Experts To Share Tips On Landing Federal Contracts At JBLM

Lakewood business owners interested in cashing in on billions of dollars of planned improvements at Joint Base Lewis-McChord can learn the in’s and out’s of military contracting at a free seminar Thursday.

Experts will be on hand to help local vendors and contractors navigate the federal contracting maze during the city’s first-ever “Military Contracting Workshop” from 9 a.m. to noon in the City Council Chambers, 6000 Main St. SW.

“With $2 billion in construction work scheduled to be done at JBLM during the next four years, it is essential for local businesses to know how to identify and bid for these projects,” said Ellie Chambers-Grady, Lakewood’s economic development manager. “We are excited to be able to bring together these experts to provide tips and share their experiences working with the federal government.”

Chambers-Grady said the contracting process may seem intimidating to the uninitiated. The seminar is designed to improve the success rate of local vendors and contractors by providing the basic how-to’s of federal contracting.

The three-hour workshop will feature presentations by Scott Harm, Patricia Homs, Brent Meisner and Stan Uhlig.

Harm, owner of Belay Architecture in Tacoma, has teamed with local and national contractors on a broad range of federal projects, including the designs for residential, administrative and industrial projects.

Homs, chief executive officer for the Wabana Group, is certified by the U.S. Treasury Department in federal accounting and reporting and has a deep understanding of appropriations law and federal acquisition regulations, Chambers-Grady said.

Meisner, president and chief operating officer of the Wabana Group, is a business development professional who has more than 30 years of experience contracting with the federal government. During this time, he has developed successful relationships with Homeland Security-Immigrations Customs Enforcement and the Department of Defense.

Uhlig, the owner of Federal Construction Consultants and author of “Principles of Federal Construction Contracting,” will share his experiences working with the Department of Defense for more than 37 years, as well as owning a multi-million-dollar construction business.

The four experts will talk about the registration process to become a military contractor, assessing a company’s strengths for government contracting, finding work as a subcontractor with large regional/national contractors and locating and securing contracting opportunities.

The event is free, but participants are asked to register by calling (253) 284-5702.

Lakewood will continue the training with hands-on sessions in the city’s computer lab on June 20, June 27, July 11 and July 18, when vendors and contractors will be able to register on line to bid on military work.