|
|
|
CCR Federal Debt Flag Information
Effective February 2010, a notification of outstanding federal debt will be active on the Central Contract Registration system. CCR receives updated data from the Financial Management Service (FMS), a bureau of the United States Treasury, for the Federal Debt Flag once per week. Any vendors with questions about the flag are to contact the FMS at 800.304.3107.
The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system is a secured repository of vendor data used for governmentwide contracts. The preferred method for completing a registration is via the World Wide Web at www.ccr.gov. Businesses only need to register once. The information submitted will be accessible to all Federal agencies for conducting business. The business owner has access to update the information whenever necessary. Annual renewal is required to remain active.
A CCR Handbook is available at www.ccr.gov to assist with registration. It provides detailed instructions on data needed prior to beginning the on-line registration, as well as steps to help with the registration process.
For additional help with government contracts, contact Andy Alexander, PTAC Program Manager/Counselor, Nebraska Business Development Center. ph: (402) 554-6253
NBDC Offers Free Research Services
If you need high quality industry research and market data, Nebraska Business Development Center in the College of Business and Technology will provide it to you at no cost. A typical report provided to business clients would cost almost $1,000 if bought separately from other providers.
The licensed resources can provide timely financial data by sales or organizational structure within an industry sector, detailed GIS demographic and economic data for a geographical region, company market penetration by industry and geographical area, and detailed national industry reports with trends and projections. Compare your own business performance to the industry. Get a better look at the market and coming trends. See how demographic and economic characteristics are forecast to change.
Contact Odee Ingersoll, Director, Nebraska Business Development Center, College of Business & Technology, University of Nebraska Kearney. Phone: 308.865.8429
Federal Contractor Certification
The Nebraska Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is offering a Federal Contractor Certification (FCC) Program. The program helps the business owner understand federal contracting guidelines. The training also gives the business owner a solid understanding of federal contracting principles and the motivation and skills to successfully complete a government contract.
The FCC program consists of four levels. Each level is built upon the successful completion of the previous level. Participants will take 35-40 hours of self-paced, online course work and on-site final exams for each module. After all four course levels are complete, there will be an on-site final exam based on all four modules. Upon successful completion of the program, you will become a Certified Federal Contractor, which places your company ahead of non-certified bidders.
To be eligible for the training, a business must be have been in business for two years and a client of the Nebraska PTAC program. A Nebraska PTAC counselor will review the company’s federal registration and a FCC Release form must be signed. Cost for Non-Veteran business owners is $250 per module. NBDC will award scholarships to all VOB/SDVOBs.
Contact Julie Burrell Lillig at 402.595.1828, email jburrell@unomaha.edu to register or visit NBDC online at http://ptac.unomaha.edu/events.cfm.
What To Do When Things Don’t Work
Career counselors, Larry Humberstone and Pam Gunderson of PJ Lawrence and Associates (Omaha, NE) talks about the tender subject of a failing business. If things are not going well, the first step is to go back to the original vision, revisit the plan and conduct a good self-assessment. Look at the business from the client’s perspective. Do you have the correct image and message? One solution is to increase networking and marketing activities. Assess the referrals and discover where customers are getting information about the business. Work your brand and be authentic to that brand. (http://pjlawrenceassociates.com) View Video
How To Become An Entrepreneur
Larry Humberstone and Pam Gunderson of PJ Lawrence and Associates (Omaha, NE) discuss key concepts individuals need to consider when starting a business. Individuals must discover their passion for the business, understand what drives them to succeed and consider whether the market is also interested in their passion and business idea. Individuals must be self-motivated to further research the idea. Use the Internet and mentors to help refine the idea. Write down the ideas, make connections, and take action. Validate what works and what doesn’t. When moving from idea to concept, Larry says there must be pain. That is, individuals now move from a comfortable position to putting personal credibility or financial commitment on the line for the business. (http://pjlawrenceassociates.com/) View Video
Motivating Your Sales Force
Keeping a global sales force motivated can be difficult. Gene Beckman, President of Management Communication Services, Inc. talks about their strategies for assisting a global sales force. MCS, Inc. uses a business model that provides for employee autonomy coupled with assistance to help the employees succeed in meeting individual and corporate goals. Keys for motivation are enabling your employees, having the employees buy into the goals, and showing them how they are integral to the process. People need to understand where they have been successful and what value they have and are capable of providing to the customer. (www.mcsit.com) View Video
Becoming a Global Entrepreneur
Gene Beckman, President of Management Communication Services, Inc. shares his story on how he started the business, and why? Gene and his team have grown the firm to $20 million in sales, with half of the revenue generated internationally. A key management decision was obtaining exclusivity from the vendors to provide services. Beckman found that the business model worked in the US and decided to venture into ten other countries. Another key was finding the correct representatives and maintaining high communications. (http://www.mcsit.com) View Video
Online Food Handler Permit Program Accessible 24/7
LINCOLN, Neb. — Food handlers work all hours of the day, so the idea of making their required training available all hours of the day just made sense when University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department teamed up to make that happen. Read more
Financial Resources for Business Ownership
This webinar (51 minutes) provides information to current and potential business owners about Nebraska microenterprise statewide resources. Included is discussion on financing a small /micro business, along with saving and building credit for business ownership. Guest speakers were Jeff Christensen of NED, Inc., and Jeff Reynolds of REAP, along with Rose Jaspersen, Executive Director and Glennis McClure, Program Manager of NEF.
To access the webinar, click on the provided link: https://canhelp.webex.com/canhelp/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=58206977&rKey=3fe5e5feb3f41ade
International Market Research at GlobalEDGE
Do you need information about a potential market in another country? Check out GlobalEDGE(TM).
Created by the International Business Center at Michigan State University, GlobalEDGE is a web-portal that connects international business professionals with information, insights and learning resources on global business activities.
The website includes:
- More than 5,000 online global resources
- Information on all countries, listed alphabetically and by continent
- Information on all US States
- In-depth analysis of selected industries
- International business blog that provides insights in relevant global issues
- Diagnostic tools
- Strong international network
Specific business resources include, but not limited to: trade law, trade tutorials, cultural issues, living abroad, money exchange, market potential index, country comparisons, and so much more. There are even basic language guides to prepare you for international travel.