B&P Manufacturing Selected as PTAC Contractor of the Year
B&P Manufacturing in Cadillac is an aluminum fabrication company that's known for its high quality material handling equipment like hand trucks, platform trucks, dock boards and plates. But B&P also makes aluminum containers for things like armor plating and torpedoes for the U.S. military.
"We wanted to expand our product lines and not be strictly focused on material handling," said Tim Chipman, B&P's vice president of manufacturing. "We knew that we had to diversify to survive."
In order to diversify in to the military market B&P developed the quality programs it needed to become a sub-contractor for another company that already had a military contract. Then B&P earned the quality certification it needed to become a prime government contractor and added a staff member who specifically works on securing government contracts.
"At that point we started bidding on a few and we were very successful at landing some smaller ones," said Chipman. "Then we started trying out for the bigger ones and since have landed a couple of the larger contracts."
B&P's efforts to land more and larger government contracts have received a boost from the Northwest Michigan Procurement Technical Assistance Center.
"They came down and went through the whole program with us, told us how to write the proposal," said Chipman.
"B&P is a perfect example of the way our PTAC is able to work with a business all the way from the moment they decide they're interested in government contracting all the way until they win their first award and even beyond that," said Anne Helbig, PTAC Program Director.
Government contracts are becoming an increasingly important part of B&P's business. The company's efforts to grow in that area have earned it recognition as the Northwest Michigan PTAC Government Contractor of the Year, and a nomination as the Michigan Government Contractor of the Year.
"They're a true PTAC success story. They're also a success story for northern Michigan businesses," said Helbig.
"Before you go very far get a hold of PTAC and ask them the questions that are on your mind," said Chipman. "It's not an easy process, it's very difficult, very complex. Without them it makes it a lot more difficult."
B&P is one of 12 businesses in the running for the Michigan Government Contractor of the Year award. The winner will be announced in May at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business event in Lansing.
