The Utah APEX Accelerator’s mission is to help Utah businesses successfully compete in the government marketplace by providing knowledgeable and outstanding customer service.
Looking to become a client? Apply Now.
APEX Accelerator offices throughout the state are open and available for free in-person one-on-one counseling. To contact the APEX team’s regional manager nearest you, please scroll down to view contact information for our managers.
If we may be of any assistance, please get in touch with us at apex@utah.gov or 1-801-538-8655.
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The Utah APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.
Utah’s APEX Accelerator, formerly called the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), helps Utah businesses find, bid, and win procurement opportunities with Department of Defense (DoD) federal, state, and local entities.
The APEX team educates and assists Utah businesses to compete more effectively in the government marketplace through one-on-one and group counseling.
Apply for Services
Select the county in which your business is located:
- Beaver County
- Box Elder County
- Cache County
- Carbon County
- Daggett County
- Davis County
- Duchesne County
- Emery County
- Garfield County
- Grand County
- Iron County
- Juab County
- Kane County
- Millard County
- Morgan County
- Piute County
- Rich County
- Salt Lake County (Metro)
- Greater Salt Lake County (Bluffdale, Draper, Herriman, Kearns, Midvale, Riverton, Sandy, South Jordan, Taylorsville, West Jordan, West Valley City)
- San Juan County
- Sanpete County
- Sevier County
- Summit County
- Tooele County
- Uintah County
- Utah County
- Wasatch County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Weber County
Or print, complete, and email the APEX client intake form to an APEX team member near you.
The Utah APEX Accelerator team offers a proprietary bid-match software service that compares your company’s products and/or services in combination with industrial NAICS codes and keywords to multiple government solicitation portals. Matching bid opportunities are emailed directly to the client, saving valuable time otherwise spent searching multiple bid sources. Government solicitations range in scope and type, but are not limited to, the following:
- Federal agency software and integrated telecommunications circuits
- Aerospace and defense systems
- Federal/state engineering services and all types of equipment
- Construction projects, including home and/or warehouse design/build, asphalt paving, or grounds maintenance
Utah APEX Accelerator Helps With Navigating Cyber Requirements
The APEX Accelerator program, under the management of the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs, plays a critical role in the department’s efforts to identify and engage with a wide range of businesses entering and participating in the defense supply chain. The program provides education and training all businesses need to participate to become capable of participating in DOD and other government contracts, including cybersecurity compliance.
Your Utah APEX Accelerator (part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity) is ready to provide you with support and advice on implementing your response to federal and DOD regulations that cover cybersecurity requirements.
We can help you understand the applicable contract clauses, such as FAR 52.204-21, DFARS 252.204-7012, and DFARS 252.204-7024, and guide you through the steps to implement a compliant cybersecurity program.
Contact your APEX regional manager for support. business.utah.gov/apex
Register in SAM
- Employer Identification Number (EIN): Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) before registering in SAM if you don’t already have one.
- System for Award Management (SAM.Gov): The System for Award Management (SAM) is the official, centralized, electronic registration process for vendors that want to do business with the federal government. Formerly known as Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). SAM is the primary federal government repository for most government-required representations and certifications. Registration is always free.
- User Guide: The official user guide for registering in SAM.
- Tutorial Video: An official YouTube video from 2012 on registering in SAM.
- NAICS Codes: North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes are used to register in the government’s vendor database, SAM, for federal contracting. They are also used in solicitations and bids to identify what a business does.
- FSC/PSC Codes: Listing and search engine for Federal Supply Codes (FSCs) and Product Service Codes (PSCs), which are used to register in the government’s vendor database, SAM, for federal contracting.
- Small Business Size Standards: The Small Business Administration (SBA) website on how size is determined. Use this information to determine whether your business is considered small.
- Government User Guidance on Small Business Information in SAM: Information for government users on how to interpret small business information in SAM.
Find Opportunities
- Civilian Agency Procurement Forecasts: Upcoming, projected procurement needs for each federal civilian agency.
- Contracting Opportunities: Opportunities from the federal government valued at more than $25,000.
- Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS): DIBBS is a web-based application that allows you to search for, view, and submit secure quotes on Requests for Quotations (RFQs) for DLA items of supply. DIBBS also allows users to search and view Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Invitations for Bid (IFBs), awards, and other procurement information related to DLA.
- Utah Public Procurement Place (U3P): The State of Utah’s opportunities website, including state and local procurements.
Contracting Assistance Programs
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Eligibility Tool: Answer questions to see for which SBA programs your business may qualify.
- 8(a) Business Development Program
- Joint Venture Guidelines: SBA’s rules on 8(a) mentor-protégé agreements.
- Net Worth Determination: Determine your net worth to qualify for 8(a) program using SBA Form 413.
- Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOSB) Program
- HUBZone Program
- HUBZone Locator Tool: Type in an address to determine whether it is located in a HUBZone.
Contact Information Lists
- Federal Government Small Business Contact List
- Small Business Specialists
- Procurement Center Representatives
SBIR/STTR Grants
- Department of Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DISP): The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) programs are highly competitive government-funded contracts or grants that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. The recipient projects must have the potential for commercialization and must meet specific U.S. Government R&D needs.
- DoD SBIR/STTR Program Overview Video: A Youtube video giving a brief synopsis of the SBIR and STTR programs.
- DoD SBIR/STTR Training Website: Helpful library of materials for working with the SBIR/STTR programs.
- DoD SBIR/STTR Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Schedule: View currently active BAAs for DoD SBIR/STTRs.
General Services Administration (GSA) Websites
- GSA Homepage: The U.S. General Services Administration’s homepage.
- GSA eLibrary: GSA eLibrary contains the latest GSA contract award information.
- GSA Advantage: GSA Advantage is the government’s central online shopping superstore. GSA Advantage provides online access to millions of products and services from thousands of federal contractors.
- GSA Global Supply: GSA Global Supply is a federal program administered by the General Services Administration. It is a requisition-based supply program for customers worldwide, including the Department of Defense.
Spending Databases
- USASpending.Gov: Records of federal spending for contracts and grants.
- Federal IT Dashboard: View details of federal information technology investments.
- Contracts Awarded by the Department of Defense: Contracts valued at $7.5 million or more, which may contain subcontract opportunities, are announced each business day.
Other Useful Links
- USA.Gov: The U.S. Government’s official web search site.
- Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR): The official website for the regulations governing federal contracting.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Federal Contracting: The SBA’s guide to federal contracting.
- Cybersecurity Requirements: A DoD briefing on implementing DFARS Clause 252.204-7012
- NIGP Code Directory: A list of “commodity codes” as developed by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, adopted by more than 1,400 state and local governments; NIGP codes are needed to register as a vendor with many state and local governments. Note: Utah does not use this system.
- Utah Department of Commerce: The state of Utah’s system to register a new business, renew or update your business, or register a Doing Business As (DBA).
- Small Business Outreach Calendar
- Utah Inland Port Authority Outreach (Brad Andrews) – 7/14/21
- How to Apply for SBA Certifications (Paula Kramer, Cody Neville and Jackie Hobson) – 6/30/21
- How to Respond to an RFP/RFQ (Thomas Gerke and Francene Bielik) – 6/9/21
- Falcon Hill Outreach (Taylor Woodbury and David Williamsen) – 4/15/21
- Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management Outreach (Dana Edwards-Wym and Darrell Hunting) – 4/13/21
- Salt Lake County and University of Utah Outreach (Jason Yocom, Randi Ruff, and Terri O’Toole) – 3/16/21
- Presentation slides
- Video
- United States Forest Service Outreach (Amelia Velasco) – 2/23/21
- Hill Air Force Base 75th Civil Engineering Group Outreach (Harry Briesmaster) – 1/28/21
- Overview of Small Business Administration Programs (Brent Owens) – 12/8/20
- Hill Air Force Base Small Business Outreach (James Dean) – 12/3/20
- Cybersecurity, NIST 800-171, and DFARS Interim Rules (Thomas Gerke) – 11/19/20
- Proposal Pricing Strategies Webinar (Jim Baddley and Pati Campbell) – 9/10/20
- Small Dollar Acquisitions: Government Purchasing Card (GPC) and Request for Quotations (RFQs) (Mary Ann Flinders and Francene Bielik) – 8/25/20
- Bell Textron Outreach – 7/28/20
- Hensel Phelps Presentation – 6/17/20
- Dugway Proving Ground Industry Outreach – 6/10/20
- beta.SAM.gov Contracting Opportunities Workshop (Thomas Gerke) – 2/19/20
- Hill Air Force Base Supply Chain Management Group Presentation – 1/23/20
- Boeing Outreach Event (Paul Bell) – 11/6/19
- Zions Bank “Speaking on Business”