Government Agency Coordination Office, PTAC

Helping Area Companies Pursue Government Business

The Government Agency Coordination Office (GACO) of California University of Pennsylvania is a Procurement Technical Assistance Center that assists companies in the region interested in pursuing federal, state and local government contracting and subcontracting opportunities. The office also helps local businesses explore export opportunities.

GACO has a client base of more than 1,600 businesses. To date, the office has assisted companies obtain more than $2.9 billion in contracts.

California University of Pennsylvania launched GACO as a public service in 1985. The Defense Logistics Agency and the Sarah Scaife Foundation continue to provide key support to the University for GACO's program and events.

Among its services, GACO assists businesses in the region by:

Advising and assisting companies in marketing products and services to government agencies
Identifying codes for federal government contracting which include Federal Supply Class (FSC) codes, Service Codes and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes
Notifying companies of bid opportunities for federal, state and local government contracts and subcontracts, corporate contracts and foreign contracts
Assisting you with government registrations (System for Award Management, DSBS, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Vendor Registration, Contracting websites, and others)
Advising of subcontracting opportunities and contacts and establishing a profile in GACO's Subcontracting Match Program (SMP)
Assisting companies in filing applications for placement on state and local bidders' lists
Advising on bid preparation
Assisting with obtaining specifications and standards data and technical data packages for federal government work
Researching historical cost data and parts suppliers
Providing guidance and points of contact for federal, state and local contracting
Conducting seminars for education and training in government contracting policies and procedures
Hosting procurement fairs for face-to-face marketing opportunities with federal, state and local government agencies and corporations

Seminars, Procurement Fairs

As a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), GACO conducts educational seminars and training in government contracting policies and procedures and hosts procurement fairs to provide local business people face-to-face marketing opportunities with federal, state, local and corporate purchasing agents.