New center to help S.C. businesses procure military contracts

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S.C. businesses have a new resource to help procure military contacts and subcontracts with the U.S. Department of Defense as well as federal, state and local governments.  

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center of South Carolina has opened a state office on Laurel Street in Columbia. The partnership between the University of South Carolina’s Office of Economic Engagement, the S.C. Department of Commerce and the Defense Logistics Agency will provide each of the state’s 46 counties assistance in identifying marketing opportunities, application submission, certification and registration processes, and bid and proposal submissions, among other services.  

“Many businesses throughout the state have expressed their interest in learning how to do business with all levels of government,” Ron Conner, PTAC SC state manager, said in a news release from the University of South Carolina. “I’m excited that PTAC SC will help provide the assistance they need to help them achieve their goals by providing procurement counseling, marketing and bid matching services.” 

The center will focus on helping small businesses, along with women-owned, HUBZone and disabled veteran-owned businesses.  

The DLA supplies more than $42 billion in goods and services annually, with most coming from businesses that utilize state assistance centers, according to the release. In 2019, PTACs, funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the DLA, secured more than $24 billion in government contracts and subcontracts for more than 57,000 businesses.