Our Program
The RenCenter Business Certification program has three aspects:
Certification 2. Capacity Building 3. Contracts.
We want you to be successful in all three.
1. Get Certified
What does it take to get certified?
It depends on the certification, but for all:
You must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
You must be the majority owner (51%) and have the characteristics necessary to fulfill the certification requirements (i.e. woman-owned, minority-owned, Section 3)
You must be willing to collect and submit documentation to the certification agency
Although Renaissance cannot help with your legal status, we provide guidance on organizing your business and submitting documentation.
We are also ready to help you build your capacity as a business to scale and take on bigger and better contracts.
2. Build Capacity
Most businesses are not 100% ready to start applying for government contracts tomorrow. There are processes to understand and structures your business needs to have in place to be successful at bidding on and ultimately executing your new contracts.
The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center has created a 5-module program to support small businesses from San Mateo County to be ready for success in government contracting.
Imagine what you can do for your business in just 24 hours! Getting certified doesn’t guarantee you contracts at first, but having the skills to put together good bids and get in front of the right people is going to lead to success.
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Understand the basics of government contracting and decide whether it is right for you at this time. Learn about the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and how it will help you prepare for success.
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Many businesses have outdated business plans - or none at all. Taking on $3M projects is not something most small companies are prepared to do. In this 6-hour bootcamp, you will update (or write) your business plan with a focus on scaling your business. You will learn how to think about the investment you need to make to be ready for big contracts, across the parts of your business, from marketing, to operations and human resources, to capital investments.
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Getting started with government contracting means learning new terms and navigating new processes. Whether you are just learning what RFP means or you have tried for a contract in the past, this bootcamp will orient you to procurement processes in large organizations, what procurement officers are looking for, and how to get your business in order to begin submitting bids.
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The core of any bid is your proposal - what you’re going to do for the organization, when, how and for how much. Procurement officers aren’t trying to trick you, but answering their questions is an art. You need to be a good writer with a great understanding of what the questions are REALLY asking so you can be sure your proposal is responsive and responsible.
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What else goes into bidding on a contract? A lot more than you might think. First you need to find the bid and understand how to make contact. There might be a prequalification process you need to fulfill. You also need to make sure your bid price is reasonable for them - and for your business! This bootcamp will help you with all the nuts and bolts of bidding.
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You’re Certified - Now What? You need to get that information out! Whether that is joining a database of other certified businesses, updating your website and marketing materials, or attending and pitching at networking events, you need to be using your certification to put you ahead!
3. Get Contracts
Becoming part of the RenCenter Business Certification program is joining an elite group of businesses who can be recommended to county, city and school district procurement officers. We are working closely with the county to build a database of MBE/WBE certified businesses for county agencies, cities, school districts and corporations to use as a resource.
As part of our bootcamps, you’ll learn where to look for bids and how to put together great proposals.
And as a client of Renaissance, you will always be in the network. As a client, you are able to access ongoing technical assistance on:
Reviewing a proposal
Securing financing to invest in new equipment for a proposal you’ve won
Getting advice on how to optimize your website
And more…