U.S. General Services Administration
Opportunity for Small Business is in Full Bloom
Spring is a season filled with growth. While flowers are in full bloom, small businesses are also getting opportunities to grow and flourish. GSA recently hosted industry days in Winston Salem, North Carolina and in Savannah, Georgia to highlight contracting opportunities for two of the agency’s courthouse projects.
Small businesses are vital partners in GSA’s mission to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to government and the American people. To that end, GSA supports and promotes small business by hosting industry days. Industry days encourage partnerships between GSA and the local business community and are a useful platform for small firms to engage with larger firms on subcontracting opportunities. Modernizing the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and constructing a new courthouse annex in Savannah are just two examples of the opportunities that are available.
GSA invited the three short listed firms for the Hiram Ward Federal Building modernization project to participate in the project’s industry day. Each firm had an opportunity to network with local small business owners and highlight their potential requirement should they be awarded the GSA contract. Representatives from the Small Business Administration and Procurement Technical Assistance Counselor, George Griffin, from North Carolina State University’s Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC), shared information about their respective organizations and the role each plays in supporting small businesses. Mr. Griffin gave a brief summary of services offered by the SBTDC. The organization provides a number of services, including technical procurement assistance to small business firms in the local area.
GSA also provided a brief overview of the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse modernization project during the event. The Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, located in Winston Salem, was constructed in 1976. GSA’s project will update the elevators and other mechanical systems to improve energy efficiency in this over 40 year old facility. This project, which is scheduled to begin this summer, will also update the building’s plaza.
GSA’s industry day for the Savannah U.S. Courthouse Annex was also packed with opportunities for small business owners to connect with larger firms. The day began with a project overview. The contracting officer shared the many aspects of the project and the subcontracting opportunities that will be created as a result. At approximately 46,000 square feet, the courthouse annex will be designed to complement the existing historic buildings in the Savannah National Historic District. Located across from the Tomochichi U.S. Courthouse, which is also slated to be modernized in 2020; the annex will house a new courtroom and judge’s chambers. The contract for the annex project is expected to be awarded this fall and will include specific small business goals. The event concluded with a networking session.
GSA is aggressively pursuing its small business utilization goals through the use of industry days and other partnering opportunities. Visit SAM.gov for information on upcoming industry days and project opportunities. Visit the Small Business homepage to find out more about GSA’s small business goals and national procurement opportunities.