Montgomery chamber moves to stop slide in federal contracts

Suburban Maryland companies have lost ground

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce recently formed a Government Contracting Network to focus more intensely on federal contracting. The program includes a committee comprising business executives from Aronson & Co., PNC Bank and other companies, targeted educational forums and a dedicated Internet site.

From fiscal '05 to fiscal '07, federal procurements to companies in suburban Maryland declined by 2.4 percent to $11.6 billion, while they climbed 11 percent in Northern Virginia and 10 percent in Washington, according to Eagle Eye Publishers. The Fairfax, Va., market research company provided the data for the Montgomery chamber.

Total federal contracting dollars nationwide jumped by 9 percent over that period, further highlighting the downward trend in suburban Maryland.

"This program is our attempt to reverse that trend and increase access to opportunities for our government contracting members," said James Whang, CEO of high-tech contractor AEPLOG and chairman of the Montgomery chamber.

The program started last week and has attracted a good amount of interest, said Barbara Ashe, chamber executive vice president.

"We have had quite a few phone calls from members who are interested in participating," Ashe said. "This program is about giving access to federal procurement opportunities and educating businesses on best practices in government contracting."

Upcoming meetings include a breakfast with Lt. Gen. Jeffery A. Sorensen, the Army's chief information officer, sponsored by Mountaintop Marketing Group of Silver Spring. There is also a seminar on the E-Verify system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration that allows employers to electronically verify employment eligibility of new employees.

Charles County sees

significant jump

The lone suburban Maryland county to see an increase in federal procurement dollars was Charles, which welcomed $156.6 million in fiscal 2007, about triple its total from two years earlier. The jump was attributed to more contractors and expansion of existing contractors at Indian Head, where the Navy has a Surface Warfare Center, and other places, said Jeff Nixon, chief of client services for the Charles County Economic Development and Tourism Department.

"Southern Maryland has a strong defense contracting business," Nixon said. "We regularly visit companies that are contractors to find out how we can help them. We've found that those government contractors are doing very well."

The county also partners with the state Department of Business and Economic Development to hold regular forums and fairs that deal with government procurement and related matters, Nixon said.

Other Maryland chambers of commerce sponsor regular programs on government contracting for members. The Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce in Laurel regularly hosts government procurement fairs linking business owners with government procurement officials from federal and local agencies, as well as prime contractors. The chamber's 17th annual procurement fair is planned for Oct. 22 at the Greenbelt Marriott.

Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Government Contracting Network, 301-738-0015, www.montgomerycounty

chamber.com/pubs/main/

GovConNet.cfm.

17th annual Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce Government Procurement Fair, Oct. 22, Greenbelt Marriott, 301-725-4000, www.baltwashchamber.org