[Federal Register: May 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 98)]
[Notices]
[Page 29129-29130]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20my04-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Technical Assistance Relating to Machine Tools
AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice implements that portion of Section 823 of the
Fiscal Year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act that requires the
Secretary of Defense to publish information on resources available to
assist machine tool companies and users of machine tools in
understanding Government contracting procedures and in locating
opportunities for contracting with DoD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan L. Schneider, Procurement
Analyst, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, OUSD(AT&L), 3060
Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3060, (703) 614-4840; or e-mail
to Susan.Schneider@osd.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains information required
under Section 823 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004 (Pub. L. 108-136) to assist machine tool companies and users
of machine tools in Government contracting. It identifies several
important resources that are available to assist prospective
contractors in understanding Government contracting procedures and in
locating opportunities for contracting with DoD.
The DoD Procurement Technical Assistance (PTA) Cooperative
Agreement Program was established by Congress in 1985 to provide DoD
assistance to eligible entities in obtaining and performing under DoD
contracts. Due to its initial success, it was later expanded to include
all Federal agencies, as well as State and local governments. The
Defense Logistics Agency, Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization, is responsible for management of the PTA program. The PTA
program manager has advised PTA program participants of DoD's emphasis
on the need to be responsive to machine tool companies and users of
machine tools in Government contracting by providing assistance and
counseling consistent with the requirements of Section 823 as outlined
below.
[[Page 29130]]
Under this program, PTA centers provide day-to-day assistance to
firms seeking to do business with Federal agencies and State and local
governments in the form of such services as helping to prepare bids and
proposals, marketing to potential buyers, establishing electronic
commerce capability, setting up or improving quality assurance and
accounting systems, and resolving payment problems. This specialized
and professional assistance may consist of, but is not limited to,
outreach and counseling services. Participants in this program make a
concerted effort to seek out and assist small businesses, small
disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, historically
underutilized business zone small businesses, historically Black
colleges and universities and minority institutions, and veteran-owned
small businesses (including service-disabled veteran-owned small
businesses. A listing of the current PTA centers can be viewed at
http://www.dla.mil/pta.
In addition, there are three other sources of information that
provide assistance to prospective contractors in finding DoD
contracting opportunities. The ``Guide to DoD Contracting
Opportunities'' is a publication that provides a step-by-step approach
to business dealings with DoD. It is located at http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/Doing_Business/index.htm
and provides marketing ideas and
helpful advice for registering your company. Also, FedBizOpps is a
single Governmentwide point of entry for Federal procurement
opportunities. Government buyers are able to publicize their business
opportunities by posting information directly to FedBizOpps via the
Internet, and commercial vendors seeking jobs can search, monitor, and
retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting
community. Additional information on FedBizOpps can be found at http://www.fedbizopps.gov.
This is also a useful site to identify
subcontracting opportunities, since contract awards to prime
contractors are also published at FedBizOpps.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense FAR
Supplement (DFARS) are the regulations that govern DoD contracting. The
FAR and the DFARS work in tandem. They prescribe contractor
responsibilities and employment practices that apply to all
contractors, large and small. The Defense Acquisition Regulations
Directorate maintains electronic copies of these regulations, and they
are readily accessible to the public at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/index.htm
.
Michele P. Peterson,
Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.
[FR Doc. 04-11425 Filed 5-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5201-08-P