The District of Columbia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (DC-PTAC) provides eligible entities with specialized and professional technical assistance to individuals and businesses seeking to pursue and successfully perform under contracting and subcontracting opportunities with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and/or state and local governments. This cooperative agreement was established in 1985 by Congress and are awarded nationwide to assist state and local municipalities, educational institutions, and other non-profit entities in establishing and maintaining Procurement Technical Assistance Centers around the country. There are approximately 93 centers across the United States.

The District of Columbia’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center is located at the Department of Small and Local Business Development at One Judiciary Square, 441 Fourth Street, NW, Suite 970N, Washington, DC 20001.

DC-PTAC’s Mission

To generate employment and improve the general economy of the District of Columbia by assisting business concerns pursuing and successfully performing procurements under the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and state and local governments.
To expand the industrial base of the Department of Defense and other agencies by providing a link between the federal government, prime contractors, and small businesses.
To apply DC Department of Small and Local Business Development resources to improve the business climate and economic development in the District of Columbia.

DC- PTAC Getting Started
Federal Procurements – For information about the Federal Procurement process check Federal Procurements, Introduction to Government Contracting, and Soliciting and Contracting pages.
District of Columbia Procurements – Companies seeking contract opportunities issued by the District of Columbia are required to register with the Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP).

In addition, DC Department of Small and Local Business Development offers a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) Certification, which registers a company into the DC agency database. Once approved, spending is directed to District-based businesses that support and contribute to the local economy with new jobs and tax-based revenue. There are three types of certification applications available.

• Federal Procurement
• Soliciting and Contracting
• Useful Information About Procurement in the District
• Current solicitations and Subcontracting opportunities
• Introduction to Federal Government Contracting

DC-PTAC Who’s Eligible  
Requirements to become a DC-PTAC Client
• Company must be based and registered to do business in the District of Columbia
• Company has existed for six months or more
• Company has a completed Business Plan
• Company has a registered Dunn & Bradstreet Number
• Company has an existing or completed contract (government or commercial)
• Selected District-based procurements may require CBE Certification
If you are a DC-based business and meet the minimum requirements listed, please select the link above to register for our services. One of our counselors will contact you within forty-eight hours to discuss how we can assist you.

DC-PTAC Services   

• One-on-One Counseling – The DC-PTAC staff will work with you to identify appropriate federal, state and local agencies and develop marketing strategies. We will guide you through the complex process of government registrations and assist you in becoming a qualified government contractor.
• Bid-matching Services – The DC-PTAC can automatically match your company's product or service with daily bid notices that show you exactly what the government is buying or planning to buy.
• Matchmaking Events – DC-PTAC generally hosts or co-hosts a matchmaker event each year where you meet one-on-one with a variety of federal agencies and prime contractors
• GSA Schedules – During 2007, over $35 Billion in goods and services were purchased off GSA Schedules. You may want to learn more about the GSA schedule program to see whether it is a good option for your company.
• Product and Procurement Histories – The DC-PTAC can provide you with a technical description and important information about the history of a particular product that has a national stock number (NSN).
• Assistance with Registrations – The DC-PTAC can help you through the complex maze of registrations that are essential to doing business with the government. We also assist you in the certification process for small business programs.
• Assistance with Federal Regulations and Military Specifications – The DC-PTAC can provide you with copies of local, state, and federal government regulations, including Military Specifications (MIL-SPECs) and Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR).
• Proposal Preparation – We'll help you get started with your proposal, we'll review it as it evolves, and we'll recommend ways to make it stronger and more accurate once it's drafted.
• Subcontracting Assistance – The DC-PTAC can help identify possible subcontracting opportunities with major prime contractors. Companies like General Dynamics, Raytheon, and other large contractors that often look for small business suppliers. We can help you make that connection.
• SBIR – The DC-PTAC can help small businesses get started in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. SBIR is a multi-billion dollar program set aside for small businesses that perform research and development (R&D) of interest to eleven SBIR participating federal agencies.
• Training – DC-PTAC provides a variety of training classes to assist client in obtaining or performing on government contracts or subcontracts.
• Laws and Regulations – DC-PTAC educates clients about federal, state, and local government laws, policies, and procedures that govern procurement, such as the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).