Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 June 2008 — OHA seeks federal grant [ARTICLE]

OHA seeks federal grant

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is applying for a federal grant to aid in the creation of a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to help small businesses, especially those owned by Native Hawaiians, get government contracts. The Board of Trustees in May approved the creation of the center and authorized Adnūnistrator Clyde Nāmu'o to subnūt a grant applieaūon to the U.S. Department of Defense.

PTACs are run by loeal govermnents or other nonprofit entities. The centers bridge buyers and suppliers, providing businesses with an understanding of government contracting and the know-how to obtain and successfully perform federal, state and loeal govermnent contracts. Hawai'i is one of only four states without a PTAC in plaee. OHA is taking the lead in seeking the Hawai'i PTAC with an allianee including the University of Hawai'i Richardson School of Law, the Hawai'i Procurement Institute, the Honolulu Minority Business Enterprise Center, Empower O'ahu, and the Hawai'i Small Business IT Hui. "Small businesses, especially Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, deserve a larger share of the huge federal procurement market," said Nāmu'o. "While the PTAC would serve all businesses, OHA's management and ūnaneial support . . . would ensure that all beneficiaries seeking business opportunities and training and technical assistance related to government contracting would be served."