Category Archives: Events

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

Will Orlowski Joins Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC as Associate Attorney and SmallGovCon Contributor!

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We are pleased to announce that Will Orlowski has joined the firm and will also be a regular SmallGovCon contributor! Please check out Will’s first post discussing joint venture certification and timing for eligibility.

Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, Will worked as a law clerk for the firm for over two years, gaining invaluable experience and insight into a wide array of specialized government contracting areas while completing his legal education at the University of Kansas School of Law. During his time as a law student, Will was founder and President of two different student organizations, Student Articles Editor at the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy, Class Representative for the Student Bar Association, and a Student Ambassador. Will received the Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award as the most distinguished student in the combined areas of scholarship, leadership, and service, and was admitted into the Order of the Coif for excellence in academic achievement. In addition to his law degree, Will earned the Business and Commercial Law Certificate from the University of Kansas School of Law. 

In his free time, Will is an avid reader and music fan. He cherishes time with his friends and family and is an active member of the Lawrence, Kansas community, even serving as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Lawrence Farmers Market. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his fiancée and two magnificent cats and can often be found (loudly) cheering for his beloved Kansas Jayhawks. 

Govology Webinar! Communicating with Government Contracting Officials: What Can (and Should) Contractors Really Say and Do? (2026 Update)–September 29, 2026

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Clear communication with contracting officers and agency officials can help contractors resolve performance issues, negotiate contract changes, and protect valuable business relationships. But missteps can lead to unauthorized commitments, violations of gratuities and conflict-of-interest rules, contract disputes, or protests.

In this webinar, government contracts attorneys Nicole Pottroff and John Holtz will debunk common myths about contractor communications, including who has authority to modify a contract, how to respond to unauthorized instructions, when one-on-one communications are appropriate, and how government gratuities rules differ from commercial practices. Register here.

Free Webinar! SBA Mentor-Protégé Programs, September 16, hosted by El Paso APEX Accelerators

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Touted as a “game-changer” when it was first introduced in 2016, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s All Small Mentor-Protégé Program isn’t new anymore. Known now as simply the “SBA Mentor-Protégé Program,” it is still extremely useful for large and small contractors alike.

Government contracts attorney and SmallGovCon contributor, Gregory Weber, will explain the ins and outs of the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, covering the program’s eligibility requirements, its various benefits (including the ability to form special mentor-protégé joint ventures), the application process, and common misconceptions and pitfalls. Additionally, he will provide an introduction to the even older DoD Mentor-Protégé Program, which set the stage for the SBA’s program, and compare the two programs.

Register here.

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