Tag Archives: events

Thanks to the Missouri Procurement Conference 2019!

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I recently returned from the Procurement Conference 2019 featuring Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler in Warrensburg, Mo. It was a great experience! The remarks of the Congresswoman, as well as those of keynote speaker the Hon. Alan Shaffer, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition & Sustainment.

One theme they both touched on was that the Department of Defense is looking for great ideas from contractors and wants to pay well for those innovative ideas. That’s good news for federal contractors!

Thanks to all who organized the event, especially Bill Stuby with Missouri PTAC. I was able to provide an update on current issues in government contracting to a lively audience. And thanks to all who stopped by our booth to chat!

Compliant, Winning Teams: A Three-Part Webinar

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Teaming and joint venturing are essential components of success for many small government contractors, and the emphasis on teaming is increasing in light of the SBA’s proposed rule allowing “similarly situated entities” to join together to pursue prime contracts.  But teaming and joint venturing are not without risks–there are many unique rules that must be followed, and many pitfalls for the unwary.

That is why I am very pleased to announced that I am joining with the Government Contractors Resource Network to present a three-part webinar series on compliant and effective teaming.  Directed at small contractors, this series will begin with an overview of the rules and regulations governing teaming.  The series will continue with a discussion of how to prepare effective and compliant teaming agreements, subcontracts, and joint venture agreements.  The series will wrap up with an in-depth discussion of federal mentor-protege programs, including the SBA’s new proposed “universal” mentor-protege program.

The first webinar will broadcast on June 19, and the others will follow on June 23 and 25.  To register, or for more information, visit the GCRN website.  I hope to see you (virtually, anyway) this summer.

Thank You, Iowa!

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I am back in Lawrence after a great trip to the Des Moines area, where I participated in the Iowa Vendor Conference.  My conference presentation focused on prime/subcontractor teaming on federal set-aside contracts.

Many thanks to Pam Russenberger, Jodi Essex, Beth White, Julie Fagle, and the rest of the Iowa Procurement Technical Assistance Program Team for sponsoring this great event.  And a big “thank you” to all of the contractors and industry professionals who attended my presentation, asked great questions, and (mostly) didn’t boo when I happened to bring up the glorious results of the previous night’s basketball game.

If you are in Iowa but weren’t able to make it to the Iowa Vendor Conference, I will be back in the area for the Midwest Small Business Government Contracting Symposium in June.  I hope to see you there!

Thank You, Alliance Northwest!

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I am at the tail end of a great visit to the Pacific Northwest, where I spoke yesterday at the Alliance Northwest procurement conference.  My presentation focused on the many recent legal changes (and proposed changes) affecting small contractors, including SBA proposals on the limitations on subcontracting and a new “universal” SBA mentor-protege program.

Many thanks to the organizers of this wonderful event, which gets bigger and better every year.  Special thanks to Tiffany Scroggs, Stephanie Scott, Traci Hansen and their colleagues at the Washington PTAC for all of their hard work on the conference, and a big thank you to Ashley Coronado of the Washington PTAC for facilitating my session (including flawless pronunciation of “Petefish, Immel, Heeb & Hird.”)  And of course, a big “thank you” to everyone who attended my presentation and stopped by to visit on the trade show floor.

It’s a year away, but I certainly plan to be back in Washington next year for the 2016 Alliance Northwest event.  In the meantime, if you weren’t able to attend this year, I would be happy to send you my slides–please just contact me.

Thank You, Veterans!

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I am back in the Midwest after traveling to Atlanta last week for the National Veterans Small Business Engagement.  This annual event was everything it was cracked up to be, featuring an incredible array of government officials, veteran-owned businesses, large prime contractors, and industry leaders.

Thank you to everyone who attended my learning session on GAO bid protests–you were a very engaged audience.  Thank you, as well, to the organizers of the event, who assembled an outstanding variety of sessions and kept everything running very smoothly.

Thanks also to all of my veteran-owned clients and contacts who attended from all over the country.  It was good to see so many familiar faces, and in some cases to put faces to names for the first time.  And most importantly, for all the veterans who attended (and those who were unable to do so this year), thank you for your service to our country.

Thank You, HUBZones!

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I am back in Lawrence after a trip to the Washington area, where I spoke at the National HUBZone Conference.  My conference presentation focused on the special rules for joint venturing and teaming on HUBZone set-aside contracts.

Thank you to Mark Crowley and the HUBZone Council for inviting me to be a part of this year’s National HUBZone Conference.  Thank you also to the clients, old friends, and new connections who made the conference especially worthwhile.  And thank you, too, to all those who attended my seminar and asked so many great questions.

After speaking at four government contracts conferences since August, I am beginning to feel a bit like a road warrior.  My next conference travels will take me to Wichita, Philadelphia, and New Mexico.  If we haven’t connected at an event yet this year, I hope to see you there.

Thank You, Indian Country!

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I am back in Kansas after spending two days at the Indian Country Business Summit in Norman, Oklahoma.  On the first day of the summit, I gave a luncheon keynote on legal updates in government contracting.  The second day, I gave a breakout session on prime/subcontractor teaming agreements.

My thanks to Carter Merkle, Dan Little Axe, and their colleagues for hosting this the summit and inviting me to speak.  A big thank you, as well, to all of the conference attendees for making the ICBS such a great event.

After a few weeks at home, I will be traveling to the Washington DC area for the HUBZone National Conference.  If you are a HUBZone firm, I hope to see you there.