Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Becomes Tennessee APEX Accelerator
A University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) program that has helped over 900 Tennessee businesses win over $450 million in government contracts during the 2020 fiscal year is receiving a new name.
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at UT CIS will now be known as the Tennessee APEX Accelerator. Tennessee APEX Accelerator provides businesses interested in government contracting with no-cost, one-on-one technical assistance. The PTAC/APEX Accelerator was previously housed with the Defense Logistics Agency.
The Tennessee Apex Accelerator program plays a vital role in the state. The U.S. government is the world’s largest single purchaser of goods and services, and every year, local, state and federal government contracts are available to businesses across a wide range of industries. The Tennessee APEX Accelerator will continue to identify opportunities and help Tennessee businesses compete successfully for government contracts.
"While our name is changing, we are still dedicated to providing world class technical assistance, " said Veronica Clark, Tennessee APEX Counselor.
With the recent move to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) the Tennessee APEX Accelerator team will still provide the same services, but also have additional focus areas, including:
- Increased effort to support the Defense Industrial Base.
- Expand efforts for assisting clients with innovation.
- Connect with more manufacturers
APEX Counselors also help Tennessee businesses apply for business-specific certifications which can offer a competitive edge when competing for government contracts. Examples of these certifications include women-owned, minority-owned and veteran-owned businesses.
This team also offers free government contracting training courses, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) coaching, cybersecurity certification preparation and specialized procurement topic counseling.
Interested in learning how you can grow your business with government contracting? Contact your local Tennessee APEX Counselor here.
About UT Center for Industrial Services
UT CIS delivers technical assistance and training to businesses and communities throughout the state of Tennessee. Since its creation in 1963, UT CIS has grown its staff of professional employees located in six offices across the state. UT CIS is an agency of the UT Institute of Public Service and houses several nationally known programs, including the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, EDA University Center, APEX Accelerator and OSHA Training Institute.