Department of Defense
APEX Accelerators (formerly PTAC) — Free Government Contracting Assistance
Who's eligible
Any US small business pursuing government contracts. Veteran-owned businesses often get priority counseling.
How to claim
Find your local APEX Accelerator at apexaccelerators.us and schedule a free counseling session.
Editor's take
Every vet founder pursuing government contracting. APEX counselors help with SAM registration, SDVOSB certification prep, bid matching, proposal review, and subcontracting introductions. Free and there are 90+ locations nationally.
You have zero government contracting ambitions.
Formerly called PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Centers). Renamed to APEX Accelerators in 2023. Some older resources still say PTAC.
APEX Accelerators are DoD-funded and completely free. This is arguably the single most under-used resource for vet founders entering federal contracting. Complements VBOC (which is SBA-funded and broader small business). Use both: VBOC for general business, APEX for government contracting specifics.