Historically, Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been a significant source of upward economic mobility for Black families and their communities. These institutions have played a crucial role in fostering and equipping students to become entrepreneurs, instilling the skills and knowledge to succeed in business. HBCUs are well positioned to leverage their assets, such as human capital, infrastructure, and capabilities, to expand economic opportunities for their institutions and communities.
The federal government increasingly seeks to expand HBCUs’ participation in government contracting markets. This is done through the Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 26.3, which promotes the involvement of HBCUs and Minority Institutions in Federal procurement and executive orders to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in federal contracting practices, recognizing HBCUs’ historical contributions and capabilities.
Many HBCUs are located near major government agencies, both DOD and civilian agencies, which facilitates the development of partnerships between those agencies and the HBCUs. In addition to the collaboration between government agencies, HBCUs are in a great position to partner with the vendor community, including small and large businesses.
How do HBCUs implement a program to pursue government contracts and partnerships? Below are some high-level insights into operationalizing this strategy.
- Gain senior-level buy-in and commitment from the university’s key stakeholders to pursue Federal government contract opportunities.
- Identify and select your core internal team to spearhead this effort.
- Prepare a business development strategy that includes identifying governmental programs to facilitate your go-to-market efforts.
- Conduct market research to determine target agencies and programs.
- Execute business development activities, measure results, and adjust.
Leveraging federal government contracting as a growth opportunity has numerous benefits for HBCUs, which include but are not limited to the following:
- Serving as a reliable and substantial source of revenue generation.
- Increasing student recruitment and community engagement.
- Expanding career opportunities for students and faculty members.
- Fostering an environment of collaboration between HBCUs, corporations, and other educational institutions.
- Helping alleviates economic disparities in underserved communities
For more information:
QC Jones
Managing Partner
qcjones@nolanmac.com
301.302.8977
NolanMackenzie. NolanMackenzie is a management consulting firm specializing in government contracting programs. We design, implement, and manage programs that positively impact entrepreneurs, organizational performance, and economic outcomes. Our approach to service delivery integrates consulting expertise, innovation, and management best practices to produce result-driven solutions.