Kenneth Silvia | Area Wide PCR, SBA Area III (Savannah)

Small Business Success Tips Podcast (episode 12)

Summary: Kenneth Silvia discusses tips for small business contracting success, provides insights on how contracting officers review market research, and offers strategies to help businesses be more successful.

Guest Bio: Based in Savannah, Georgia, Kenneth Silvia is an area wide procurement center representative (PCR) and commercial marketing representative (CMR). He currently supports Coastal Georgia and South Carolina with specific focus on the Army Corps of Engineers in Savannah, Georgia and in Charleston, South Carolina, the 20th Contracting Squadron on Shaw Air Force Base, the Army's Fort Jackson in South Carolina and Fort Stewart in Georgia, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, the U.S. Air Forces Central Command on Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, DOE's Savannah River Site, and the South Carolina National Guard out of Fort Jackson.

Ken has decades of federal contracting experience and has mentored other guests of this podcast who describe him as practical and fair in the solution, with a by-the-book approach to bring small businesses into a more balanced playing field.

In this episode, Kenneth Silvia discusses: 

• the importance of developing and maintaining relationships with small business specialists 
• the importance of responding to sources sought posted on the FBO to secure set-asides
• the urgency for applications to be answered completely, especially regarding technical capabilities, NAICS codes and past performance
• accurate and market-competitive proposals
• why subcontracting is strategic for small businesses
• the key to contracting success and knowing the rules and regulations
• valuable resources available from PTACS, procurement technical assistance centers
• how CMRs review large business contracts’ subcontracting plans prior to the contract being awarded
• how CMRs can help match prime contractors and subcontractors, help smalls market their services to prime contractors, and more
• how to master the government contracting process by taking courses through SBDCs, small business development centers
• small business vendor registration opportunities with large companies like Lockheed Martin
• how small businesses benefit larges for CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting)
  

Host:  Neil McDonnell is an experienced small business owner and seasoned entrepreneur. An Army veteran and founder of the HUBZone Chamber of Commerce, Neil is a government contracting subject expert and HUBZone advocate for media and conferences.

His podcast series offers key information and tips to help small businesses gain insight into government agencies and large prime contractors and develop strategies to effectively present services.