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  • Add You - 4 Step Guide to Contracting Opportunities for the Disaster Relief and Reconstruction Process

    Time And Date Stamps
    Affixing the time and date on products and documents is an important procedure in factories and offices as consistent time and date marking facilitates traceability. Writing dates manually on a large bunch of documents is labor intensive. Such a task is also monotonous, and therefore prone to human errors. Time and date stamp is a mechanical device used to address these problems. It also allows business establishments to track time more effectively.Traditional time and date stamps are made up of six or eight flat rubber bands loaded on a support pulley system that is attached to a wooden knob for holding the stamp. An inkpad is used to wet the required date embossing, which is then positioned on the document and pressed slightly to get the imprint. Self-inking versions of time and date stamps with plastic caps are also available in the market.Operators using manual date stamps have to rotate the bands and pre-check the positioned date on a waste paper. This is necessary because embossed numbers do not resemble normal numbers. Electronic time and date stamps overcome such drawbacks.Recent developments include ribbon based electronic time and date stamps that print automatically when paper is inserted.
    ces listed here are responsible for all procurement functions of the DHS.

    DHS Acquisition Offices:
    DHS Headquarters
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Note: FEMA is the key agency responsible for the majority of disaster-related budgets
    Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
    Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
    U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
    U.S. Coast Guard

    Living Proof of The Joint Venture Mindset
    Frank Schroeder was one of the most successful insurance salesmen I ever met. He owned two Porches and two sets of electric drums and lived like a king. We did some business together and I asked him what the secret to his success was. And at this point I must digress. I have sold insurance very successfully in Canada and in South Africa. I no longer sell insurance; I specialize in Joint Ventures. But I have found very few insurance salespeople who share Frank’s philosophy or his success. Many of them have very strange labels and titles that they have concocted for themselves in order to disguise the fact that they sell insurance, yet they should be proud of their important work. And they are so focused on selling that they are proof of the self-fulfilling prophecy syndrome. But let us not waste time discussing what we should not do.Frank was living proof of the power of what I call “The Joint Venture Mindset”. As far as I can recall, I will try to put his approach in his own words: “Robin, I always tell people right up front that I sell insurance. That builds trust and credibility right away. And I NEVER try to sell anything on the first visit, or even the second visit. In fact, I often don’t ever try to sell insu
    The federal government anticipates spending over $150 billion dollars for the Katrina and Rita hurricane disaster relief and reconstruction efforts. Contracting opportunities abound for businesses of all sizes and types and there is a great need for varied services and products. Businesses throughout the US can explore the contracting opportunities by following these four steps.

    The disaster-related services and products needed in the Gulf states will cover every aspect of life, business and government in the affected areas. Savvy companies are working to fill the needs now. However, this is a long-term, multi-layered process. While initial contracts have already been secured, there will be many more contracts worth billions of dollars to come over the next 6-12-18 months and longer. Those firms that employ both short-term and long-term strategies will be the most successful.

    Step 1: Identify the Agencies with the Budgets to Buy What You Sell

    This is one of the advantages in doing business with the federal government. Unlike the corporate environment, you can find out what agencies have budgets projected for your products and services and when they are planning to spend it.

    The Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) will help U.S. businesses, especially minority and small businesses, participate in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. The website www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov allows companies to register with government agencies that are providing contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast. The website also provides basic information on doing business with the government, e-mail alerts regarding specific contracting opportunities, links to other government and local agencies, and information about minority business services.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is constantly changing to best serve the nation’s requirements. The 22 agencies that initially made up the DHS originally maintained independent purchasing power. Now, the eight offices listed here are responsible for all procurement functions of the DHS.

    DHS Acquisition Offices:
    DHS Headquarters
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Note: FEMA is the key agency responsible for the majority of disaster-related budgets
    Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
    Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
    U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
    U.S. Coast Guard O

    Profit and Loss Account Basics
    What is a profit and loss account?The profit and loss account (p&l) is usually presented as a statement and it shows the trading activity and associated expenditure of an organisation over a defined period of time. A typical p&l will contain the following:SalesThis is the turnover of the business, the main source of income from sales of products or services. This figure is always net of taxes as these are payable to the government and do not form part of the income of the business.Purchases (stock/inventory)Purchases are the items of stock you buy in order to sell on to customers. A basic accounting principle is that income is exactly matched against the cost of generating that income. In this regard the stock or inventory on hand at the end of the accounting period is always deducted from the total purchases cost. These stock items will be used to generate future sales and will be matched against those sales in the next period.Sales related expenditureThese costs are those that are directly incurred in the process of making a sale to a customer. They include items such as sales commission, promotional costs and courier charges.Overhea
    nment in the affected areas. Savvy companies are working to fill the needs now. However, this is a long-term, multi-layered process. While initial contracts have already been secured, there will be many more contracts worth billions of dollars to come over the next 6-12-18 months and longer. Those firms that employ both short-term and long-term strategies will be the most successful.

    Step 1: Identify the Agencies with the Budgets to Buy What You Sell

    This is one of the advantages in doing business with the federal government. Unlike the corporate environment, you can find out what agencies have budgets projected for your products and services and when they are planning to spend it.

    The Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) will help U.S. businesses, especially minority and small businesses, participate in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. The website www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov allows companies to register with government agencies that are providing contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast. The website also provides basic information on doing business with the government, e-mail alerts regarding specific contracting opportunities, links to other government and local agencies, and information about minority business services.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is constantly changing to best serve the nation’s requirements. The 22 agencies that initially made up the DHS originally maintained independent purchasing power. Now, the eight offices listed here are responsible for all procurement functions of the DHS.

    DHS Acquisition Offices:
    DHS Headquarters
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Note: FEMA is the key agency responsible for the majority of disaster-related budgets
    Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
    Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
    U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
    U.S. Coast Guard

    Affordable Options Exist for Retail Security
    Security Mirror, Fake Security Camera, Door Entry Chime lead the list.If you own a retail store, security has to be one of your primary concerns. Retail shoplifting accounts for roughly 10 billion dollars in loss each year in the United States, and employee theft accounts for more than 15 billion in loss each year. Statistics like this can’t be ignored. If you are a retailer experiencing a high rate of theft in your store, there is good news. Affordable options exist to help you buckle down and fight back.There are a few simple and affordable steps that you can take to provide an added layer of security to your retail store. Utilize these pointers, and you will be well on your way to a safer, more cost-effective store.Think Faux: Sometimes all it takes to ward off would-be thieves and burglars is the power of suggestion. A fake security camera can be an extremely effective deterrent to crime. Nowadays you can find a very convincing fake security camera for as little as $20. Simply mount one or more fake security cameras in corners and let them go to work protecting your inventory and your employees.If you can afford to install a real security camera system in your store, it is
    siness with the federal government. Unlike the corporate environment, you can find out what agencies have budgets projected for your products and services and when they are planning to spend it.

    The Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) will help U.S. businesses, especially minority and small businesses, participate in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. The website www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov allows companies to register with government agencies that are providing contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast. The website also provides basic information on doing business with the government, e-mail alerts regarding specific contracting opportunities, links to other government and local agencies, and information about minority business services.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is constantly changing to best serve the nation’s requirements. The 22 agencies that initially made up the DHS originally maintained independent purchasing power. Now, the eight offices listed here are responsible for all procurement functions of the DHS.

    DHS Acquisition Offices:
    DHS Headquarters
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Note: FEMA is the key agency responsible for the majority of disaster-related budgets
    Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
    Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
    U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
    U.S. Coast Guard

    Wireless High risk Merchant Accounts
    Pornography, a multi-million industry, is good business. Adult videos and magazines are always doing brisk sales. But aside from these forms of media, billions of people around the world turn to the Internet to access pornography. Finding an Internet connection is not hard these days. Some people no longer use a traditional plug-in modem to connect to the web, and instead use wireless modems and cellular phones. This becomes a big problem for people who run adult websites because it is now easy to hack into their sites and enter it illegally.Getting your own siteSo how does one run this kind of business? The most important thing you need before anything else is to have a merchant account. This is an account that allows you to collect credit card fees from your clients. Adult sites are considered "high risk" because they are the kind of business that usually runs "offshore." It means that they do not really have a physical establishment. They are also considered "high risk" because they are often victims of Internet fraud.Hacking into the accountsComputer hackers are able to access these kinds of site without paying a dime by stealing account passwords. This is done through "trash diving." Hack
    g contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast. The website also provides basic information on doing business with the government, e-mail alerts regarding specific contracting opportunities, links to other government and local agencies, and information about minority business services.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is constantly changing to best serve the nation’s requirements. The 22 agencies that initially made up the DHS originally maintained independent purchasing power. Now, the eight offices listed here are responsible for all procurement functions of the DHS.

    DHS Acquisition Offices:
    DHS Headquarters
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Note: FEMA is the key agency responsible for the majority of disaster-related budgets
    Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
    Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
    U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
    U.S. Coast Guard

    Trucking Owner-Operator Pitfalls
    There are a lot of good trucking companies out there. I have known company drivers for US Express, USA Truck, Schneider Trucking, Werner Trucking, and LTL trucking companies like Yellow Freight and Roadway Express that were really knocking back the cash. I personally have worked for Continental Express and Digby Truck Lines and did quite well. But for some drivers, working for someone else just isn't enough...The problem for some is that the lure of the open road tricks them into becoming owner operators before they are ready.I have been an owner operator for nearly 8 years and I would estimate I am pretty high on the food chain. "Making it" as an owner operator in trucking isn't easy. I didn't get here by luck, I asked a lot of questions and listened to what other drivers said their mistakes were. Learning from others' mistakes has helped me avoid some of the pitfalls they fell into.Pitfall #1 Lease PurchaseIf you don't have the cash or credit to go buy a truck on your own, you aren't ready. Spend a few years as a company driver- I suggest at least two years- and get informed. Check with trucking legal resources like OOIDA about the problems with lease purchase deals. Many dr
    ces listed here are responsible for all procurement functions of the DHS.

    DHS Acquisition Offices:
    DHS Headquarters
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Note: FEMA is the key agency responsible for the majority of disaster-related budgets
    Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
    Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
    U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
    U.S. Coast Guard Office of Procurement Management (USCG)

    Check the DHS website for specific information regarding the disaster-related contracting opportunities: www.dhs.gov/openforbusiness

    FedBizOpps is a federal government website that provides a central listing of most current federal contracts. Register at www.FedBizOpps.gov to receive the notices of bids and contracts that go through the normal contract advertising process. However, it has been noted on the FedBizOpps web site that many emergency contracts may not make it to this public forum. You may need to contact each agency to determine the specific opportunities available.

    For past expenditures, check with the Federal Procurement Data Center (FPDC), part of the U.S. General Services Administration. The FPDC manages the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), which is the current central repository of historical information on Federal contracting. The system contains detailed information on contract actions over $2,500. The Executive departments and agencies award over $200 billion annually for goods and services. The system can identify who bought what, from whom, for how much, when and where.

    Prime or General Contractors (GC) will be a source of sub-contracts for companies of all sizes. This disaster is of a magnitude that the US has never seen before and many contracting operations will be handled directly by Primes or GCs.

    Action Items:

    A. Check the agencies that have a history of purchasing your products and services. Go to www.fpdc.gov.

    B. Use some sort of contact manager software like ACT! or Goldmine to build your own government procurement database and schedule regular follow-up.

    C. New vendors: Get registered in the Central Contractor Registry: www.ccr.gov

    Step 2: Find the Specific Offices in Your Targeted Agencies That are Most Likely to Purchase Your Products and Services

    The DHS and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have nationwide agencies and offices, as do Primes and GCs. Do you w

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