Technical Assistance Training Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The Broward County, Florida Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) provides certification and training for local small businesses to boost their ability to bid on County projects. Prior to 2014, there was no formal training program on the county’s procurement process for newly certified firms. In 2014 the County switched to an electronic bidding system, called BidSync, and notified all vendors that paper responses to solicitations were no longer being accepted. While the county had modernized its solicitation process, some business owners were left with a need for additional training; OESBD recognized that training was not an enhancement to its program – it was imperative to achieving the desired outcome of small business inclusion and growth. To address this need, OESBD implemented a formalized training program, comprised of detailed step-by-step instructions on how to: complete a local or federal certification application, use BidSync, do bid estimating, and do business with agencies within Broward County. The technical assistance trainings are advertised through the county’s website, the Business Assistance Weekly Newsletter, Twitter and Eventbrite. To date, more than 200 firms have engaged in onsite free training. In 2015, 10 training sessions were conducted; 12 are planned for 2016. Two webinars are being developed for on-demand training to provide even greater access to OESBD’s clients.