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How to sell to California: DGS presentation on small-business and DVBE certification, procurement platforms and emergency registry
Summary
John Gastel of the California Department of General Services outlined how small businesses and disabled-veteran firms can register, certify and search for state contracting opportunities, use the state procurement marketplace and emergency registry, and where to get one-on-one help.
John Gastel, with the Department of General Services of the State of California, told a public audience that getting state contracts is a process but one with tangible advantages for certified small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises (DVBE).
"This is the sort of introductory course into doing business with the state of California," Gastel said, and he urged attendees to use his office’s free resources and schedule one-on-one consultations.
The presentation focused on two state certifications his office manages: the general small-business certification and the disabled veteran business enterprise (DVBE) designation. Gastel said certified small businesses receive a 5% bid preference and that small-business and DVBE preferences can "stack," which he described as giving certified firms up to a 10% advantage in some acquisition methods. He also cited a spending figure: "By May, 625,800,000.0 of all contract dollars went to DVEs," a number he presented without additional breakdown.
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