Press Release - Julie Beck Speaks at the Federal Contracting Forum
Julie Beck JD, President of Beck Environmental And Remediation, Ltd. (BEAR) accepts invitation and speaks on behalf of all Small Business Owners at the Small Business Federal Contracting Forum |
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Phoenix, Arizona - June 29, 2010 - Julie Beck JD, President of Beck Environmental And Remediation, Ltd. (BEAR) spoke on behalf of small businesses seeking federal contracts at the Small Business Federal Contracting Forum in Washington, D.C. held on Monday, June 28, 2010. An Interagency Task Force, established by President Obama on April 26, 2010, was designed to help develop ideas and generate advice for facilitating the utilization of small businesses in federal contracting. Of those include businesses owned by women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans of our Armed Forces. |
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The Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Commerce (DOC), and the Office of Management of Budget (OMB), who serve as co-chairs of the Task Force, invited a variety of participants to attend the forum and offer their insight on the challenges small businesses face in pursuing federal contracts. The discussion also involved ways of overcoming obstacles while working towards a strong participation within the federal marketplace. "Our goal is to use this forum to identify new, innovative strategies for putting more contracts in the hands of America's small business owners. We look forward to hearing your ideas," stated Administrator Karen Mills, US Small Business Administration. |
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As a new 8(a), Ms. Beck is a good example of a small business professional dealing with the realities of acquiring federal contracts and the strategies involved in networking with large primes to develop relationships. There's no doubt Ms. Beck has tried a wide variety of recommendations from her peers, counsel from other 8(a)s, and has received plenty of advice from conference VIPs to Army Colonels. Despite the numerous ups and downs and tens of thousands of dollars spent on travel to meet with federal and commercial prospects, Ms. Beck remains confident and will continue her mission to succeed in finding a federal contract. Holding a highly relevant Juris Doctorate Degree, Ms. Beck is an especially useful force in this regulatory-driven industry. Having a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations guiding the environment and remediation world is key to the success of her firm, Beck Environmental And Remediation, Ltd. In the few minutes allotted to each guest speaker, Ms. Beck's comments to the task force are outlined by two important topics: Lack of Training for 8(a)'s and Small Businesses: Training is lacking for new 8(a)s and Small Businesses on the necessary skills needed to be a successful federal contractor. For example, 8(a)s are not given information on how to market the relevant individuals who can award work within federal agencies. In addition, businesses need training on how to fulfill the necessary contract compliance requirements that are needed on federal contracts as well as training on the government's quality assurance needs. Quality assurance in the federal world has its own unique rules, vocabulary and specifications. Federal Workers Take on Risk When Hiring New Small Businesses: Most federal workers do not have confidence in a new 8(a)'s or a new small business's ability to get the job done. Contract officers and program managers are overworked and overwhelmed and they know that many new 8(a)s and small businesses are unaware of contract compliance and quality assurance. The lack of institutional knowledge is a huge disadvantage for a new 8(a) or small business that is attempting to be viable in the federal marketplace. The system is set up so that a Contract Officer, a Program Manager or a Quality Assurance Manager will assume responsibility for making sure that any work awarded to a new 8(a) or small business is completed correctly. These overworked individuals can't or won't take on these additionally roles of training new contractors. They avoid awarding work to unknown contractors simply because it creates more work for themselves. About Beck Environmental And Remediation, Ltd. |
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Beck Environmental And Remediation, Ltd., established in 1998, was awarded an 8(a) Business Development, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) certification, in February 2010. The 8(a) is a federal program designed to benefit and develop small businesses. Julie Beck JD, is president of Beck Environmental And Remediation, Ltd., a nationally certified Woman's Business Enterprise (WBENC) that provides Environmental Services in Consulting, Remediation Construction, and Engineering, Geology & Hydrology, and Mineral & Mining. BEAR's broad range of experience includes over 233 projects with 57 different companies: 84 Phase I, 46 Phase II, 52 Phase III with 33 groundwater cleanups, and 11 soil only sites. All mining operations are related to mineral assessments (exploration and geophysical), surface and groundwater basin analyses, and water supply assessments. For more information about Beck Environmental And Remediation, Ltd., please visit www.beckenvironmental.com. |
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