No one knows better than you: time is money. That’s why VT PTAC offers free, one-on-one assistance at your place of business. Our advice is specific to you and your business so you don’t have to waste time figuring out what matters to you.

If you meet the folowing qualifications click here to request VT PTAC counseling services.

Some businesses will not be able to pursue government contract work, so we want you to know that up front before you invest your time. Therefore, we have these qualification requirements.

In order to sign up for our counseling services, you must meet these requirements:

1. You must be a Vermont business. Vermont taxpayers pay for this program and we must, out of necessity, limit the program to Vermonters. However, our program does exist in almost every other state. Please go here for a list of programs in your state.
   
2. Already in businesses for at least one year. This is a requirement of most government contracting agencies and a factor weighing against your success with the rest. If you are a new business, a good first step is to contact your regional SBDC Office to receive counseling with regard to setting up your business.
   
3. Linked to the internet, at your place of business, on a daily basis. There is a very heavy reliance upon electronic communication in the government contracting field. Additionally, many federal agencies are requiring, or will require, electronic communication and transaction ability.

In addition to these requirements, we highly recommend: 

1. If you are a storefront retail business, think twice about using our services. Please recognize that government rarely buys at storefront retail establishments. There are two reasons for this. First, government purchasing often tries to achieve a competitive process among vendors - not something easily constructed when storefront shopping. Second, when buying from a storefront, the entire transaction occurs in the store and the marketing is directed to entice people into the store - this is not something our program addresses. That having been said, if you sell retail outside of the storefront operations (by internet, mail order or businesses to business) or if you are a lodging establishment, there are government markets for you and we would be happy to assist you.  
    
2. There are some goods and services that government or their prime contractors simply don't buy. Keep in mind that government buys virtually everything, but there are some limitations. If you have any doubt, please call us first and we can tell you whether there is a market (802) 828-5243.