What it is

The Maryland APEX Accelerator, formerly known as MD PTAC, opened in 2002 to help increase the number of businesses able to win government contracts. It is hosted by the University of Maryland and funded in part through a Department of Defense cooperative agreement. Its office is at 5825 University Research Court in College Park.

What it offers founders

  • Counseling: one-on-one guidance from procurement specialists on navigating government contracting.
  • Training: workshops, webinars and conferences, plus free on-demand classes and a Government Contracting Road Map.
  • Bid Matching: daily email alerts for federal, state, local and foreign bid opportunities, available to Accelerator clients.
  • SAM assistance: help registering and updating your System for Award Management record.
  • SBIR/STTR support: virtual classes and counseling on the federal innovation funding programs.

The Accelerator also publishes resource guides on Maryland state contracting and county contracting, an FAQ, a client success podcast, and accepts speaker requests for events. The University of Maryland program page states there is no cost to the business owner who receives services, so a founder can test whether government is a realistic market before spending on outside consultants.

Who it is for

The Accelerator recommends that clients have a current Maryland business registration, a product or service to sell to government, past performance in commercial or government work, and good standing. It cannot serve nonprofits or help with grant applications, with the exception of SBIR/STTR. Businesses outside Maryland are directed to their local APEX Accelerator through APTAC, and those seeking general business help to a local Small Business Development Center.

How to engage

Start on the Getting Started page and sign up for an initial counseling session. The Accelerator asks applicants to allow 30 business days for processing. In the meantime you can browse the training calendar or take free on-demand classes. Contact: mdapexadmn@umd.edu or 301-405-6550.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

Government is a major customer in the DMV, and early-stage companies often stall on registrations, certifications and finding the right solicitations. The Accelerator gives Maryland founders a free, structured path into federal, state and county procurement, and its SBIR/STTR support is relevant for technology startups seeking non-dilutive federal funding.