Why Pedro Pierluisi provide guidance to small businesses and the general public
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
The Office of Resident Commissioner in Washington, Pedro Pirellis, today hosted a workshop to discuss procurement opportunities with the federal government, in an effort to provide guidance to small businesses and the public.
Resident Commissioner in Washington, Pedro Pirellis, said that in 2009, Puerto Rico received only 0.2 percent of the 524 billion in contracts awarded by the U.S. government.
“Based on this alarming statistic makes sense for us to provide small businesses and the general public some guidelines that may serve in the process of obtaining federal government contracts,” said Pirellis.
The workshop was organized with nine federal agencies, among which are the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Homeland Security, Veterans Administration, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Corps of Engineers United States and the United States Army.
Representatives attending the workshop are responsible for negotiating, administering, and extending contracts, the best resources that can have a contractor who wants to bid with the federal government, said the Resident Commissioner in Washington.
Pirellis urged participants to use the tools provided by the Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) and his office for assistance in federal programs.
He said that the office provides assistance in the collection of information, certification of small businesses and federal contracting guidelines.
PRIDCO employees work directly with federal government agencies in these processes.
“The speakers we have invited you today will agree that many entities in Puerto Rico are in a good position to improve the percentage of contracts that are received from the federal government. We have a stable economy and a workforce highly trained and bilingual. These factors as well as the desire and competitive level of new business, made us an attractive target for federal funds, “said Pirellis.
He added that it will continue doing everything in their power to ensure that Puerto Rico enjoys the same competitiveness that the 50 states.