Local Business Wins Contract with US Navy with Help from Bradley University

As the economy contracts due to COVID-19, it’s crucial for small businesses to seek out new sales avenues. A client of the Bradley University Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), The Kern Group, did just that by utilizing the federal government's award infrastructure. After competing against several other companies for a federal government prime contract with the US Navy (Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, VA), they won.

The Kern Group, located in Peoria, IL, is known for being an integrator of security, life safety and electronic system technologies and services. Their awarded contract includes furnishing electronic security equipment, accessories and services to the USNS Zeus, a cable ship and the only ship in its class operating. USNS Zeus's primary mission is to transport, deploy, retrieve and repair submarine cables and test underwater sound devices.

“This contract was not a small business set-aside. Undoubtedly, we competed against some very large businesses with vast resources. Using our extensive expertise and superior relationships with our manufacturing partners, we ended up winning it,” said R. Scott Kern.

The Kern Group worked with the director of Bradley's PTAC, Keli Krueger-Huhra, to revamp their federal government bid methods in late 2019. While The Kern Group has done business with the federal government in the past, their internal processes needed updating. “PTAC’s support and resources provided Kern with the framework for us to rethink our strategies for winning more government work,” said Kern.

The Kern Group anticipates the completion of the contract in summer, 2020.

More about The Kern Group: The Kern Group is a multiple General Electric Innovation Award winning company and recognized SSI Magazine Top 75 Market Leader in Security. The company is a professionally licensed security agency employing NICET® certified design & project management professionals and Axis Certified Professionals™. As a veteran-owned small business, The Kern Group takes great pride in its ability to provide the federal government with high-quality products and services at competitive prices.