There is a LOT of misinformation circulating about security clearances.  Do you want to know if you need security clearances to win government contracts, if and when you do need a clearance, how do you get a clearance, what do they check, is a polygraph necessary, how long does it take, what questions do they ask, what happens if you fail, is there a cost, who pays, does it matter if you inhaled when you were a college student (or last month, for that matter), is citizenship required, what does it mean to have a facility clearance, how long is a clearance good for and can it be renewed? Do the Ft Meade agencies have different requirements and processes than the other agencies? What is PISA and DSS? You can learn the answers to these questions, ask your own and hear the REAL facts from experts in the security clearance process.


Attend the half-day Security Clearance Workshop on November 3, 2009 to learn:

--Security Clearance process - why it is important and what you need do to obtain one.
--Current government programs that pertain to personnel and facility clearances
--A review of Facility Security Clearance requirements and procedures
--Personnel Security Clearance requirements, polygraph and re-investigations. 
--Employee pre-screening and clearance process
--Adjudication standards and evaluation process
--Special Access requirements
--Sensitive Compartmented Information, what it is and special requirements.
--Required reporting of suspicious activity and adverse information.

For details and to register click here or call
410-313-6550. Cost: Only $250 for first company rep, $200 each additional person per company

Abuse of MBEs Now Felonies
The punishment for several common abuses endured by MBEs has been increased. These prohibited activities now carry a penalty of five years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

Those prohibitions include:
� Using the name of a certified MBE in a bid or proposal without the firm's knowledge or permission;
� Failing to utilize the MBE in the performance of a contract;
� Paying an MBE solely for the use of the firm's name in a bid or proposal.
The Governor's Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA) will establish a fraud hotline to help combat abuses of the MBE Program and provide a conduit for individuals to report such abuses.

Click here for details.

    Thanks to Hank Wilfong for the following update on Recovery Contracts Going to Small Business
Summary of Recovery Act Awards to Small Business

Awards to Small Businesses are continuing to increase. As of September 28th Small Business's have been awarded Federal contracts totaling $3,571,150,328, or 24.8% of total Recovery Act contract awards.

To date, the subcategories of Small Businesses are doing fairly well:

8a             $1,208,470,798 or 8.4%
SDB          $1,447,442,357 or 10.1%
HZ             $ 922,314,183 or 6.4%     
SDVOSB   $ 547,911,015 or 3.8%
VOSB        $ 682,114,503 or 4.7%
WOSB       $ 554,946,409 or 3.9%

Are you in the know how to pursue and win these contracts? Contact us, we are here to help.
Call toll-free 1-866-579-1346