[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 98 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29129-29130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11425]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


Technical Assistance Relating to Machine Tools

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice implements that portion of Section 823 of the 
Fiscal Year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act that requires the 
Secretary of Defense to publish information on resources available to 
assist machine tool companies and users of machine tools in 
understanding Government contracting procedures and in locating 
opportunities for contracting with DoD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan L. Schneider, Procurement 
Analyst, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, OUSD(AT&L), 3060 
Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3060, (703) 614-4840; or e-mail 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains information required 
under Section 823 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2004 (Pub. L. 108-136) to assist machine tool companies and users 
of machine tools in Government contracting. It identifies several 
important resources that are available to assist prospective 
contractors in understanding Government contracting procedures and in 
locating opportunities for contracting with DoD.
    The DoD Procurement Technical Assistance (PTA) Cooperative 
Agreement Program was established by Congress in 1985 to provide DoD 
assistance to eligible entities in obtaining and performing under DoD 
contracts. Due to its initial success, it was later expanded to include 
all Federal agencies, as well as State and local governments. The 
Defense Logistics Agency, Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization, is responsible for management of the PTA program. The PTA 
program manager has advised PTA program participants of DoD's emphasis 
on the need to be responsive to machine tool companies and users of 
machine tools in Government contracting by providing assistance and 
counseling consistent with the requirements of Section 823 as outlined 
below.

[[Page 29130]]

    Under this program, PTA centers provide day-to-day assistance to 
firms seeking to do business with Federal agencies and State and local 
governments in the form of such services as helping to prepare bids and 
proposals, marketing to potential buyers, establishing electronic 
commerce capability, setting up or improving quality assurance and 
accounting systems, and resolving payment problems. This specialized 
and professional assistance may consist of, but is not limited to, 
outreach and counseling services. Participants in this program make a 
concerted effort to seek out and assist small businesses, small 
disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, historically 
underutilized business zone small businesses, historically Black 
colleges and universities and minority institutions, and veteran-owned 
small businesses (including service-disabled veteran-owned small 
businesses. A listing of the current PTA centers can be viewed at 
http://www.dla.mil/pta.
    In addition, there are three other sources of information that 
provide assistance to prospective contractors in finding DoD 
contracting opportunities. The ``Guide to DoD Contracting 
Opportunities'' is a publication that provides a step-by-step approach 
to business dealings with DoD. It is located at http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/Doing_Business/index.htm and provides marketing ideas and 
helpful advice for registering your company. Also, FedBizOpps is a 
single Governmentwide point of entry for Federal procurement 
opportunities. Government buyers are able to publicize their business 
opportunities by posting information directly to FedBizOpps via the 
Internet, and commercial vendors seeking jobs can search, monitor, and 
retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting 
community. Additional information on FedBizOpps can be found at http://www.fedbizopps.gov. This is also a useful site to identify 
subcontracting opportunities, since contract awards to prime 
contractors are also published at FedBizOpps.
    The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense FAR 
Supplement (DFARS) are the regulations that govern DoD contracting. The 
FAR and the DFARS work in tandem. They prescribe contractor 
responsibilities and employment practices that apply to all 
contractors, large and small. The Defense Acquisition Regulations 
Directorate maintains electronic copies of these regulations, and they 
are readily accessible to the public at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/index.htm.

Michele P. Peterson,
Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.
[FR Doc. 04-11425 Filed 5-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5201-08-P