Contact Information | Annual Report | Small Business Resources

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Small Contractor Participation Assistance Program is to ensure full opportunity for participation by small contractors in certain public works projects involving a contract or aggregated multiple contracts with an estimated cost of more than $1 million.  Designated staff members of the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) are available to provide general information about the program as well as technical assistance for building construction projects managed by TFC. Efforts are currently underway to determine the additional measures needed for development and implementation of other program requirements such as:

• methods for the centralized purchase of insurance;
• a technical assistance plan to aid small contractors in developing the skills necessary to participate in the program;
• a financing assistance plan to aid small contractors in preparing bond application packages and obtaining required bonds; and
• safety training. 
  

Further information about these initiatives will be added to this website as it becomes available.

PROCESS
During the construction solicitation and award process for each building project, TFC staff will provide technical assistance pertaining to:

• the solicitation documents and process;
• construction plans, specifications, and addenda; 
• project schedules, sequencing, or phasing;
• clarifications regarding determination of quantities and preparation of estimates; and
• the state solicitation process and contract requirements.

Information on all active projects managed by TFC is updated regularly and includes project descriptions, project status, and budget summaries. Once building projects are ready for construction solicitation and award, construction plans will be made available in plan rooms throughout the state. All solicitations for upcoming building construction projects managed by TFC will be available through the Electronic State Business Daily feature of the Window on State Government website maintained by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. In addition to active construction solicitations, this link will list all current business opportunities with TFC.

Program Contact Information:

Peter Maass Program Coordinator & Technical Assistance Contact 512-463-9454 peter.maass@tfc.state.tx.us

Shyra Darr Program Coordinator 512-936-4288 Shyra.Darr@tfc.state.tx.us

 

Small Business Resources

U.S. Small Business Administration – SBA

SBA - San Antonio Office

SBA - Small Business Development Center Locator

SBA – Business Plan Basics

SBA - Office of Surety Guarantees
Provides and manages surety bond guarantees for qualified small and emerging businesses.

Small Business Advocacy of the Governor's Office

The mission of the Small Business Advocate is to bridge the gaps that inhibit entrepreneurial growth, and to foster the development of small businesses within the State of Texas through partnerships with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, academic resources, and economic development agencies located throughout the Lone Star State.

City of Austin - Small Business Development Program
Provides counseling and assistance to small businesses including a plan room, a calendar of events and helpful resources and contacts.

The University of Houston Small Business Development Center Network
Provides 15 consulting and training centers located throughout a 32-county area in Southeast Texas with specialized services in government contracting, international trade, technology commercialization and disaster planning and recovery.

The Institute for Economic Development (UTSA IED)
The Institute offers diverse programs to facilitate economic, community and business development at the local, regional and national level.  

The South-West Texas Border Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network
The Network covers 79 counties in West, South and Gulf Coast Texas with 10 field centers and three specialty centers: the Contracting Resource Center, the International Trade Center and the new Rural Business Program.  The regional office, located in San Antonio, directs the activities of 10 satellite SBDCs, located as far west as El Paso and as far east as Victoria.

The Rural Business Program
Supports small business, economic and community development in rural communities and under-served areas throughout the 79-county South-West Texas Border SBDC Network.

The Small Business Development Center
Provides small businesses access to professional and confidential business advising services, a variety of training programs, and an extensive referral network.

The Contracting Resource Center
Provides small business owners with counseling, training and networking opportunities through specialized classes, monthly breakfast meetings, matchmaking events, and one-on-one assistance. The BidMatch Service provides an affordable, customized contracting opportunity search tool for clients of the Center.

The Texas State University Small Business Development Center
The Center works with existing and startup small businesses to provide comprehensive, confidential business counseling services at no cost to the client. Funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Texas State University at San Marcos, and an extensive network of banks, chambers of commerce, and other economic development organizations, the Center serves 12 counties within the 79 county service area of the South-West Texas Border SBDC regional office.

The North Texas Small Business Development Center
A  partnership program between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Dallas County Community College District, the network provides information relating to starting a small business and free in-depth counseling and quality assistance to small businesses in all areas that promote growth.

The Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center
Established with Texas Tech University in 1986, the Center is a regional program serving an area of over ninety thousand square miles comprised of ninety-five counties and a population base of approximately 1.8 million people. Six centers located in Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland/Odessa, Abilene, Stephenville, and Wichita Falls are each staffed with specialists in business development, accounting and business planning and each center provides counseling, technical assistance, training workshops, and reference resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs.