Category Archives: Events

Posts dealing with seminars, webinars, and other government contracting events in which Steven Koprince is a speaker, panelist, sponsor, etc.

Event Announcement: GovCon Roundup Live, August 12, 1:00pm EDT, Expanding VOSB and SDVOSB Opportunities & Navigating the SBA Certification Minefield

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On this episode of GovCon Roundup Live, hosts Carroll Bernard and Steven Koprince welcome special guest Nicole Pottroff, federal contracting attorney and equity partner at Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC, to break down some recent developments that could reshape both programs:

  • The SBA’s June 2026 proposed rule, which would eliminate the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for individually owned 8(a) firms and replace it with a demanding, evidence-based standard.
  • The Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act (H.R. 8511 / S. 4390), which could dismantle the statutory foundations of both the 8(a) and WOSB programs.
  • The latest on the 8(a) application backlog and the 8(a) & WOSB program audits—and what this could mean for your business.

You’ll come away with a clear view of the legal and regulatory risks, the compliance challenges ahead, and practical steps you can take now to prepare for whatever comes next.

Free to attend—register at this link to reserve your seat and bring your questions for the live Q&A.

Event: 2026 National APEX Accelerator Alliance (NAPEX) Conference, August 16-20, 2026

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I’m excited to be presenting “Domestic Sourcing: Buy American Act & Trade Agreements Act” at the 2026 National APEX Accelerator Alliance (NAPEX) Annual Conference in Orlando on Tuesday, August 18.

My session will explore the Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act, providing practical guidance and discussing important legal decisions that impact how to navigate these important domestic sourcing requirements in federal contracting.

The NAPEX Annual Conference is a premier professional development event for APEX Accelerators and Small Business Liaison Officers (SBLOs) from across the country. The conference provides opportunities to share best practices, strengthen the government contracting assistance network, and discuss emerging issues affecting the acquisition and supplier communities.

In conjunction with the conference, NAPEX is also hosting the 2026 Industry Expo, which is open to government contractors and industry partners. The Expo offers an excellent opportunity to connect with leading organizations across the defense and government contracting community.

Whether you’re attending the conference for professional development or participating in the Industry Expo to expand your business network, Orlando offers valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with government contracting professionals from across the nation.

If you’ll be attending, I hope you’ll join my session on Tuesday, August 18, and stop by to say hello.

Learn more about the 2026 NAPEX Annual Conference at https://www.napex.us/national-conferences/.

Additional information about the 2026 Industry Expo is available at https://www.napex.us/businessindustryexpoo.

Event Announcement: GovCon Roundup Live, July 15, 1:00pm EDT, Expanding VOSB and SDVOSB Opportunities & Navigating the SBA Certification Minefield

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Please join me on the GovCon Roundup Live, with Carroll Bernard and Steven Koprince to discuss several important developments affecting veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracting, including

  • The bipartisan Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026.
  • Critical compliance issue for veteran-owned businesses pursuing VA set-asides: the frequently overlooked limitations on subcontracting certification requirement under VAAR 852.219-75.
  • Why SBA’s strict “unconditional control” rules make certification extremely difficult for franchises
  • Why a veteran must be listed as the company’s highest officer, such as CEO, in the governing documents
  • What “fatal flaws” can undermine an appeal after a certification denial

Here are the details:

  • Wednesday, July 15, 2026
  • 1:00 – 2:30 PM Eastern
  • Free to attend

Here is the link for registration.

Happy Independence Day from SmallGovCon!

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We at SmallGovCon want to wish you and yours a wonderful Independence Day. Be safe this weekend and remember what the day is all about. It is a time to remember what unites as a nation, and consider our shared values and ideals. We hope you have a chance to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the 4th! We leave you with these words from the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence

Webinar: Mentor-Protégé Agreements, June 25, 2026, hosted by Empire APEX Accelerators

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First launched in 2016 as the “All Small Mentor-Protégé Program,” this powerful initiative by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has evolved—but it remains a game-changing tool for both small and large federal contractors. In this informative webinar, SmallGovCon contributor and government contracts attorney, Gregory Weber, will break down the key elements of the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program. You’ll learn how this program can help small businesses enhance their capabilities and compete for larger contracts—with the support of an experienced mentor. The session will also cover how mentor-protégé joint ventures can create new contracting opportunities and expand your footprint in the federal marketplace. Additionally, we will provide an introduction to the even older DoD Mentor-Protege Program, which set the stage for the SBA’s program, and compare the two programs.

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Jordan Akins Joins Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC as Associate Attorney and SmallGovCon Contributor!

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Jordan Akins

We are excited to announce that Jordan Akins has joined the firm and will also be a regular SmallGovCon contributor! You can read her full biography here. And check out Jordan’s first post here, discussing SDVOSB status protest best practices.

Before joining the firm, Jordan served as General Counsel for the state of Kansas, advising agencies and boards on statutes, regulations, and newly adopted legislation. Her diverse experience in state government helps her break down complex legal issues into practical, understandable guidance for clients. She is a recent graduate of the Washburn University School of Law, graduating in the top five percent of her class. In law school, Jordan earned CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Constitutional Law, Trademark Law, Corporate Compliance, Criminal Procedure II, and Conflict of Laws.

Jordan also enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with her fiancé and can often be found cheering on the University of Kansas Jayhawks.  We are excited to have Jordan become part of the team here at SmallGovCon and Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC!

Govology Webinar: Ethics in Federal Government Contracting, June 23, 2026

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Contracting with the federal government requires companies to operate under heightened ethical and compliance standards. At the same time, competitive intelligence and strategic business development efforts are often critical to remaining competitive in the government marketplace. Understanding where the legal and ethical boundaries exist under procurement law, however, is not always intuitive.

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