Federal Contractor Certification Program Survey (revised)

OMB Number 2900-0769

Respondent Burden: 12 minutes

Federal Contractor Certification Program Survey

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Small and Disadvantage Business Utilization (OSDBU) is evaluating its Federal Contractor Certification (FCC) Program. You have been selected to answer this survey because, according to our records, you have enrolled to this program. The collected information will be used to evaluate the program and make improvements as needed. This information is collected in accordance with section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Accordingly, we may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number. We anticipate that the time expended by all individuals who complete this survey will average 12 minutes. Submission of this form is voluntary and failure to response will have no impact on benefits to which you may be entitled. Your responses will be kept private to the intent of the law and will be incorporated to the answers provided by other respondents.

1. Please list the state or states where you do business:
   _______________________________________________________

2. When did you start the Level 1 Certification?

______ Month & Year
______Never Started (SURVEY HAS FINISHED)

3. When did you complete the Level 1 Certification?

______ Month & Year (Go to Question No.7)
______Not Finished

4. (If you have not finished Level 1) How many Level 1 courses have you completed?

______(Please write the number down)

5. (If you have not finished Level 1) Do you expect to finish it? Please use a 5 point scale, where 1 is Definitively Not, and 5 is Definitively Yes.

_____1 Definitively Not

_____2 Probably Not

_____3 Maybe

_____4 Probably Yes

_____5 Definitively Yes

6. (If you have not finished Level 1) What has been the major impediment for you to finish it?
   ________________________________________________________________________

7. When did you start the Level 2 Certification?

______ Month & Year
______Never Started (Go to Question No.12)

8. When did you complete the Level 2 Certification?

______ Month & Year (Go to Question No.12)

______Not Finished

9. (If you have not finished Level 2) How many Level 2 courses have you completed?

______(Please write the number down)

10. (If you have not finished Level 2) Do you expect to finish it? Please use a 5 point scale, where 1 is Definitively Not, and 5 is Definitively Yes.

_____1 Definitively Not

_____2 Probably Not

_____3 Maybe

_____4 Probably Yes

_____5 Definitively Yes

11. (If you have not finished Level 2 yet) What has been the major impediment for you to finish it?
    ________________________________________________________________________

12. How helpful has been/was your PTAC counselor while going through the FCC program?

_____Very Helpful

_____Helpful

_____Not very helpful

13. How could the PTAC counselor be more helpful during the FCC process? ________________________________________________________________________

14. Please rank the parts of the Level 1 FCC program that have been more beneficial to you. Please use the number 1 for the most beneficial.

_______ Understanding the FAR
_______ Business Development: market research; marketing practices
_______ How to read, understand and respond to a solicitation
_______ Types of Contracts
_______ Changes, terminations, protests

_______Subcontracting
_______Pricing Training; accounting structure; DCAA audits
_______ Developing a QA Plan

_______ Ethics

_______ Introduction to Wide Area Workflow (WAWF)

_______ Other(s). Please explain_______________________

15. Please evaluate the following statements using a 5 point scale, where 1 is Totally Disagree, 2 is Disagree, 3 is Neither Agree, nor Disagree, 4 is Agree, and 5 is Totally Agree.

____A. I have been able to apply the skills and knowledge gain through the certification to my business.

____B. I have applied the knowledge gained through the certification program while writing proposals for government contracts.

____C. I feel the certification program is a worthwhile investment of my time and resources.

____D. This certification program has produced positive results in my business.

____E. Due to this program I am more confident when responding to a Request for Proposal (RFP).

____F. This certification program has improved my comfort level when working with Government contracts.

____G. I have been able to bid on more government contracts because of the knowledge acquired through the FCC program.

16. Of the contracts your company has been awarded since starting the FCC program, how many of those awards can you attribute to the knowledge gained through the program? (If none, please go to Question #20)
    _______

17. As identified in question number 16, of those awards that can be attributed to the knowledge gained through the FCC program, how many new employees have you been able to add to your company? ________

18. How many of these new employees are still working on your company?_______

19. As identified in question number 16, of those awards that can be attributed to the knowledge gained through the FCC program, what percentage of your annual revenue does it represent? ________

20. In your own words, how has the FCC program helped you in doing business with the Federal Government?
    ___________________________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________________________

21. How can the VA improve the FCC program? (You can select more than one answer)
    
    _______Reduce the number of courses
    _______Eliminate the comprehensive/final exam
    _______Receive more support/help from the PTAC counselor
    _______Offer classes (boot camp) in place of online courses
    _______Offer some contracting preference when responding to VA solicitations
    _______Develop the exams/tests for the next levels (Levels 3 and 4)
    _______Have a PTAC FCC counselor in each PTAC office
    _______Promote the program among small business owners
    _______Promote the program among contracting officers and program managers
    _______Expand the FCC program to include non-Veteran owned businesses
    _______ Other(s). Please explain_________________________________________

22. For the following questions, please use a 5 point scale, where 1 is Definitively Not at all, and 5 is Definitively Yes. If Level 3 and 4 certifications were available,

____A. How probable is that you complete the Level 3 certification?

____B. How probable is that you complete one of the Level 4 certification for your field (Manufacturing, Information Technology, Services or Construction)?

Thank you for your time and the provided information.