Columbia, MD (May 18, 2010) - The Howard County Economic Development Authority’s Center for Business and Technology Development and TargetGov present the Government Contracting Institute (GCI) Webinar Series.

The GCI webinars offer businesses the opportunity to receive on-demand instruction from leaders in the Federal Government contracting market. Learn about registering as a contractor, business development, market research, accounting, legal issues and security clearances.

The complete Webinar Series are available now to order "On-Demand"  by clicking here. Webinars are $69 each, or purchase all 6 webinars at one time (a $414 value) and get one free (purchase price is $345).

                                           WEBINAR SERIES
 

Class 101: Introduction to Government Contracting 
            This session is geared to existing and new businesses that want to sell their products or services to federal government agencies nationwide. This is a $500+ billion market with the world’s fortune one customer. The course is a concise introduction to government contracting. Participants will learn the required registrations, rules, what is different about selling to the federal government and the key players involved in contracting.

Class 201: Getting and Using Your GSA Schedule 
            The GSA Schedule is one of the most powerful business tools you can have when doing business with the federal government. In this class, we will give you the information you need to know about the GSA schedule process and how to win the contract.

                 Specific topics to be covered are:
                        • Overview of the GSA Schedule
                        • Scope of Services and Products
                        • The Importance of the GSA Schedule
                        • Benefits of the GSA Schedule for Agencies/Contractors
                        • The GSA Schedule Process
                        • GSA Schedule Pricing Strategies

Class 301: Marketing Your Business to Win Government Contracts
            This class is focused on a specifically detailed process of identifying your target market and learning about the strategies involved in being a prime contractor or a subcontractor. Teaming, mentor-protégé programs, evaluation of opportunities, including Requests for Information, Requests for Quotes, Requests for Bids, Sole Source Contracts, and the bid/no bid decision making process, purchase thresholds, simplified acquisitions and how market intelligence can build your pipeline are also discussed.

Class 401: Accounting for Government Contractors
            Government contracting requires very specific setup, systems, reports, processes and tracking. Register for this webinar to understand government cost accounting standards and pricing strategies, software applications including QuickBooks and other alternatives, and audit preparation. Who should register: Accountants, CPAs, bookkeepers, CFOs, and any business owner who wants to win government contracts, be profitable and satisfy federal accounting requirements.

Class 501: Legal Requirements (FAR) for Government Contractors 
              The federal government has incorporated very specific legal requirements into every aspect of government contracting from the initial budget process through identifying the acquisition process, methods of payment, contractor eligibility, prime and subcontracting issues, small business programs, communications during the lifecycle of an opportunity, contractor debarment procedures and more. In this webinar we will discuss how to translate legalese into understandable terminology, how the FAR clauses can cost you the contract or worse, put you out of business, and most importantly, how to perform within the legal limits of a proposal and contract.

Class 601: Security Clearances
             Registrants will learn what a security clearance is, types of clearances, the procedures and requirements for obtaining facility and personnel security clearances, which agencies require clearances, differing application processes required by various agencies, related timelines, what to do if you do not pass the first time, and what conditions disqualify someone from receiving a security clearance.

About TargetGov: TargetGov is a woman-owned business offering national business development and consulting services for companies that want to enter and become successful in the federal government contracting market. TargetGov offered the first national teleconference series highlighting government contracting processes and its president, Gloria Berthold Larkin teaches and speaks nationally about this unique market. She is author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business” (book) and of many articles that have been published nationally and internationally. She has been interviewed on television and radio shows and has been quoted in national publications such as USA Today, Government Executive and Entrepreneur magazine.Visit: http://www.targetgov.com for more information.

About The Center for Business and Tecnology: The Center for Business and Technology Development’s Business Resource Center and its affiliates provide targeted assistance in all aspects of business management, from planning and financing to marketing and networking. For more information about The Center's programs, visit The Center's website at: www.thecenter.biz.
 

The Center for Business and Technology Development is part of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, a public-private partnership that promotes growth and stability by supporting existing businesses, targeting new businesses, and attracting corporate/regional headquarters. For more information about the Howard County Economic Development Authority, please visit www.hceda.org.
                                                                  
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