About Us
The University of Houston APEX Accelerator offers education and guidance to individuals interested in selling their goods and services to federal, state, and local government. We provide no-cost government contracting assistance to individuals in 28 counties in and around the cities of Houston, Beaumont, and College Station. Visit our Service Area page to see a list of the counties we serve.
The UH APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement from the Department of Defense (DOD) through a program that is administered by the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). The content of any written materials or verbal communications of the UH APEX Accelerator does not necessarily reflect the official views of or imply endorsement by DOD or OSBP.
For more information about the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) please go to the APEX Accelerator website.
Our Team
An organization is only as good as the people providing the services. At the UH APEX Accelerator we have a great team.
Tim Healy, Program Director
Tim Healy is a highly dedicated, educated (J.D Degree) and personable Government Contracts professional with twenty-four (24) years of successful small business development & support, operations and management experience. This experience has been garnered as an owner/operator, contractor, V-level employee and consultant.
Tim’s relevant skill set and expertise covers all aspects/facets of the Government Services (Prime & Sub) Contracting (Federal, State & Local) procurement process/new business development life cycle including:
- Helping navigate the process (e.g., Federal Procurement) in a consulting – counseling, advisory & assistance capacity
- Opportunity Identification, Assessment & Competitive Analysis/Qualification
- Cost Estimating & Pricing
- Providing Risk Assessment, e.g., RFP review/analysis
- Bid/Proposal Compliance & Responsiveness Reviews
- Sales/Marketing/Capture & Strategic Planning, Management & Execution
- Small Business/Socioeconomic Programs, e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB & ED/WOSB
- Strategic Partnering & Contractor Teaming Arrangements, Team Building & Client Relationship Management
- Research and intelligence gathering.
Dennis McIntosh, Procurement Advisor
Dennis McIntosh has over 15 years government contracting experience that includes procurements with both federal and state government agencies.
His contracting experience starts in 1996, as founder and president of a technology consulting firm, where he led the pursuit teams and oversaw successful contract awards for state procurement opportunities in Texas, Missouri, and Kansas.
Additionally, Dennis led the pursuit team and negotiations for a major sub-contract award with the Texas Teachers Retirement System (TRS) benefits enhancement project. Dennis led and managed the company’s diversity certification initiatives, specifically certifications with the Small Business Administration 8(a) program, National Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification, and the Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program. With the federal government, Dennis’ experience includes negotiating and managing a sub-contractor award with the Department of Treasury as well as a prime contractor award with the Small Business Administration headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In 2008, Dennis worked as CFO for a small technical apparel manufacturer and where he successfully grew the company’s government sector business. Dennis’ successes included the preparation of the competitive bid response and resultant award of a prime contract with the U.S. Army to supply apparel products to our soldiers in the field. Dennis successfully procured a contract to supply products to the Army, Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). Dennis led the effort to win and manage two multiple supply schedule awards with the General Services Administration (GSA).
Prior to joining the University Houston PTAC, Dennis was a Business Advisor with the Dallas Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where he advised clients on business planning, marketing, financing, and capitalization.
Ram Bala Ramaswamy, Procurement Advisor
Ram has 30+ years of Technology, Sr. Management and Entrepreneurial experience. He served as a senior executive of a world-renowned research, development, and service organization, Bell Laboratories, an organization of AT&T. Ram is a recognized expert in multiple disciplines representing leading edge technologies, methodologies, business process reengineering, standards, theories and techniques with demonstrated experience and accomplishments in the areas of Product Development, Information Technology, Networking, Quality Systems, Business Operations, Engineering, Workflow Automation, Program/Project Planning, Execution, Management and Financial Management.
As an entrepreneur, Ram contributed to both private (Healthcare, Utility, Accounting Firms, Financial/Banking, Technology and Professional Services Firms) and Public Sector [Federal, State and Local Government) organizations. Ram has several winning proposals to his credit in the areas of Information Technology, Information Assurance/Security, IT Audit and Compliance, Engineering, Contracting, Supply Chain and Mission Support Services leading to multiyear contracts.
In his current position as the Procurement Advisor for the University of Houston APEX Accelerator, Ram provides guidance, one-on-one advising, workshops, and outreach events to companies in doing business with Federal, State, and Local Government. He has broad experience in government procurement to include registrations, various certification programs, locating opportunities, pricing development, proposal submissions, and contract management.<
Ram has Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Master's in Management Science; Ram completed the Wharton School of Business' Executive Education Program in Business/Technology Innovation, and the Total Quality Management program under Dr. Edward Deming at George Washington University.
