This Week's Small Business and Industry Engagement Highlights

The Office of Small Business Programs took its message on the road this week, meeting in-person at multiple events with small business owners for meaningful conversations about how they can partner with the Department of Defense (DoD) to expand small business development nationally. Highlights from the travelog:

Wisconsin APEX Accelerator Small Business & Industry Roundtable

The Wisconsin Procurement Institute - WI APEX ACCELERATOR Team hosted an exclusive roundtable discussion featuring leaders from OSBP including Director Farooq Mitha and Director of APEX Accelerators, Khalil Mack . This event provided a unique opportunity for small business owners to engage in a meaningful conversation about the partnership efforts to strengthen and expand small business development in the region and nationally.

Wisconsin Defense Industry Council Summit

OSBP Director Farooq Mitha delivered remarks to small business leaders at the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council (WDIC) Summit yesterday.

WDIC is a joint effort between the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and the METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE to strengthen and support Wisconsin’s defense industry through collaborative advocacy, information sharing and networking.

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference

OSBP exhibited at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference this week. The Team engaged with attendees to promote the resources available for Black communities and small businesses to become suppliers to the DoD.

2024 Defense Logistics Agency's Industry Collider Day

The Defense Logistics Agency 's annual Industry Collider Day event held at the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. brought together stakeholders from government, industry and academia.

Ms. Kasey Diaz, OSBP Deputy Director and Director of the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) moderated a discussion with MPP leaders from across government including Alyse C. Bullock, Deputy Director, Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs and Acting MPP Program Manager; Armenthia Massey, Defense Logistics Agency MPP Program Manager; and K.A. Perkins , Acting Director, Mentor-Protégé Program, U.S. Small Business Administration .

Mr. Kareem Sykes, OSBP Industry Engagement Lead (CTR), spoke on a panel about the value of ProjectSpectrum.io and how small business owners can register to receive numerous free cybersecurity resources, including training courses, self-assessments, and how to comply with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

Daniele Kurze, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)'s executive director for small business programs, led a panel with participants from OSBP's APEX Accelerators program, the U.S. Small Business Administration , DLA’s Small Business Innovation Research program, and industry. The group explored ways to better prepare defense companies for future trends and potential challenges.

15 New Mentor-Protégé Agreements Announced

We are pleased to announce the Q3 Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) Agreements. The MPP pairs small businesses with larger companies to help enhance their capabilities to perform as subcontractors and viable suppliers under DoD contracts, other federal government, and commercial contracts.

The 15 new Mentor-Protégé Agreements span industries and engage Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Small Disadvantaged Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), HubZone, and companies with critical mission skills. In the past five years, DoD’s MPP has successfully helped more than 190 small businesses fill unique niches and become part of the military’s supply chain.

??U.S. Navy: HORNBECK OFFSHORE? (mentor); Next Generation Logistics LLC (protégé)

??U.S. Navy: JRC Integrated Systems (mentor); Integrity Communications Solutions, Inc. (protégé)

??U.S. Navy: JRC Integrated Systems (mentor); M Technical Services (protégé)

??U.S. Navy: Raytheon (mentor); ANACAPA Micro Products, Inc. (protégé)

??U.S. Navy: Raytheon (mentor); Nara Logics (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: Crew Training International (mentor); MilSup LLC (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: GRS, Inc. (mentor); JE Group LLC (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: GRS, Inc. (mentor); Polaris Consulting Group, Inc. (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: Montana State University-Bozeman (mentor); Skyward (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: Northrop Grumman (mentor); Applied Composites (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: Northrop Grumman (mentor); Click Bond (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: Northrop Grumman (mentor); BlueSky Polymers (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: Raytheon (mentor); American Greenpower (USA), Inc. (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: Raytheon (mentor); IERUS Technologies Inc (protégé)

??U.S. Air Force: System Studies and Simulation (S3), Inc. (mentor); Macalogic (protégé)

Federal Register Notice on OTAs

DoD proposed a rule to amend its regulations on other transaction agreements, or OTAs, to encourage more competition and awards to small businesses for prototype agreements. Posted on the Federal Register, the rule aims to provide agility in the contracting process by attracting nontraditional defense contractors and small businesses with cutting-edge technologies. Interested parties can comment on the proposed rule until November 4, 2024. Read more>>

Nominations Open for National Small Business Week Awards

The Small Business Administration opened nominations for its 2025 National Small Business Week Awards. This awards program recognizes small business owners on both the national and state level. Submit your small business for consideration before Dec. 4, 2024. Awardees will be honored during Small Business Week in May. Learn more>>

The Southeast PA APEX Accelerator will host an exclusive roundtable discussion on Sept. 17 from 1 to 2:20 p.m. at Temple University ’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute in Philadelphia. The event will feature Mr. Farooq Mitha , Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, and Mr. Khalil Mack , Deputy Director of OSBP and Director of APEX Accelerators.

This event will provide a unique opportunity for small business owners to engage in a meaningful conversation about the partnership efforts to strengthen and expand small business development in the region and nationally. Register today>>

Mr. Farooq Mitha will hold a fireside chat on the topic "Unlocking Opportunities at the Department of Defense" at the OPEN Washington DC GovCon Conversations event on Sept. 19 in Vienna, Va. Mr. Mitha will share insights on the role of small businesses in national defense, the importance of innovation in our supply chain, and how the DoD is committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment for small business growth. This event brings together founders, business owners, investors, non-profit leaders, and corporate professionals from diverse industries and backgrounds. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4dFczda

Small business owners have two virtual learning opportunities about CMMC:

• The Ohio APEX Accelerator at Ohio University will host a webinar on Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. EDT that will provide small businesses with information about Project Spectrum and how it assists small businesses in becoming cybersecurity certified, along with guidance on why cyber certification is important. Register for the Ohio event>>
• The APEX Accelerator at Southwest Virginia Community College will hold a webinar on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. EDT on the same subjects. Register for the Virginia event>>

Let’s Stay in Touch

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.

Follow us on social media, visit our website , or send us an email. We look forward to staying connected.

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