Business Specialists: Call For Proposals

The University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) is accepting proposals from subject matter experts to provide services to SBDC clients on small business-related topics with an emphasis on operations during and post COVID shutdown orders.  Consulting services can be provided via one-on-one consulting services (currently virtual) or through the development and delivery of webinars on small business topics or a combination of the two delivery methods.

The SBDC Network is part of a national program that provides technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs in the form of individualized, no-cost business counseling and advising, as well as business education through free or low cost live training classes and on-line webinars and courses.  The SBDC is a partnership program between the U. S. Small Business Administration, the State of Texas, the University of Houston, and multiple universities and community colleges in the 32 counties in the upper Texas Gulf Coast Area.

The SBDC has opportunities now available for service providers who, unless otherwise noted under requested service areas, possess a minimum of 10 years of small business consulting experience in any the following industries, that include, but are not limited to:

• General retail • Food and Hospitality • Healthcare • Entertainment• Oil and Gas Suppliers • Manufacturing • Construction • Transportation • Health, Fitness and Safety • General Business Start-up

Requested service areas include, but are not limited to: 

• Access to Capital • Cash Flow Analysis and Financial Management • Accounting • e-Commerce • Marketing Research • Market Strategies • Digital Marketing (5 years’ experience) • Public Relations • Website Design/Development and Content Writers (both 5 years’ experience) • Human Resources, especially hiring and disaster related Issues) • Business Plans • Business Strategy • Operations • Sales • Risk Management • Business Valuations

Proposals should include an outline of the service provider’s experience with a resume or biography, a description of services to be provided, an all-inclusive cost proposal breakdown, and a minimum of three (3) recent client references. 

All contractors will be responsible for completing individual client meeting reports, detailing identified problems and outlining recommendations. Client engagement will initially be limited to on-line, telephone, and web meetings, but may be expanded as Stay Home-Work Safe orders are relaxed, and thereafter may involve moderate levels of travel within the Texas Gulf Coast region. 

Please submit proposals and client references to D. Parr at SBDCregion@central.uh.edu. The University reserves the right to reject all offers.  Individuals who submit a proposal that is not selected for award will NOT be notified due to the anticipated number of proposals in response to this ad.