Government Connections Network: Washington Days Conference, May 6-7, 2013 in D.C.

Government Connections & Network

How to sell to the federal government, large and small businesses nationwide.

 May 6-7, 2013 Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024

 www.FederalAllies.org

 

The 4th National Small Business Conference known as Washington Days Conference is for Federal agencies, DoD, Corporations, Small Businesses.

Government, Corporations, Small Businesses & Mentor Protégé Programs

Featuring Federal Agencies Matchmaking, Mentor-Protégé, National Defense Authorization Act, and Vetted SME Expertise.
For all Small Businesses including 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOB, SDB, WOSB, DBE, & MBE.

U.S. Department Homeland Security, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, U.S. Agency for International Development, Defense Logistics Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lockheed Martin MST Undersea Systems, and more.

20 Matchmaking Table Discussions

Many Federal Agencies & DoD

 

The National Defense Authorization Act & Mentor Protégé

Emily Murphy, Senior Counsel, U.S. House Small Business Committee                                        

 

U.S. Small Business Administration & Mentor Protégé Changes

Calvin Jenkins, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Government Contracting & Business Development, U.S. SBA

 

Lockheed Martin Mentor Protégé Program & Diversity Program

Robyn H. Snyder, Supplier Diversity Program Manager, Lockheed Martin MST Undersea Systems

 

Mentor Protégé Programs:  A Legal Perspective & Update

Ralph C. Thomas III, Barton Baker Thomas & Tolle, LLP

 

Federal Agency Mentor Protégé Programs Panel Discussion

Anthony “Tony” Eiland, Program Manager, U.S. General Services Administration Mentor Protégé Program

Kevin Boshears, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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National Defense Authorization Act Expands Mentor-Protégé beyond the 8(a) Program

By Ralph E. Winnie, Jr., Federal Allies News National Correspondent

On January 3, 2013 President Barack Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (NDAA).  The NDAA provides the US Government with new authority to create a Mentor-Protégé Program targeting thousands of non-8(a) small businesses so they will be able to participate in programs based on the current framework which was limited to businesses that were already accepted into the 8(a) Program.

“Expanding the Mentor Protégé Program beyond the 8(a) Program establishes a new dynamic among small businesses and federal agencies. It is a real investment in the future growth and dependability of small businesses,” said Frank Clay, Jr., Chairman, Federal Allies Institute, and President, The ClayGroup, Olathe, Kansas.

This will mean that more small businesses, including member companies associated with Federal Allies, will be eligible to benefit from the skills, training, and capital of large business mentors while, at the same time, gaining access to prime government contracts that were previously unavailable under the old system. Given that the expansion of the Mentor-Protégé Program is not mandatory its implementation is less that certain.  However, Federal Allies will be monitoring the status of the affiliation rules and the impact on federal contractors over the coming months to gauge its impact on small businesses associated with Federal Allies and make necessary recommendations.

“The good news is the door is open to recognize partnerships with small business that can make a difference. It is not essential that a Mentor Protégé Program be mandatory… what is important is that an opportunity is not missed because a small business is not 8(a),” said Clay.

Although the Act does provide for increased transparency in the sphere of small business contracting, it does not include major incentives for contractors to meet those goals. Construction contracts will be treated separately as SBA is planning to issue additional regulations as specified in the NDAA and these regulations can be difficult to comprehend at times. While the earlier regulations address the “cost of the contract” the new rules discuss the amount to be paid to a small business contractor which is the price and not the cost.

Federal Allies is closely monitoring the changes the NDAA is mandating, that SBA makes to its Women Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program, and the impact this will have on our member companies. Federal Allies will work aggressively to make sure that its women owned small business members will be armed with the requisite knowledge, resources and skills to be able to effectively participate in SBA’s  Women’s Federal Contract Program and compete for and win federal contracts.  Prior to the new law, the anticipated award of a contract for a women-owned and economically disadvantaged women-owned minority small business could not exceed 6.5 million for manufacturing contracts and 4 million for all other contracts. The new law now removes the thresholds and allows women-owned small businesses greater access to federal contracting opportunities without limitations or restrictions as to the value of a contract.

“This one change will allow these best women-owned companies to become better by going after larger contracts that can grow their businesses,” said Clay.

NDAA also requires SBA to conduct another study to identify and report industries underrepresented by women-owned small businesses. Federal Allies applauds the implementation of the NDAA and will closely follow the implementation of this legislation to help women-owned small businesses which are members of Federal Allies get more federal contracts and help the Federal Government meet and exceed its statutory five percent women’s contracting goals.

Finally, the NDAA requires the Small Business Administration to establish a reporting mechanism to allow subcontractors to report issues of bad faith or fraud on the part of prime contractors. As a service to its member companies, Federal Allies, over the next few months, will be closely monitoring how this system will be implemented and what penalties will be used to enforce compliance.  Despite lingering questions, these new rules may increase the amount of money that gets into the hands of small businesses nationwide and also lead to greater diligence in administering plans on the part of prime contractors.

“All small businesses should follow the roll out of programs stemming from this legislation. FAI will do its part to communicate the policy specifics that will enable small businesses to take advantage of these new changes,” said Clay.

Federal Allies News March 2013

Washington Days Conference May 6-7, 2013, Washington, D.C. – You Are Invited!

The basic two-day framework for the annual national Washington Days Conference includes one full- day of federal contractor small business development including general sessions, workshops, one-on-one matchmaking, and reception,  followed by a second full-day touting the FAI Legislative Program on Capitol Hill with presentations, Congressional office visits, and Congressional reception.

We invite small businesses from across America and we invite decision makers from the federal government.  Once registered, both groups are welcomed to recommend additional speakers or participants to the conference whether from a specific government agency or a specific small business NAICS code, respectively, so register early to have the greatest impact on the conference agenda – topics, government personnel, set-asides, primes, and NAICS codes.

Since the conference is all about maximizing your results that includes maintaining a low ratio of government to small business registrants – even limiting attendance by one group or the other – which in these days of massive for-profit national federal procurement conferences may be considered heresy– but as Federal Allies is set up as a true non-profit our number goal is your results and not to see how many tickets we can sell, so register early.

We make every effort to connect registrants prior to the conference to get the ball rolling.  And then continue to build relationships with you for one year following the conference via the Federal Allies Network, our federal contracting community.  Add to it a vast network of experienced federal contractor experts who volunteer to answer your questions or to help you make that needed connection, the Washington Days Conference is ideal for your small business.

And an ideal way for Federal Allies to promote important small business legislation and regulatory flexibility which we work at year round, such as the National Defense Authorization Act, which bundled many pieces of small business legislation that you should know about.  Washington Days Conference registration begins 12:00 p.m. (ET), Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

U.S. House Small Business Committee Update

Federal Allies attended the February 27, 2013 U.S. House Small Business Committee meeting chaired by U.S. Congressman Sam Graves, Missouri, where they worked on improving the overall efficacy of U.S. Small Business Administration programs and the potential effect of the Sequester on SBA programs to make capital available, provide advice, and increase utilization of small businesses as federal contractors.  Ultimately, selective reductions in the SBA budget must reduce federal spending without undermining assistance to America’s best job creators – small businesses.  What are your thoughts?

Chapter Expansion

Federal Allies continues to meet about small business issues and programming, and bringing Washington Days Conference to your state, commonwealth, or territory.  Our current collaboration in Oklahoma is a Mentor Protégé Roundtable set for the Oklahoma City Marriott.

For more information, visit FederalAllies.org today.