§ 42-64-35. Government contract procurement assistance.
(a) The general assembly recognizes that:
(1) Many Rhode Island companies provide products and services which are routinely procured by a myriad of governmental entities. However, attempting to understand and comply with the numerous certification, registration, opportunity identification, proposal, and contract requirements associated with government procurement often raises significant barriers for those companies with no government contracting experience;
(2) The costs associated with obtaining a government contract for products or services often prevents most small businesses from working in the governmental procurement market;
(3) Currently many of the federal procurement opportunities are contracted to businesses located outside of the state;
(4) The commerce corporation currently administers programs and initiatives that help create and grow companies in Rhode Island and recruit companies to Rhode Island through the use of state employees, public-private partnerships, and contractual services; and
(5) There exists a significant opportunity for Rhode Island companies to secure new business with federal, state, and local governments.
(b) The corporation through its director:
(1) Shall manage and direct the administration of state programs and initiatives whose purpose is to procure federal, state, and local governmental contracts;
(2) May require program accountability measures; and
(3) May receive and distribute legislative appropriations and public and private grants for projects and programs that:
(i) Are focused on growing Rhode Island companies and positively impacting statewide revenues by expanding current services to help these companies secure new business with federal, state, and local governments;
(ii) Provide guidance to Rhode Island companies interested in obtaining new business with federal, state, and local governmental entities;
(iii) Would facilitate marketing, business development, and expansion opportunities for Rhode Island companies in cooperation with other state and local agencies and departments and with public, nonprofit, or private sector partners such as local chambers of commerce, trade associations, or private contractors as determined by the corporation’s director to successfully match Rhode Island businesses with government procurement opportunities.
Any supplemental appropriation to the corporation is to be utilized on specialized consulting service providers qualified and experienced in helping businesses increase their win rate of federal contracts. These services may include, but are not limited to:
(A) Assistance for the EDC in screening companies (“qualified businesses”) who have the products, services, basic skills, and resources to effectively compete for and win federal business;
(B) Training and support for the qualified businesses in sales strategies prior to answering formal federal solicitations (“RFPs”) and/or winning subcontracting business from major prime contractors;
(C) Proposal development support and training to improve the written responses to federal RFPs, and the oral presentations which follow;
(D) Training and support for negotiation and;
(E) Support services and subject matter experts to ensure contract performance and compliance.
(c) A recipient of monies distributed under this section shall provide the office with a set of standard monthly reports, the content of which shall be determined by the office to include at least the following information:
(1) Consultative meetings with Rhode Island companies;
(2) Seminars or training meetings held;
(3) Government contracts awarded to Rhode Island companies;
(4) Jobs created/retained; and
(5) Salary ranges of jobs created/retained.
(6) The return on investment/cost per job.
History of Section.P.L. 2010, ch. 26, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 29, § 2.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 42 - State Affairs and Government
Chapter 42-64 - Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Section 42-64-1. - Short title.
Section 42-64-1.1. - Change of name.
Section 42-64-2. - Legislative findings.
Section 42-64-3. - Definitions.
Section 42-64-6. - General powers.
Section 42-64-7. - Additional general powers.
Section 42-64-7.1. - Subsidiaries.
Section 42-64-7.2. - Amendment of the articles of incorporation of a subsidiary public corporation.
Section 42-64-7.3. - Voluntary dissolution of a subsidiary public corporation.
Section 42-64-7.4. - Water supply facilities.
Section 42-64-7.5. - Acceptance of federal grants.
Section 42-64-7.7. - Grant of powers to the corporation.
Section 42-64-7.9. - Orders as to pretreatment of sewage.
Section 42-64-7.11. - Venture capital forum program.
Section 42-64-7.12. - Transfer of functions to the Quonset Development Corporation.
Section 42-64-7.13. - National security infrastructure support fund.
Section 42-64-8. - Directors, officers, and employees.
Section 42-64-8.1. - Appropriation and expenses.
Section 42-64-8.2. - Role and responsibilities of board members.
Section 42-64-8.3. - Transparency requirements established.
Section 42-64-9. - Condemnation power.
Section 42-64-9.1. - Inspection powers.
Section 42-64-9.2. - Civil penalties.
Section 42-64-9.3. - Criminal penalties.
Section 42-64-9.4. - Procedures for enforcement.
Section 42-64-9.5. - Hearings.
Section 42-64-9.6. - Notice of decisions.
Section 42-64-9.7. - Notice of hearing on orders.
Section 42-64-9.8. - Procedure for hearings on orders.
Section 42-64-9.9. - Public access to information.
Section 42-64-9.10. - Rules and regulations — Notice of rule review.
Section 42-64-10. - Findings of the corporation.
Section 42-64-11. - Disposition of projects.
Section 42-64-12. - Community advisory committees.
Section 42-64-13. - Relations with municipalities.
Section 42-64-13.1. - Assistance to urban communities for economic revitalization.
Section 42-64-13.2. - Renewable energy investment coordination.
Section 42-64-14. - Relations with state agencies.
Section 42-64-15. - Bonds and notes of the corporation.
Section 42-64-16. - Short-term notes.
Section 42-64-17. - Security for bonds or notes.
Section 42-64-18. - Reserve funds and appropriations.
Section 42-64-19. - Trust funds.
Section 42-64-20. - Exemption from taxation.
Section 42-64-20.1. - Procedure.
Section 42-64-21. - Notes and bonds as legal investments.
Section 42-64-22. - Agreement of the state.
Section 42-64-23. - Credit of state.
Section 42-64-24. - State’s right to require redemption of bonds.
Section 42-64-25. - Remedies of bondholders and note-holders.
Section 42-64-26. - Authorization to accept appropriated moneys.
Section 42-64-27. - Assistance by state officers, departments, boards and commission.
Section 42-64-28. - Annual financial reports and performance report.
Section 42-64-29. - Inventory of development sites.
Section 42-64-30. - Inconsistent provisions.
Section 42-64-31. - Other statutes.
Section 42-64-31.1. - Rules and regulations.
Section 42-64-32. - Construction.
Section 42-64-33. - Severability.
Section 42-64-34. - Appointment of small business advocate.
Section 42-64-34.1. - Cooperation required.
Section 42-64-35. - Government contract procurement assistance.
Section 42-64-36. - Program accountability.
Section 42-64-37. - Loan and loan guarantee programs.
Section 42-64-38. - Audit of the corporation.
Section 42-64-39. - Business development center.
Section 42-64-40. - Court-approved settlements.
Section 42-64-41. - Report regarding small business lending.