AUSA Panels Feature Small Business Engagement

DoD Leaders Hold Small Business Seminars at AUSA

Mr. Farooq Mitha , Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, spoke on two panels at the Association of the United States Army - AUSA 2024 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Mr. Mitha spoke alongside Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo and Aprille Ericsson , Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science & Technology for a fireside chat focused on small business. He then participated in a second event with DoD small business office directors including Scott A.?Kiser, Director, Department of the Air Force Office of Small Business Programs; Arveice Washington , Director, Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs; and Daniele Kurze , Director, Defense Logistics Agency Office of Small Business Programs.

DoD Finalizes Highly Anticipated CMMC 2.0 Final Rule

Earlier this week, DoD officially posted the final rule for the highly anticipated Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 program to the Federal Register. The new standards will begin implementation for defense contractors in early-to-mid 2025.

Companies should actively work toward meeting NIST 800-171 requirements, which have been contractually mandated since 2016 under DFARS 252.204-7012. CMMC 2.0 formalizes many of these existing requirements, and contractors should prepare for security assessments to ensure compliance.

Resources and guidance are available to help businesses understand and navigate CMMC 2.0's new requirements. Visit DoD's dedicated CMMC 2.0 page and our cybersecurity resources page for more information.

NAVSUP OSBP Honored at Stackley Awards

The US Navy recently named the 2024 Department of the Navy Sean J. Stackley Acquisition Excellence Awards winners, recognizing individuals who contributed exceptionally to promoting competition and innovation throughout the acquisition lifecycle.

Notable winners included Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Office of Small Business Programs members?and Rocco Siravo, Contracting Technical Director for the NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk.

NAVSUP OSBP won the Secretary's Cup, which recognizes a DoN Echelon II or III command, which exemplifies the highest examples of small business acquisition excellence and whose achievement brings significant credit to the DoN acquisition community.

Commands qualified for the Secretary’s Cup demonstrate innovative approaches and perseverance in overcoming unusual conditions, issues and barriers. These approaches increase small business opportunities that enhance command effectiveness, support the customer mission and typically result in quantifiable cost savings, innovation and efficiencies.

“I think the key aspect of our selection was capturing what we felt was a best-in-class small business strategy for FY24 and moving with urgency to show immediate impact,” said NAVSUP Small Business Director Chris Espenshade , “This strategy puts aside our traditional goals and focuses specifically on leveraging the power of small business to be a force generator for Navy weapons system sustainment and our broader logistics mission.”

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SBA Grows Regional Innovation Cluster Support Network

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the expansion of the department’s Regional Innovation Cluster network with 14 new awards.

These clusters serve as a networking hub for small businesses, convening several resources to help navigate a specific industry's funding, procurement, and supply-chain opportunities. They also assist businesses in matching cutting-edge technology to industry needs and increase the number of innovative small businesses and entrepreneurs in the nation’s supply chain.

The newly funded clusters are:

• AgTech Innovation Alliance will support AgriFoodTech small businesses in California’s Central Valley.
• Applied Research Institute will support small businesses in the biotech industry across central Indiana.
• Bounce Innovation Hub will support small businesses developing novel materials for medical devices and wearable sensors in Northeast Ohio.
• Celdara Medical will support life science small businesses across Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, and Rhode Island.
• CleanTech Alliance will support small businesses in the clean technology industry in Washington state.
• Hyperion Materials & Technologies will support small businesses developing clean technologies in the Four Corners region of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.
• Integrative Business Solutions will support artificial intelligence and optics small businesses in Southern Arizona.
• LSI Business Development will support small, advanced manufacturers in Utah.
• Riot will support small businesses building internet of things (IoT) and data economy technologies in North Carolina.
• Shadow Ridge Analytics will support small businesses in the advanced engineering and critical materials industries in Southwest Montana.
• Southwestern College Foundation will support small businesses in the manufacturing and biotechnology industries in San Diego and Imperial Counties in California.
• Startup Junkie will support small businesses in leveraging Lithium for the clean energy and electric vehicle transition across Northeast Texas, Southern Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and West Mississippi.
• The Water Council will support small businesses in the water and resiliency industry in Wisconsin.
• UpSurge Baltimore will support small businesses in cybersecurity and biotechnology industries across the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce will hold its National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week in Atlanta from October 20-26. The week is a national observance that recognizes the outstanding achievements of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). The centerpiece is the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Annual Conference, which the non-profit hosts in collaboration with MBDA.

National Veterans Small Business Week will be held from November 11-15. The U.S. Small Business Administration and its partner network will host events throughout the United States to highlight resources available to veteran, service member, and military spouse entrepreneurs. Find an event near you>>

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We are a network of small business professionals with common values, shared knowledge and regular communication who partner with acquisition professionals seeking small businesses to fulfill DoD procurement requirements and give our Service Members the competitive advantage.

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