Procurement Specialist Rich Delisio highlights PTAC’s role in “The Contracting Experience” podcast
October 21, 2020
More than 41,000 listeners have tuned in to a podcast featuring Ohio University PTAC Akron Procurement Specialist Rich Delisio, discussing how procurement technical assistance centers help small businesses win federal contracts.
Delisio was featured on “The Contracting Experience” podcast for the Air Force Materiel Command. Each episode provides insight into evolving issues, high-performance leadership and lessons from the field through conversations with acquisition influencers and contracting leaders.
Procurement technical assistance centers or “PTACs” can assist clients in winning government contracts with bid preparation, proposal writing, invoice training, registration and certification, HUBZone program and more, all at no charge. They provide companies with counseling and tools for success, yet many remain unaware of its role.
“We really try to make sure that our qualified vendors are ready for the opportunity when the calling comes,” Delisio said in the podcast episode. “There may be a request for information, maybe a prime looking for local, qualified subs to work on site. And we want to make sure that we’re available to help to meet the small business needs.”
Delisio also focused on PTACs and veteran-owned businesses. Around 2.52 million businesses in the U.S. are majority-owned by veterans, representing 9.15% of all the country’s businesses, according to a report published in April 2017 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In the episode, Delisio noted that the Ohio University PTAC team includes two procurement specialists who are retired U.S. Air Force colonels. This military background helps the PTAC better understand the needs of veterans who are business owners, he told listeners.
“To me it’s an honor to be working with veterans,” Delisio said. “They have that experience and values such as discipline, hardworking and humble. They gave so much to our country and to help them is very rewarding.”
Delisio has served in the Ohio University PTAC since 2009. He serves ten counties – Medina, Summit, Stark, Jefferson, Ashland, Richland, Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas and Carroll – and around 200 clients. Ohio University PTAC, a program of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, is a subcenter of the state of Ohio Procurement Technical Assistance Program. The state PTAC program is a cooperative effort among Ohio Development Services Agency, U.S. Department of Defense and various local host organizations.
For more information, visit ptac.ohio.edu.