What’s an hour of consulting worth? Plenty, according to the PTAC stats.

Pete CodellaArticles

PTAC assists Utah businesses in winning $230 million in government contracts in 2016.

What’s an hour of free consulting by an expert in government contracting worth to a Utah business? Chuck Spence, director of the Utah’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), might argue that hour is worth more than $100,000.

In 2016, Utah PTAC, a part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, helped hundreds of Utah businesses win $230,676,779 in new contracts with local, state and federal agencies. Thanks to the 2,229 hours of consulting the PTAC team provided to their clients free of charge, the math comes down to $103,488.91 per hour of assistance provided.

“We help any small business interested in expanding its client base and services,” Spence said. “Bidding on a government contract can be a complex process that small businesses find daunting. We help demystify that process, leading to a better win rate for Utah companies.”

Utah PTAC is part of a national effort coordinated by Defense Logistics Agency. PTACs across the country provide local, in-person counseling and training services for small business owners. In addition to individual counseling, Utah’s PTAC orchestrated 75 informational events in 2016. Many of these events were in coordination with large organizations and prime contractors, such as Hill Air Force Base and Northrop Grumman.

Spence said the types of products and services government agencies seek can vary widely. In 2016, Utah PTAC had particular success in helping small businesses in construction, aerospace, machining/tooling, kitting, and engineering. PTAC assisted Utah businesses in securing 1,133 awards in the calendar year.