Randy Marchiafava | PCR, SBA Area V (New Orleans)

Small Business Success Tips Podcast (episode 9)

Summary: Randy Marchiafava discusses the many roles of PCRs, some lesser known SBA resources, strategic approaches to government contracting and FedBizOpps as the key to federal procurement.

Guest Bio: Randy Marchiafava is the procurement center representative for the Small Business Administration's Area 5. Based in New Orleans, Randy supports the Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans; Army Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Barksdale Air Force Base, Shreveport, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Department of Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserves, and the Marine Forces Reserve Regional Contracting Office, New Orleans.

In addition to Louisiana, Randy supports the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Little Rock Air Force Base, and the US Army's Test and Evaluation Command Red River Army Depot.

In this episode, Randy Marchiafava discusses: 

• how PCRs review solicitations prior to posting on FedBizOpps to determine eligibility for set-aside programs, sole source or other designations 
• how PCRs and SBA district offices operate independently with separate focus and procedures may also vary between PCR offices
• Office of Government Contracting focuses on government contracting for federal agencies and large established business prime contractors
• SBA district offices provide outreach, training and support for businesses just starting in federal contracting and support the disadvantaged programs
• CMRs, Commercial Market Representatives, work with prime contractors to oversee small business subcontracting
• SBA outreach partners, such as Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)
• SBA's SUB-Net program, a free database of small business subcontracting opportunities (solicitations, sources sought and outreach events)
• FedBizOpps as the key to federal procurement and why you must learn to navigate the site
• using strategic marketing to large business prime contractors market during the bidding process while they are forming their team to bid on contracts 
• how subcontracting establishes small businesses in the federal market and raises visibility
• the importance of learning to spot opportunities you can bid on, learning how the system works and all the different paperwork
• where to discover contracts between $15,000 and $25,000 (hint: the government must only display these opps in “in a public place” –even just a a website or a bulletin board!)