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In the News - August 2009
Small businesses report being charged for free registrations
MALVERN, Ark. - Some businesses are being pressured to pay fees to register
to contract with the federal government, a registration process that is offered
for free, according to Sue Coates, director of the Arkansas Procurement
Assistance Center, or APAC.
"There are four steps to register and there is no charge for any of it," said
Coates. "The center has received numerous reports that some companies are
charging fees for access to mandatory registrations that are free of charge."
Coates urged the public to call 501-337-5355 or send e-mail to
apac@uaex.edu to report
companies charging fees and to avoid paying for any vendor registrations except
the State of Arkansas, Office of State Procurement, which charges $25; all other
fees are unnecessary.
The Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center is the designated source for help
with any aspect of doing business with any public agency. The University of
Arkansas Division of Agriculture is under contract to the Defense Logistics
Agency to operate the center, which provides free services to any Arkansas
company or individual selling products or services to federal, state, or local
government. Although APAC does not have enforcement powers, it can provide
reports to the government’s Central Contractor Registration, or CCR. APAC can
also help the caller get a refund and guide the caller through the remainder of
the registration process.
Arkansas business owners who wish to contract with the federal government
will go through four steps:
- First, the company needs an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, from
the Internal Revenue Service, by filling out an SS-4 Form or answering the
online questionnaire at
www.irs.gov.
- Second, the company needs a Data Universal Numbering System, or DUNS,
number from Dun & Bradstreet’s special government contracting desk, which can be
done by phone by simply providing the company name and location and line of
work. The DUNS number is free.
- Third, the company must enter its data into an online system called Central
Contractor Registration, which is done in three sub-steps: the User ID Account
which identifies the individual person who is authorized to access the record;
the company profile which includes confidential banking information; and the
Dynamic Small Business Search profile which is for small businesses to
supplement their basic registration with marketing information.
- Fourth, the company should fill out vendor information forms or database
records for customer agencies of interest. This step is required for the
non-federal market. It is optional, but recommended for the federal market.
APAC will provide assistance to any Arkansas company or individual with any
of these steps at no charge. Inquiries are welcome, especially in advance of
attempting these steps. APAC never releases company data in connection with such
assistance, nor does it sell or distribute its client list, and carefully
protects the clients’ interests.
For more information, contact the Center or visit its website at
http://www.arcommunities.org/apac.htm.
The Cooperative Extension Service is a part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability,
marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
August 7, 2009
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uaex.edu
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