January 23, 2025
Utah’s APEX Accelerator program empowers small businesses to enter the complex world of government contracting. By working with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, APEX assists startups in getting their innovative products and services into the field.
The program provides comprehensive support to startups and established businesses with one-on-one counseling, networking, symposiums, consulting, bid preparation assistance, and a bid match program. “From A to Z, we help them all the way to post-contract administration,” said APEX director Chuck Spence.
As noted by Spence, the impact of these efforts is undeniable. “For the last several years, we’ve helped companies directly or indirectly to the tune of a little over a billion dollars a year in contracts.” With several offices across the state, the organization has served a database of over 3,000 clients and currently boasts upwards of 1,000 active clients.
Formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the program has undergone various changes in nearly two decades as a part of GOEO. After shifting to function dually under the Department of Defense, it joined a nationwide network of like-minded organizations.
“The change happened about two years ago,” Spence said. “We were given a new mission, vision, and name. It’s still government contracting, but they want us to focus on finding new cutting-edge technology to bring into the federal procurement space.”
To further support local startups, APEX works closely with large defense contractors to match them with small, minority-owned, and 8(a)-certified businesses. This collaboration helps federal agencies meet their small business goals while opening new doors for Utah entrepreneurs.
“If someone has a product, service, or a new technology that the Department of Defense, federal agencies, or even state and local agencies could use, and they want to learn how to navigate the tricky waters of federal procurement, they should reach out to us,” Spence said. “I often say: Government contracting may not be sexy, but it’s good business.”
APEX has also been charged with helping businesses secure grants, doing so with the help of its sister organization, the Utah Innovation Center, whose services can help APEX clients obtain SBIR and STTR grants based on innovative research and development.
To learn more about “GOEO’s best-kept secret” and obtain assistance applying for federal contracts, visit the Utah APEX Accelerator website or contact the program director by emailing cspence@utah.gov.
The information in this article is current as of the publishing date and is intended for informational purposes only. This article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, tax, or business advice. Any resources and organizations mentioned, unless an entity of or a partner of the state of Utah, are not formally endorsed by the Startup State Initiative or state of Utah.