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Contract Opportunities Center
APEX ACCELERATOR

Newsletter

Procurement and Contracting Symposium
July 25, 2023

After about three years, the Contract Opportunities Center hosted its Annual Procurement and Contracting Symposium. While this conference is usually held for one full day, this time, it was hosted half day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the El Paso Community College, Administrative Services Center. 

 

For this event, government agencies along with local vendors, prime contractor, subcontractors, and/or aspiring contractors were able to not only network but also learn how to do business with the Corp of Engineers, how to do business with the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. They were also able to learn about regulatory updates in government contracting and CMMC 2.0. 

This conference was made possible by our sponsors, (listed below by category): 

 

 Platinum Sponsors:

Cooperative Educational Services

El Paso Electric Company

Elite Medical Transport of Texas LLC

GB Flooring

GermBlast

Johnson Controls

PC Automated Controls, Inc. 

QANNEX Corp.

Tigua Inc.

Gold Sponsors:

El Paso 8a & Government Contractors Association

The Journal

Silver:

IQP Canopies LLC

Sparrow Company LLC

Tint World

Bronze: 

Clark Construction

DH Pace

Indoff

LD Supply Company Inc.

Pride Industries

APEX ACCELERATORS
(formerly known as PTAP)

Footage Captured on 7 Nov. 2022 for the unveiling of the rebranding of PTACS to APEX Accelerators by Dod OSBP Director Farooq A. Mitha

Background

 

On October 1, 2022 the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) officially moved from the Defense Logistics Agency to the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment – as mandated in the FY2020 NDAA (P.L. 116-92) and supported by the FY2021 NDAA, FY2022 NDAA, and House and Senate FY2023 NDAAs. The program is managed by the DoD Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP).

 

The PTAP has been renamed “APEX – Accelerating American Entrepreneurship” to reflect our mission to serve as the axis for existing and new businesses to strengthen the defense industrial base by accelerating innovation, fostering ingenuity, and establishing resilient and diverse supply chains. The program vision is to build and enhance a diverse and resilient domestic industrial base that can deliver preeminent solutions to the military and other government users. APEX and its centers are a critical

component of the government’s small business strategy. Goals will include:

 

  • Growing the Defense Industrial Base and Government Industrial Base

  • Strengthening the Supply Chain

  • Increasing Diversity and Inclusion

  • Facilitating Cyber Security Compliance and Training

  • Providing Foreign Ownership, Control, and Inclusion (FOCI) Awareness Trainings

 

96 Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) (to be renamed “APEX Accelerators”) – with more than 300 local offices – form a nationwide network of dedicated procurement professionals working to help local businesses compete successfully in the government marketplace. In 2021, PTACs trained and advised over 56,000 businesses and hosted over 5,200 events – generating $24 billion in government contracts. This is a return of $517 for every federal dollar invested in the programs. Under OSBP management, centers will be granted more autonomy and more flexibility to better serve businesses.

 

There has been and will be no interruption in current services to clients and programs will have time to transition over to the new name to avoid any brand confusion for companies and communities. OSBP will reinvent the program to make it more streamlined and more agile to increase the pool of qualified sub and prime contractors, increase the number of small businesses able to compete, and bring non- traditional innovative companies into the DoD and other government marketplace.

 Logo Update

coc apex logo 2.png

Since the Procurement Technical Assistance Program has changed its name to APEX Accelerators, the Contract Opportunities Center along with the 95+ centers will be transitioning from the name PTAC to APEX Accelerators in the coming months. 

Due to these changes, our logo has been updated to include the words "APEX ACCELERATOR." With this change, we will no longer be using the El Paso PTAC logo.

Our mission and assistance will not change. We will continue to be here for you with all of your government contracting needs.

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