APEX Accelerator
Unlock a Multi-Billion Dollar Marketplace with the APEX Accelerator
Every year, federal, state, and local governments spend billions purchasing the very goods and services that Northwest Michigan businesses already provide — manufacturing, construction, IT, professional services, food production, and more. Most small businesses never tap into this market simply because they don't know how.
That's where we come in.
The Northwest Michigan APEX Accelerator helps businesses like yours find, compete for, and win government contracts at no cost to you.
We're a grant-funded program supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), which means our expert counseling, training, and tools are completely free to businesses in our region.
Why Government Contracting Matters
Whether you are a specialized manufacturer, a consulting firm, a tech startup, or a local supplier, government contracts offer an unparalleled avenue for business stability, growth, and diversification.
A Recession-Proof Market
When commercial markets experience downturns, government spending remains a consistent, reliable revenue stream.
Set-Asides for Small Businesses
Did you know that federal contracts under $350,000 are automatically set aside specifically for small businesses? The government is required to buy from companies just like yours.
Fuel Local Economic Growth
Landing a contract doesn't just grow your bottom line—it allows you to hire locally, invest in new technologies, and build a resilient workforce right here in Northwest Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
$150M+
in government contracts
In the last fiscal year alone, our local office helped 250 area businesses successfully secure approximately $152 million in government contracts.
2,000
active contracts
Regionally, our clients have successfully navigated the defense and civil industrial bases to lock down over 2,000 active contracts.
$0
cost to your business
Because we are funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs, our elite-level consulting is provided at $0 cost to your business.
How We Help You Win — At $0 Cost
Navigating government regulations can feel overwhelming. We act as your dedicated procurement partners, breaking down the complexities and giving you a competitive edge.
There’s no retainer. No hourly rate. No catch. APEX provides government contracting assistance at no cost to eligible businesses
Bid Matching
Stop searching. Start finding.
Stop searching. Start finding.
Government opportunities are scattered across thousands of bid boards. Your APEX counselor creates a customized search profile based on your products, services, industry codes and geographic preferences.
Our system monitors 3,000+ government bid boards every business day and delivers matching opportunities directly to your inbox.
We can help with:
✓ Federal opportunities
✓ State opportunities
✓ Local opportunities
✓ Customized opportunity searches
Registrations & Certifications
Get registered. Get ready to compete.
Get registered. Get ready to compete.
You can't win a government contract if you're not registered to receive one. The registration and certification process is notoriously confusing — multiple systems, overlapping requirements, and dense instructions that weren't written with small businesses in mind.
Your APEX counselor cuts through the complexity and helps you get registered in the systems that matter:
✓ SAM.gov — mandatory for any federal contract
✓ SIGMA VSS — the State of Michigan's vendor system
✓ SBA Certifications — including Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Veteran-Owned (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB), and HUBZone
These certifications aren't just paperwork — they unlock set-aside contracts specifically reserved for businesses like yours, reducing competition and improving your odds of winning.
Individualized Counseling
An expert in your corner.
An expert in your corner.
Government contracting isn't one-size-fits-all. Your business has specific products, specific goals, and specific challenges. Our counselors take the time to understand your situation and give you honest, practical guidance — whether you're exploring government contracting for the first time or trying to solve a specific problem on an active contract.
Not sure if government contracting is right for your business? That's exactly the kind of question we can help you answer — before you invest time and resources in finding out the hard way.
Note: APEX counselors specialize in government contracting. For legal or general business advice, we'll help connect you with the right resource.
Government Marketing
Put your business in front of the right buyers.
Put your business in front of the right buyers.
Selling to the government is fundamentally different from selling to private customers. Procurement officers are looking for specific capabilities, certifications, and proof that you can perform. If your marketing materials aren't tailored to that audience, you're leaving opportunity on the table.
Your APEX counselor helps you:
✓ Develop a government marketing strategy that targets the right agencies and buyers
✓ Write a compelling Capability Statement — the single most important document in your government marketing toolkit
✓ Create a government-focused page for your website
✓ Craft a clear, confident elevator pitch for matchmaking events and procurement conferences
Market Research
Know who's buying before you bid.
Know who's buying before you bid.
This is often the service that changes everything. Many businesses assume the government doesn't buy what they sell. Many others discover the government is already buying it — from a competitor — at a price they could beat.
Market research tells you the truth. Your APEX counselor can help you investigate:
✓ Whether federal, state, or local agencies purchase your products or services
✓ Which specific agencies are the biggest buyers
✓ How much they spend annually
✓ What they've paid in past contracts
✓ Who your competition is in the government market
Armed with this intelligence, you can pursue government contracting with confidence — and focus your energy on the opportunities most likely to pay off.
Proposal Preparation
Turn a solicitation into a competitive bid.
Turn a solicitation into a competitive bid.
Government proposals have strict formatting requirements, mandatory clauses, and evaluation criteria that can trip up even experienced contractors. A technically strong bid can be disqualified for a paperwork error. A less-qualified competitor can win because they answered the questions the government actually asked.
Your APEX counselor helps you:
✓ Understand exactly what the solicitation is asking for
✓ Structure your response to score well against evaluation criteria
✓ Ensure compliance before you submit
✓ Avoid the common mistakes that get proposals thrown out
You know your business. We know government proposals. Together, you have a real shot.
Training & Education
Build your team's contracting knowledge.
Build your team's contracting knowledge.
Government contracting has its own language, rules, and culture. The more your team understands it, the better positioned you are to compete and perform.
We regularly offer webinars and training events covering topics like:
SAM.gov registration and maintenance
✓ Reading and responding to government solicitations
✓ Cybersecurity compliance requirements for contractors (CMMC)
✓ Small business certifications
✓ Subcontracting and teaming strategies
We also provide individual training tailored to your specific needs — whether that's onboarding a new employee to your government contracts team or preparing your staff for the requirements of an upcoming award.
Ready to Expand Your Customer Base?
If you are looking to scale your business, replace drying commercial segments, or protect your company from economic volatility, the government marketplace is waiting.
Become a Client Today — Register at No Cost
The Northwest Michigan APEX Accelerator is funded in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.
Our counselor has been extremely helpful explaining different facets of the APEX program and getting us started with the procurement process.
- Northern Initiatives
Ready to Explore Government Contracting?
There's no cost to become an APEX client, no long-term commitment and no obligation. Connect with an APEX counselor and find out where government contracting could fit into your business strategy.
The Northwest Michigan APEX Accelerator is funded in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.
APEX Accelerator has certainly been a strategic partner for us that has allowed us to focus on selling our products with their support and input. They’ve kind of kept us on a nice path to success.
- Cheryl Tallman, Founder and CEO, Fresh Baby