Frequently Asked Questions >>

1. How do I get started with getting the assistance I need from the National Capital Area Minority Business Opportunity Center (MBOC)?
2. You can call, e-mail, write, or download the appropriate forms from the MBOC website.

   To call, you should direct your call to the MBOC Help Desk at (703) 575-6464. The Help Desk Representative will discuss your needs and determine your firm's eligibility for MBOC services.

   To e-mail, you should address your e-mail to sglover@taskpbsi.com. Please state what type of assistance you need, name of your enterprise, name of contact, and when best to contact you. The same information is required if you write.

   If you choose to download forms from our website to complete and return to the MBOC, you should download the procurement information form if you desire procurement assistance or business development assistance and you should download the financial information form if you are requesting assistance with identifying, packaging, or negotiating needed financing from existing or additional financing sources. All prospective clients are required to complete and return the self-certification and privacy forms.

   The information provided by you on these forms will be held in the strictest confidence.

   The client will determine what type of assistance to be provided. This will be confirmed with an engagement letter that will be signed by both an MBOC Representative and an Officer of the client enterprise.

   Should the client's needs change, the engagement letter will be amended.


3. What are the costs of the MBOC Assistance or Services?
4. There are no costs to the client for MBOC services.


5. How can I determine if a particular procurement opportunity with a specific government agency, private sector contractor, or not-for-profit entity offers what might be a bid opportunity that my company may want to pursue?
6. There are certain criteria that an MBE should always consider. There also may be criteria unique to a specific organization or procurement process that might not be universally known to an MBE who has not worked for or with the source organization before. The role of the MBOC is to aid the client MBE with identifying procurement opportunities, determining what the specific criteria might be that an MBE must consider, and if the opportunity warrants a bid preparation effort. If warranted, the MBE then takes the necessary steps to submit a competitive and timely bid.


7. What assistance can the MBOC provide for identifying and evaluating competition on a particular procurement opportunity?
8. The MBOC may be able to assist a client MBE identify who their competitors are or might be for a particular procurement opportunity. It assistance is determined on a case by case basis. Should this assistance be feasible, it could prove to be a valuable tool for developing a bid strategy or deciding on which opportunities to focus on with the highest chance of having a successful bid.


9. What criteria can I use to evaluate my current relationship with my existing financial institution?
10. The first criteria is your current level of customer satisfaction. Are you satisfied with your current relationship? Are your operating needs being met? Are you communicating with your banking services officer on a regular basis? Have you talked about your plans for growth? How can your financial institution help? If you have dissatisfactions, can you talk with your banking services officer about what has you dissatisfied? If not, why not?

11. How can you determine if a teaming strategy is feasible for your MBE?
12. Teaming is the quickest, most cost-effective way to leverage your resources and operating capacity to make a more competitive bid on a given procurement opportunity. If you have not teamed with another company or companies, teaming may afford you a way to compete for procurement opportunities that you may have never considered.

    Explore the possibilities with the MBOC consultant. Teaming may be the key to your MBE's growth plans for the near future and beyond.

    What have you got to lose?


13. What is the turnaround time for processing an MBOC assistance request?
14. There is no one answer when it comes to processing an assistance request. If you know what you want or need, it will not take long to develop a plan of action. If the MBOC needs to discuss or explore your needs in greater depth, then it may take a bit longer. Do you have a growth plan? Is it documented? Have you completed the MBOC's intake forms for procurement, financing, self-certification, and/or privacy and returned to the MBOC? If your answers are yes to all of these, turnaround will be faster than a speeding bullet.


15. Do I need to be certified to get assistance from the MBOC?
16. No, but certain procurement opportunities may require or necessitate some form of certification to meet the procurement eligibility requirements.


17. Can the MBOC help me get certification?
18. We can refer you to consultants who have experience and expertise related to various types of MBE certifications. They can help expedite the process and they may have fees are charges for their assistance. This certification assistance is outside the MBOC's assistance offerings.


19. What's the difference between the MBOC and the MBEC?
20. The MBOC and the MBEC are organizations that are both funded by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Both organizations provide assistance services for MBEs attempting to grow at a rapid pace. Many of the client services offered by both organizations address procurement assistance, as well as financing and bonding assistance. The MBOC does not charge for any of its services at this time. The MBEC may have fees associated with specific services. The staffs of the two organizations are experienced professionals. Their expertise may vary, depending upon your needs.