By Roger Johnson

printable version

If you completed your company’s Central Contractor Registration (CCR) some time ago, then went back to business as usual, without giving your CCR another thought, you are not alone. Even though most small businesses have best intentions of maintaining a current CCR profile, many get so wrapped up in the process of doing business that they sometimes forget to update an address change or personnel changes with new telephone numbers or e-mail information. Maybe the company replaced a product or service with something completely new, but didn’t think about editing their CCR and Small Business Network (SBN) with new North American Identification Codes (NAIC), Standard Identification Codes (SIC), Federal Service Codes (FSC) and/or Product Codes. After months of being left alone, the company’s CCR becomes inactive. Unless changed, this inactive status reflects a “non responsive” red flag to those Government Contract Officers and Buyers who read your company’s CCR as part of their evaluation of your Request for Proposals (RFP) and Request for Quotes (RFQ).

Maybe you open and edit your company’s CCR and your company’s SBN listing on a routine basis, which triggers the beginning of a new 12 month recertification cycle. I tip my hat to you, if you do, but if you don’t, I encourage you to add that procedure to your company’s annual standard operating procedures. I also invite you to contact your local Procurement Technical Assistance Consultant (PTAC) for a company “Government Recertification Check-Up”. After all, when you think about it, you receive assistance from your NBDC, SBA, Banker, CPA, and Attorney to keep your company’s Business Plan on glide don’t you? Why not seek the free services of your local professional PTAC Consultant to assist you in maintaining your company’s Government listings accurately as well? I wish your company a great 2007 first and second quarter.