Released August 7, 2009
MALVERN, Ark. - Some businesses are being pressured to pay fees to register to contract with the federal government, a registration process that is offered for free, according to Sue Coates, director of the Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center, or APAC.
"There are four steps to register and there is no charge for any of it," said Coates. "The center has received numerous reports that some companies are charging fees for access to mandatory registrations that are free of charge."
Coates urged the public to call 501-337-5355 or send e-mail to apac@uaex.edu to report companies charging fees and to avoid paying for any vendor registrations except the State of Arkansas, Office of State Procurement, which charges $25; all other fees are unnecessary.
The Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center is the designated source for help with any aspect of doing business with any public agency. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is under contract to the Defense Logistics Agency to operate the center, which provides free services to any Arkansas company or individual selling products or services to federal, state, or local government. Although APAC does not have enforcement powers, it can provide reports to the government’s Central Contractor Registration, or CCR. APAC can also help the caller get a refund and guide the caller through the remainder of the registration process.
Arkansas business owners who wish to contract with the federal government will go through four steps:
- First, the company needs an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, from the Internal Revenue Service, by filling out an SS-4 Form or answering the online questionnaire at www.irs.gov.
- Second, the company needs a Data Universal Numbering System, or DUNS, number from Dun & Bradstreet’s special government contracting desk, which can be done by phone by simply providing the company name and location and line of work. The DUNS number is free.
- Third, the company must enter its data into an online system called Central Contractor Registration, which is done in three sub-steps: the User ID Account which identifies the individual person who is authorized to access the record; the company profile which includes confidential banking information; and the Dynamic Small Business Search profile which is for small businesses to supplement their basic registration with marketing information.
- Fourth, the company should fill out vendor information forms or database records for customer agencies of interest. This step is required for the non-federal market. It is optional, but recommended for the federal market.
APAC will provide assistance to any Arkansas company or individual with any of these steps at no charge. Inquiries are welcome, especially in advance of attempting these steps. APAC never releases company data in connection with such assistance, nor does it sell or distribute its client list, and carefully protects the clients’ interests.
For more information, contact the Center or visit its website at http://www.arcommunities.org/apac.htm.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/august2009/0807apac.htm
Editor: Mary Hightower, (501) 671-2126, mhightower@uaex.edu
