PRO-Net is an electronic gateway of procurement information for and about small businesses. It is a search engine for contracting officers, a marketing tool for small firms and a “link” to procurement opportunities and important information. It is designed to be a “virtual” one-stop-procurement-shop.

This great resource is a wonderful way to tap into the government contracting opportunities that are here locally. The U.S. Small Business Administration, the Department of Defense, the Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration have taken steps to simplify the federal contracting process by creating an integrated database of small businesses that want to do business with the government. PRO-Net’s data base consists of information on more than 195,000 small, disadvantaged, 8(a) HUBZone, and women-owned businesses. Businesses profiled on the PRO-Net system can be searched by NAICS codes; key words; location; quality certifications; business type; ownership race and gender; EDI capability.

To register your firm on PRO-Net, go to SBA’ national web site at www.pro-net.sba.gov.