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Government Ready™: Certified Federal Government Supplier
Groundbreaking Education and Certification Program Elevates Small Business Contracting Opportunities
LINKS: Introduction | Value of Certification | Levels of Certification | Quality of Leadership | Register to receive additional details
 The National School of Government Contracting™ has established a groundbreaking education and certification program that raises the standards and preparedness of small businesses seeking access to government contracts.
"We are thrilled to lead this groundbreaking effort to advance opportunities for small business through the founding of the National School of Government Contracting and oversight of the Government Ready™: Certified Federal Government Supplier certification program," says Margot Dorfman, CEO of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. "It is important that small businesses have a recognizable standard for preparedness to seek and secure government contracts. This important certification will assist acquisition professionals as they gage the preparedness of small businesses. And, it will assist capable small businesses to set themselves apart," continues Dorfman.
What is "Government Ready™" Certification?
A groundbreaking education and certification program provided by two of the leading national trade associations for small businesses under the leadership of the National Association of Small Business Contractors and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. The "Government Ready™" education and certification program provides a clear path for small businesses seeking to prepare and position their businesses for federal contracting opportunities.
The "Government Ready™" program addresses preparedness and success drivers from entry to advanced levels providing quality opportunities for businesses of all experience levels.
By securing "Government Ready™" certifications and displaying the logo, a small business owner communicates clearly to federal contracting professionals that their business is serious and knowledgeable of the details and intricacies of government contracting.
Go here to view the three levels of "Government Ready™" certification. [TOP]
What is the value of "government ready" for your business?
"Government Ready™" provides two clear values for your business:
First, you receive top-tier education from real inside experts in government contracting who know what it takes to be successful in the government marketplace.
 Second, through leveraging the quality of the "Government Ready™" certification in your communications, you distinguish your business to government contracting professionals . Placing the "Government Ready™" certification in your company materials and your government capabilities statement shows government professionals your commitment and knowledge of the federal marketplace. [TOP]
Levels of Education and Certification:
"Government Ready™" education and certification has three levels as detailed below:
Level I: [Three day training.] This level provides a thorough base level of understanding for doing business with the government. Topics will mainly focus on pre-award procedures and will include the following:
- Outline of the Federal Acquisition Regulations
- Contract Methods & Requirements to Advertise - Micro-Purchases, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Sealed Bidding, Negotiation, Request for Quotations, Invitations for Bid, Request for Proposals, Commercial Items/Services, FEDBIZOPPS & various types of synopses
- Competition Requirements - Full & Open Competition, Full & Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources, Other than Full & Open Competition, Small Business Programs, latest policies related to obtaining competition
- Mandatory Sources - Priorities for use of government supply sources, Federal Prison Industries, etc.
- Contract Types & Risk - Level I provides a brief overview; more detail is provided in Level II
- Specifications - Design Specifications, Performance Work Statements
- General Contract Requirements - Determinations of responsibility, labor laws, bonding, Cost Accounting Standards
- Marketing to the Government - The basics of building awareness and respect for your business
- Subcontracting & Pursuing Subcontracting Opportunities
- Business Ethics & Conflicts of Interest
Level II: [Three day training.] This level is intended for those who have received Level I certification and have a basic knowledge of federal contracting rules and procedures. Topics will mainly focus on post-award procedures and will include the following:
- Contract Modifications
- Government Property
- Quality Assurance
- Claims & Disputes
- Termination Procedures
- Contract Types & Risk
- Technical Proposal Writing
- Cost Proposal Writing
Annual Certification Maintenance: A minimum of 10 hours of approved credits are required each year to stay current and maintain certification. These courses include: Teaming/Joint Ventures, Hot Issues & Buying Trends, Government Contracting Regulatory Highlights, Roundtable Discussion, etc. [TOP]
Quality of Leadership
Two of the nation's leading trade associations came together to found the National School of Government Contracting. We are proud to announce Getchen McCracken as the Chair of the school and the Government Ready™ education/certification program. (Read more about Ms. McCracken.)
The National Association of Small Business Contractors (NASBC) and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) came together to provide a much needed program to prepare and position small businesses for federal contracting success.
Through providing a very high quality education and certification program, NASBC and the USWCC have made it possible for small business owners to have a trusted partner in education/preparation and a respected certification that will assist well-prepared small business owners to position their businesses as "Government Ready™" - - prepared and ready for federal contracting.
[TOP]
©2008 National Association of Small Business Contractors and the National Procurement Council.
All rights reserved.
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Upcoming Government Ready Training:
Contact us
Often between 9 am - 5 pm EST, you can reach our Member Support Managers and support team quickly and easily via our live chat support. Just click on the button above and you will be connected.
Or, call us at 888-861-9290.
National Association of Small Business Contractors™
1200 G Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
888-861-9290
Web Portals:
Meet Gretchen McCracken
Chair of the Government Ready Education and Certification Program
Gretchen L. McCracken
Co-founder and Senior Partner
Golden Key Group, LLC
Co-founder and Senior Partner of the Golden Key Group, Gretchen McCracken has over twenty-five years of business management and leadership experience across various industries. A high energy, forward thinking, and innovative entrepreneur, Ms. McCracken has exceptional people skills and business acumen that has supported the development of her company's successful operations. Since 2002, along with her partners, she has built a professional, full service human resources company. The Golden Key Group is a women-owned and service disabled veteran small business, headquartered in the in the Washington DC metropolitan area of Northern Virginia. The company, which provides end to end Human Capital Resource management solutions and services to both private and public sector clients has grown over 1000% since it's inception.
Prior to GKG, Ms. McCracken established and managed an emergency services training company. The mission of G & R Associates was to maintain the highest levels of effectiveness and readiness for our Nation's volunteer emergency services responders. G & R Associates provided equipment, instructional design and development, and trainers to municipalities and counties in the mid Atlantic area.
In the fall of 2003, Ms. McCracken successfully coordinated a coalition of 58 small businesses to advocate for representation and participation in the Department of the Army's HR Solutions Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC). Spearheading the coalition, Ms. McCracken oversaw the collection of information, the identification and categorizing of capabilities across the companies that led to a large scale response to the Army's Sources Sought Notice, successfully responding in a nine day time period. As a result of the coalition's efforts, the contract was realigned and six of the twelve awards were reserved and awarded to small business prime contractors. Ms. McCracken then served as the capture manager for Team Sygnetics, a small business team that successfully won the Recruiting and Retention contract (GWAC #: W74VAH-04D-0066) an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracting vehicle with a ceiling value of over one hundred and thirty million dollars.
Ms. McCracken serves as a task force advisor to the US Women's Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Small Business Contractors. In this role, she has been a key note speaker addressing the challenges and opportunities for small businesses in the federal procurement arena. She has served as a key note and panel speaker for the Army Corps of Engineers, the US Small Business Administration, the US Department of Energy, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Veteran's Affairs.
Ms. McCracken studied Business Administration at Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd, PA; received a certificate in Instructional Development from Penn State; and a certificate in Methodologies of Adult Instruction from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Currently she is pursuing her Master's Certificate in Government Procurement and Contracting and a second Master's Certificate in Human Resources at the University of Virginia.
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