, you should have a good corporate résumé. Government agencies call this a Capabilities Statement.

A Capabilities Statement should contain information to tell buyers why you’re an expert and why they should feel confident about awarding you a contract.

Our July 18th workshop provides instruction on how to write a good Capabilities Statement, including all the right ingredients. If you are looking for help with how to present your company to government decision-makers, then attending this workshop is a must.

To register, just click here.

• On June 8th at 11:00 am, you can attend “Fundamentals of Working with the Government” — a great way to get acquainted with what you must do to get ready to do business with government agencies.
• On June 26th at 6:00 pm, you can attend “Business Development in the Government Market“– a perfect opportunity to learn how to do business with government agencies locally as well as at a state level.

Just click on the class titles shown above to learn more about these classes and to register to attend them.

All counseling and training sessions will be offered at this new location.

Bridgett Bennett is continuing to provide all services offered as a part of the Albany Small Business Program.

You can contact Bridget at ude.hcetag.etavonninull@ttenneB.tegdirB or at (229) 430-4189.