What Is an APEX Accelerator?

Practical assistance before you bid

APEX Accelerators help businesses prepare to participate in government contracting. The program was formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program. Local centers can help companies understand procurement processes and navigate questions that arise before and during market entry.

Services and coverage depend on the center. Confirm your local center's eligibility, appointment process, and any event or training fees rather than assuming every offering follows one national format.

Topics to ask about

• Federal, state, and local registration requirements
• SAM.gov preparation and common registration problems
• Relevant NAICS codes and small-business program resources
• Capability statements and procurement research
• Understanding a solicitation and deciding whether to bid
• Finding training, agency contacts, and potential subcontracting routes

APEX assistance does not award contracts or replace a contracting officer. It also does not relieve your company of responsibility for accurate registrations, representations, certifications, or contract performance.

Find the right center

Use the official APEX program's locator or your state program's website. Desra Group is Orlando-based; Florida businesses can begin with Florida APEX and identify the office that serves their location. Companies outside Florida should use the center serving their own area.

Bring a useful starting packet

1. 01A plain-language description of your business and what you deliver.
2. 02Your legal business information and any existing UEI or CAGE code. Keep sensitive account, tax, and banking information secure.
3. 03A draft capability statement and examples of relevant work.
4. 04Two or three agencies, primes, or local buyers you are considering.
5. 05A real notice or registration question you want help understanding.
6. 06A short list of staffing, cash-flow, compliance, or proposal constraints.

Specific questions make an appointment more useful than a general request to find you a contract.

Use assistance alongside your own relationships

Follow the appointment with a written action list and owners for each task. Complete the research and corrections before scheduling the next discussion. APEX counseling, SBA resources, SBDC business support, and industry relationships can complement one another, but their roles differ.

Desra's Solution Network is a separate relationship-based network available at no cost for qualified companies. It is not an APEX program, government certification service, or substitute for official procurement guidance.