U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosts networking forum for El Paso small businesses

Published March 28, 2013

FORT WORTH, Texas --The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will sponsor a Contractors Networking and Teaming Forum March 28 at the El Paso Community College, Region 19 Education Service Center, Paso Del Norte Room, 6611 Boeing Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This free forum will enable businesses to learn about future Corps projects in the local area as well as provide a venue for prime and sub contractors to meet and develop relationships.

Small businesses are critical to economic recovery and strength to build America's future. The Corps prides itself on helping small businesses maximize their opportunities to participate in its procurements. In doing so the Corps ensures a broad base of capable suppliers to support its missions and strengthen the nation’s economic development.

The Fort Worth District fully supports the Government’s policy of placing a fair proportion of contracts with qualified small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran owned, and Historically Black College and Universities/Minority Institutions.

“We consider Small business to be the heart of our economy and a vital part of the Corps’ procurement process,” said Carolyn L. Staten, deputy, Small Business Programs, Fort Worth District.

According to Staten, the Small Business Program is available to aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns in order to preserve free competitive enterprise.

“We are here to ensure that a fair proportion of the total purchases and contracts or subcontracts for property and services for the government be placed with small business enterprises,” said Staten.

From Fiscal years 2010 through FY 2012, the District had an estimated $890 million for contracts to small businesses to do work in San Antonio, Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Fort Hood, in Killeen, Texas and in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

During this time of smaller budgets and less contracting opportunities it is vital for small businesses to take advantage of every opportunity and avenue for marketing their companies available,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Liffring, deputy commander, Fort Worth District. “Although contracting dollars are less, the percentages of those dollars are increasing for small businesses.”

According to Staten, in 2011 39 percent of contract dollars at Fort Bliss were set aside for small businesses. In 2012 that percentage increased to almost 51 percent.

In December 2011, almost $450 million in contracts were awarded for Base Relocation and Closure 2005, Military Construction, Grow the Army and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects. Of the $450 million, more than $98 million went to El Paso sub contractors. Additionally, another $22 million went directly to El Paso firms as prime contractors.

Since 2010, the Fort Worth District has sponsored many outreach and networking events and forums in El Paso to promote opportunities for small businesses to compete for contracts or allow for them to network with prime contractors for possible joint ventures and sub contract opportunities.

“These are excellent opportunities to meet one-on-one with technical, procurement and small business specialists who can assist a company with the selling or their services or products,” said Staten.

For more information on the upcoming Contractors Networking and Teaming Forum call Keith Gutierrez at 915-831-7749. You may also fax your RSVP to (915) 831-7755. You may also register on‐line at: www.elpasococ.org. For information on doing business with the U.S. Corps of Engineers call Carolyn Staten at (817) 886-1382 or visit: http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/BusinessWithUs/OfficeofSmallBusinessPrograms.aspx

-30-

About the Fort Worth District: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1950. The District is responsible for water resources development in two-thirds of Texas, and design and construction at military installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico.  Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at: www.swf.usace.army.mil and SWF Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Worth-District-US-Army-Corps-of-Engineers/188083711219308


Contact
Ed Rivera
817-886-1313

Release no. 13-023