Acquisition Hour: Responding to Sources Sought Request and Preparing Your Capabilities Statement
2022-03-09 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
A Sources Sought notice is a market research tool that Contracting Officers use to determine the availability of specific capabilities in the marketplace. Sources Sought notices are also used to determine if there are enough qualified small businesses able to perform to potentially set aside the specific requirement. These Sources Sought are posted in SAM.gov and provide businesses a significant opportunity to present their qualifications and capabilities to support a specific requirement.
Along with Sources Sought, this session will discuss developing a targeted Capabilities Statement to concisely show your business’s capability to meet the government or prime contractor’s specific needs and requirements.
Well prepared responses to a Sources Sought notice and development of a focused Capabilities Statement are critical to successful review by the Government agency – especially in our current dynamic contracting environment.
This webinar will cover:

What are Sources Sought Notices (SSNs) and Requests for Information (RFIs)
Locating SSNs and RFIs
Preparing a focused response to SSNs and RFIs
How to develop a targeted and effective Capability Statement

Speakers:

Carol Murphy, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)
Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars, CLICK HERE.

9th Annual WPI and NCMA WI Chapter – FAR Evening Webinar and Study Group – Session 5, FAR Parts 19-29
2022-03-08 18:00 - 19:30
This will be the 9th year that the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Wisconsin Chapter will be hosting and presenting this series.
These sessions are designed specifically for current Federal contractors.
In addition, these sessions will help you prepare for the NCMA CFCM certification exam. Learn more at https://ncmahq.org/Web/Certification/CFCM.aspx
Speakers:

Daryl G. Zahn, CFCM, Senior Manager, Contracts and Compliance, Leonardo DRS
Ben Blanc, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1.5 CPE credits.
View the full 2022 FAR Evening Study Group schedule.

9th Annual WPI and NCMA WI Chapter – FAR Evening Webinar and Study Group – Session 4, FAR Parts 13-18
2022-03-01 18:00 - 19:30
This will be the 9th year that the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Wisconsin Chapter will be hosting and presenting this series.
These sessions are designed specifically for current Federal contractors.
In addition, these sessions will help you prepare for the NCMA CFCM certification exam. Learn more at https://ncmahq.org/Web/Certification/CFCM.aspx
Speakers:

Daryl G. Zahn, CFCM, Senior Manager, Contracts and Compliance, Leonardo DRS
Mark Dennis, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1.5 CPE credits.
View the full 2022 FAR Evening Study Group schedule.

Cyber Friday: Department of Defense Contractor Annual Cybersecurity Training Requirements
2022-02-25 11:00 - 12:00
Companies that are handling or anticipate handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must comply with all federal contract clause requirements. However, not all requirements are contained in these clauses. Two important examples are – those related to mandatory initial and annual refresher CUI training and guidance for destroying CUI documents and materials. This webinar will provide an overview of these requirements and associated references.

Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

9th Annual WPI and NCMA WI Chapter – FAR Evening Webinar and Study Group – Session 3, FAR Parts 5-12
2022-02-22 18:00 - 19:30

WisDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Information and Recruitment Event - Virtual
2022-02-22 08:00 - 12:00
WisDOT DBE Support Services is offering a DBE Information and Recruitment Event for potential DBE firms, prime contractors, and DBE firms looking to expand service offerings and/or begin working with the state.
WisDOT invests $600-700 million annually in federal and state dollars for highway, airport and transit projects. These funds translate into millions of dollars in transportation-related contracts and project work for DBE firms.
Who qualifies as a DBE?
​Any small business at least 51% owned, operated and fully controlled on a daily basis by a member or members of the groups listed below qualifies.
In the case of publicly held firms, a member or members of the listed groups must own at least 51% of the stock issued. Groups include:

African Americans
Native Americans
Hispanic Americans
Asian-Pacific Americans
Asian-Indian Americans
Women

Individuals who are not members of one of the groups above can be found to be socially disadvantaged as defined by Appendix E of 49 CFR Part 26. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR Part 26
If you are interested in attending this event, CLICK HERE.

AGENDA (click to download)
8:00 AM

Welcome & Introductions – Jeff Johnson, M.E., JW Johnson & Associates, Inc.

8:15 – 9:00 AM

DBE certification overview – Madalena Maestri, EdD, DBE Program Chief, WisDOT

Basic DBE certification requirements
Opportunities and benefits of certification

Are You Ready for DBE certification? – Jeff Johnson

Tips for becoming DBE Certified
Keeping and expanding your DBE Certification

9:00 – 10:15 AM

Overview of current and projected areas of WisDOT construction and professional service opportunities – Jeff Gust, WisDOT
WisDOT / DBE Trucking Policy – Paul Ndon, WisDOT
DBE Firm Shares Their Experience – Amy Hacker, White Buffalo Trucking

10:15 AM *** Break ***
10:30 AM

Access to Business Loans and Contract Financing – First American Capital Corporation (FACC), Wisconsin Native Loan Fund (WINLF)
Opportunities for Federal/Local Contracting and their Certification Programs – Wisconsin Procurement Institute

11:15 AM

Developing Your Business Capacity Statement – Marci Martin, Write Like That

Noon – End of Program

Coordinated by WisDOT, JW Johnson & Associates, Inc., Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI), and the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AICCW).

Acquisition Hour: The SBA 8(a) Certification Program and Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) Program
2022-02-16 12:00 - 13:00
Businesses that are considered Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) due to social and economic disadvantage may qualify for certification under the 8(a) program. This presentation is recommended for any small business that may qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged, and wants to take advantage of the benefits of the 8(a) program. While there is no goal for the 8(a) program, the SBA supports a goal of 5% set aside for SDB. The 8(a) program is not a minority business program but has many benefits including preference in contracting, preferential teaming agreements, and focused business development training.
Businesses certified under the 8(a) program can also:

Receive sole source contracts
Compete for set-aside contracts
Receive assistance from a Business Opportunity Specialist to help navigate federal contracting
Form joint ventures with established businesses through the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program
Receive management and technical assistance, including business training, counseling, marketing assistance and high-level executive development

During the presentation we will discuss:

What is SDB?
Eligibility Criteria
The Application Process
Program Benefits
What is expected from an 8(a) participant
Locating 8(a) set aside opportunities
Marketing your 8(a) certified business
Recent changes to the SDB goals

Speakers:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Ben Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars, CLICK HERE.

9th Annual WPI and NCMA WI Chapter – FAR Evening Webinar and Study Group – Session 2, FAR Parts 1-4
2022-02-15 18:00 - 19:30

Cyber Friday: Vetting Subcontractors - Considerations for both Primes and Subs
2022-02-11 11:00 - 12:00
Quality, price, and on-time performance remain important factors to consider when identifying and selecting subcontractors and suppliers. However, changes to cybersecurity requirements have established new regulations and, consequently, concerns that must be addressed. Awareness is the first requirement. Companies need to know about these requirements. Then conversations need to be open, frank and recurring with subcontractors and suppliers. Vetting needs to include all of the information, processes and procedures used to get to know members of your supply chain and to ensure that they are eligible from a regulatory standpoint. These efforts should include a thorough review of first tier supply chain members but also to understanding how mandatory requirements will be “flowed down,” managed and tracked at sub-recipient levels.

Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

9th Annual WPI and NCMA WI Chapter – FAR Evening Webinar and Study Group – Session 1, Introduction & FAR Part 16
2022-02-08 18:00 - 19:30
This will be the 9th year that the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Wisconsin Chapter will be hosting and presenting this series.
These sessions are designed specifically for current Federal contractors.
In addition, these sessions will help you prepare for the NCMA CFCM certification exam. Learn more at https://ncmahq.org/Web/Certification/CFCM.aspx
Speakers

Daryl G. Zahn, CFCM, Senior Manager, Contracts and Compliance, Leonardo DRS
Ben Blanc, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1.5 CPE credits.
View the full 2022 FAR Evening Study Group schedule.

Acquisition Hour: The HUBZone Program - Certification Benefits and Regulations
2022-02-08 13:00 - 14:00
The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program assists small businesses in designated urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. This presentation is recommended for any business that is interested in becoming an SBA HUBZone certified business. The HUBZone program qualifies your business to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also get a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions. A business must be certified by the U.S. SBA to qualify for this program, and must be registered in SAM prior to submission of the certification documentation. Indian reservations and other Indian Country locations automatically qualify as HUBZones.
Currently, many Federal agencies and Federal Prime contractors are NOT meeting their HUBZone goals. This could be a potential opportunity for your business.
In this webinar, you will learn:

HUBZone certification requirements
Benefits of and applying for an SBA HUBZone certification
HUBZone certification costs and terms
Process and cost of renewing your HUBZone certification
Locating HUBZone opportunities
Marketing your HUBZone certified business
Changes to the HUBZone program

Speakers:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Ben Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

This webinar qualifies for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars, CLICK HERE.

Small Business Basics: SAM.gov and Diverse Business Certifications - Virtual
2022-02-02 09:00 - 10:00
Small businesses that work with the Federal government are well aware of the SAM.GOV and U.S. SBA Small Business Programs. Over the last few years, the requirement of being registered in SAM.GOV and having small / diverse business certifications has expanded. It is no longer uncommon for these requirements to apply to subcontractors on Federal prime contracts or non-Federal Public and Private projects.
As you begin targeting subcontract work with large corporate or public entities, you should not put SAM registration or certification at the bottom of your preparations checklist. This session will help you understand these potential requirements.
During this session you will learn:

What is SAM.GOV
How to register in SAM.GOV
Overview of Federal, State, Local Government and third party certifications
Frequently asked questions
Links to the discussed websites and source of assistance

Presenter:

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

This session will also be offered on January 28 at 1PM Central Time. Click HERE to register for that session.
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.

Small Business Basics: SAM.gov and Diverse Business Certifications - Virtual
2022-01-28 13:00 - 14:00
Small businesses that work with the Federal government are well aware of the SAM.GOV and U.S. SBA Small Business Programs. Over the last few years, the requirement of being registered in SAM.GOV and having small / diverse business certifications has expanded. It is no longer uncommon for these requirements to apply to subcontractors on Federal prime contracts or non-Federal Public and Private projects.
As you begin targeting subcontract work with large corporate or public entities, you should not put SAM registration or certification at the bottom of your preparations checklist. This session will help you understand these potential requirements.
During this session you will learn:

What is SAM.GOV
How to register in SAM.GOV
Overview of Federal, State, Local Government and third party certifications
Frequently asked questions
Links to the discussed websites and source of assistance

Presenter:

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

This session will also be offered on February 2 at 9AM Central Time. Click HERE to register for that session.
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.

Leveling Up Cybersecurity for You and Your Customers - Virtual
2022-01-26 10:30 - 12:00
REGISTRATION is open at this link.
Lack of cybersecurity is a factor of risk and a major concern among Fortune 100, 500, and 1000 corporations. They have invested substantial resources to ensure they have appropriate defenses against these threats, but they are highly concerned with whether and how their suppliers, especially small and diverse suppliers, address cyber threats.
This first session will explore the cyber risks related to third-party and Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements.
This is a three-part series presented by American Family Insurance in partnership with the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI).
Jan 26 – Leveling Up Cybersecurity for You and Your Customers
April 27 – Don’t be Victimized by Ransomware
Jul 27 – Making Intelligent Investments in Your Company’s Cybersecurity
Presented by – Andy Fiumefreddo IT Security & Risk Manager – Consulting, Assessments, & Third-Party with American Family Insurance.

Cyber Friday: Information Security - Security Beyond Cyber
2022-01-21 11:00 - 12:00
Today, companies deal with emails, prints, models, algorithms, computer code, and more. Employees meet, discuss and converse about opportunities and projects. For companies in the defense space, much of the information that they work with is sensitive or controlled unclassified information (CUI). No matter the medium, this type of information needs to be safeguarded and protected from unauthorized disclosure, inadvertent sharing, or outright theft. Some companies state that they have full development systems which are “air tight.” Others, who have been awarded a DOD contract have a rudimentary system in place. This webinar will provide a broad overview of information security, DOD requirements, references and resources to use.

Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

Acquisition Hour: Market Research - Successful Contractors Do Their Homework
2022-01-18 13:00 - 14:00
Successful contractors do their homework – or their market research. They determine who at the agency is buying, how they are buying, when they will be buying, how much they have procured in the past, what they are currently buying and what they will be buying in the future. They also know who are the current contract holders and who are their competitors.
This workshop will teach you how to do your own government market research using various online tools that are available to you at no cost.
Who should attend: Any business determining if the government market is a good fit for their business, or businesses that want to learn how to better focus their government market efforts.

Speaker: Kim Garber, Director-Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars, CLICK HERE.

Cyber Friday: Design and use of Exercises to test and strengthen your security plans and procedures
2022-01-07 11:00 - 12:00
Cybersecurity plans and processes will often have limitations and are not absolute in their ability to protect. If a cyber incident occurs, are you ready? Do key players know their roles, their authority and required actions? Are external resources such as your Managed Services provider, IT consultant or legal counsel familiar with the company and all of the relevant processes, policies, staff, and equipment? When the network ceases to function, it is too late! You are behind the proverbial “eight ball” and likely in for a very difficult recovery. This webinar will explore the value of exercises in not only strengthening your cybersecurity plans but also in developing response capabilities to minimize the impact of a cyber incident and ease the efforts needed to return to normal operations.

Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

Cyber Friday: Ransomware
2021-12-17 11:00 - 12:00
Discover the practical steps that can be used to combat Ransomware. Ransomware has become a major threat to all businesses not only from an operational perspective but also as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve with respect to payments and reporting of cybersecurity incidents. An unintended mouse click can wreak havoc. There is no outrunning it. In a blink, it will devastate your network. Both computers and the network become effectively useless. This webinar will review NIST’s Tips and Tactics for protection against Ransomware as well as provide an update on current and pending regulations and legislation.

Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

The Contracting Academy - Virtual - Afternoon
2021-12-07 13:00 - 17:00
The Contracting Academy (TCA) will be held virtually on December 7, 2021 1:00 – 5:00PM in conjunction with Marketplace, the Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development, held on December 8-9, 2021 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI.
CLICK HERE to register for the TCA Sessions. Registration is at no cost.
Registration is being done in conjunction with Marketplace. While registering for TCA, please note there are options to register for additional Marketplace 2021 session and events.
TCA is an opportunity for businesses to grow their technical knowledge of contracting with the State of Wisconsin, Federal Government and Government Prime contractors. The series of workshops will benefit established businesses looking to grow and develop their government sales.

AGENDA:
To view the full conference agenda and updated information, visit wicontractingacademy.org.
1:00 PM

Track 1 – Subcontracting Best Practices for Diverse Small Businesses and Federal Contractors
Track 2 – Exporting / International Sales – Readiness and First Steps – TBD

2:00 PM

Track 1 – Update from Wisconsin’s Military Organizations
Track 2 – Working with WisDOT

3:00 PM

Track 1 – Selling to Federal Prime Contractors – A Panel Discussion
Track 2 – Selling to Local Government Agencies

4:00 PM

Track 1 – Selling to the Federal Government – A Discussion with Federal Agency Representatives
Track 2 – Successful Proposals = Winning Contracts

5:00 PM – End of Program

Cyber Friday: Cybersecurity Information - tools, resources and keeping current
2021-12-03 11:00 - 12:00
The need for a dynamic Cybersecurity program has never been greater. Cyber threats continue to change and evolve to take advantage of unpatched systems, outdated software, lack of staff training, and other weaknesses. Adversaries are highly motivated to evolve and to succeed. As a result, a static cyber program without active involvement and a mechanism for updates is destined to fail at some point – Then What? Without a doubt, the imperative is to stay current, keep abreast of the threats, monitor network activity, and have a process to validate and make needed changes expeditiously and fully. The looming question is, How? This webinar will explore some tips, tricks, tools and resources that will help with this considerable challenge.

Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

Cyber Friday: Understanding the Cloud
2021-11-19 11:00 - 12:00
The term Cloud has almost become synonymous with the terms computer or internet. On one level, all the term cloud means is storing data on someone else’s computer. When that is done, their security capabilities and weaknesses also become yours. The real question is, why should a company move to the cloud and, if they do, what type of cloud should be used? After all, there are public clouds, private clouds, community clouds, and hybrid clouds to be considered. In addition to these deployment models, there are service models and various characteristics that should also be considered. Lastly, and especially for DOD contractors, understanding the provider’s security capabilities and whether the Cloud Provider’s security offerings satisfy customer security requirements is just one of many questions that need to be asked. This is of paramount importance. Additionally, cloud users will need to determine what security measures will be provided by the cloud service and which measures will be the responsibility of the company and therefore will need to be configured, monitored and managed by the company. This webinar will explore these essential elements of cloud computing as well as considerations that should be analyzed when exploring a move to the cloud.

Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

Acquisition Hour: Preparing to Meet with a Government Buyer – The Elevator Pitch
2021-11-16 13:00 - 14:00
Opportunities are coming up for small businesses to meet with Government Agencies and their Prime Contractors. To take full advantage of these opportunities, you must do your homework and be prepared. In preparation, a business must have done their market research on the buyer / prime, determine the value or solution that their business can provide to the buyer / prime, have prepared a capabilities statement, and have prepared an ELEVATOR PITCH.
In this session we will focus on the ELEVATOR PITCH. An elevator pitch is a short presentation that explains your business in less than a minute. This type of pitch is designed as a quick introduction to your business explaining who you are, what you do and how your business stands out among other contractors.
Join Kim Garber and Mark Dennis from WPI for a discussion on how to prepare a GREAT PITCH. If you are Marketplace Wisconsin and would like assistance in preparing for meetings at this event, contact Kim Garber at kimg@wispro.org.

Speakers:

Kim Garber, Manager-Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Sales Opportunities in the City of Madison, Waukesha County and Walworth County Government Markets - Webinar Plus Buyer Meetings
2021-11-09 13:00 - 15:00
Significant opportunities exist for small businesses to sell to State and Local governments. Please join us and learn about how to do business with the City of Madison, Walworth County and Waukesha County.
Presentations will be followed by the opportunity for limited one-on-one meetings with Buyers. Meetings between Buyers and Registrants will be coordinated by WPI the day prior to the event. Please indicate interest in meetings when registering for this event. WPI can help you prepare for these virtual meetings. For questions or help regarding meetings, please e-mail Michael Steger at Michaels@wispro.org.
Speakers will discuss:

What & how they buy
How they announce opportunities
First Steps – registrations, certifications, other requirements
Provisions for non-performance /Force Majeure
Presenters:

Presenters:

Brittany Garcia, Buyer 2, City of Madison
Vanessa Mann, Senior Buyer, Walworth County
Catherine Martin, Senior Buyer, Waukesha County
Kim Garber, Manager, Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Cyber Friday: Understanding Zero Trust
2021-10-29 11:00 - 12:00
Who is logged into your network or using a company resource? You can tell which User IDs and Passwords are being used but who – which person – is using them? Is it the assigned user, a colleague who borrowed the credentials, a team member of a shared account, or did someone obtain the credentials illicitly. There is only one correct answer – “the assigned user.” This webinar will explore the ideas behind a Zero Trust Security paradigm and how these principles can assist companies to better protect their assets by not just providing access to information based upon the entry of a User ID and password, but by instituting a paradigm that requires validation to ensure that only the authorized user of those credentials is using them.
Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Cyber Friday webinars.

Acquisition Hour: Is a GSA Schedule Right for Your Business?
2021-10-13 11:00 - 12:00
The GSA Schedule, also known as Federal Supply Schedule, and Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), is a long-term governmentwide contract with commercial companies that provide access to millions of commercial products and services. Join us as we look at what a GSA Schedule is, how it works and how it could expand your Federal sales.
What we will cover:

Requirements, Research, Assessment
What does it take to obtain a GSA Schedule?
GSA Schedule Market Research
How do I get started
Overview of GSA Schedules
Tips to market your Schedule
Tips for selling products on Schedule
How can I put my products or service on a Schedule without a direct GSA contract
GSA websites

Speaker: Steve Makovec, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars CLICK HERE.

Acquisition Hour: Federal Small Business Certification Programs for Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) /8(A) - and Businesses Located In Historically Underutilized Areas - HUBZone
2021-10-06 12:00 - 13:00
1) The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program helps small businesses in designated urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. The HUBZone program qualifies your business to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also receives a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions. A business must be certified by the U.S. SBA to qualify for this program, and must be registered in SAM prior to submission of the certification documentation. Currently, many Federal agencies and Federal Prime contractors are NOT meeting their HUBZone goals. This could be a potential opportunity for your business.
In this webinar, you will learn:

HUBZone certification requirements
Benefits of and applying for an SBA HUBZone certification
HUBZone certification costs and terms
Process and cost of renewing your HUBZone certification

2) Businesses that are considered Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) due to social and economic disadvantage may qualify for certification under the 8(a) program. This presentation is recommended for any small business that may qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged, and wants to take advantage of the benefits of the 8(a) program. While there is no goal for the 8(a) program, the SBA supports a goal of 5% set aside for SDB. The 8(a) program is not a minority business program, but has many benefits that include preference in contracting such as set aside or sole source contracts, preferential teaming agreements and focused business development training.
During the presentation we will discuss:

What is SDB?
Eligibility Criteria
The Application Process
Program Benefits
What is expected from an 8(a) participant

Presenters:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars CLICK HERE.

Acquisition Hour: Federal Small Business Certification Programs for Veteran and Woman Owned Small Businesses
2021-10-05 13:00 - 14:00
In this session we will discuss important FEDERAL SMALL BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS for VETERAN and WOMAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES:
Securing government contracts and subcontracts is not easy. As a Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) or Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) or as a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB / EDWOSB) you may gain preference when competing for contracts with Federal government agencies and I some cases, their primes.
This webinar will focus on the Federal Veteran owned and Woman owned business certifications and the basics of qualifying and applying.
In this webinar, businesses will learn more about certifications offered by the:

Vets First Verification Program (CVE) – for veteran and service disabled veteran owned firms looking to do business with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (and FAA)
U.S. SBA Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Programs (SDVOSB) – for firms working with Federal agencies other than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. SBA Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) for firms working with Federal Agencies

Presenters:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars CLICK HERE.

Acquisition Hour: Disaster Contracting
2021-10-01 11:00 - 12:00
Today’s storm – fire, tornado, flood, or hurricane – could be tomorrow’s disaster. Within the role of federal response there are significant differences between the occurrence of an event that causes damage to a large geographic area and that event being declared a disaster. Understanding the process, historical needs and what is necessary to be ready to respond as a contractor are essential to those companies interested in assisting with federal disaster response efforts. This webinar will review the essential regulations, information resources and historical data that are involved and can be used by companies interested in providing either products or services.
Speaker: Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars CLICK HERE.

Acquisition Hour: ESRS Individual Subcontractor Reporting (ISR) Basics
2021-09-29 13:00 - 14:00
The eSRS ISR report collects prime contractor and subcontractor subcontract award data for a specific Federal Government agency when a Prime/Subcontractor
(a) holds one or more contracts over $700,000 (over $1,500,000 for construction of a public facility); and
(b) is required to report subcontracts awarded to Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), HUBZone Small Business (HUBZone SB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Alaskan Native Corporations (ANC) and Indian Tribes concerns under a subcontracting plan with the Federal Government.
This webinar will provide:

The basics of submitting an ISR
The basics of filing a Summary with the electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS)
Assistance to first time Small Business Liaison Officers (SBLO)
A refresher for newer SBLOs

Speaker: Kim Garber – Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
To view a schedule of all upcoming webinars CLICK HERE.

Acquisition Hour: Responding to Sources Sought Request and Preparing a Capabilities Statement
2021-09-28 13:00 - 14:00
A Sources Sought notice is a market research tool that Contracting Officers use to determine the availability of specific capabilities in the marketplace. Sources Sought are also used to determine if there are enough qualified small businesses (including small business program certified) able to perform to support setting aside the specific requirement for limited competition. These Sources Sought are posted in beta.SAM.gov and provide businesses a significant opportunity to present their qualifications and capabilities to support a specific requirement/ opportunity.
Along with Sources Sought, this session will discuss the development of a targeted Capabilities Statement to support business development and marketing to Government agencies and Prime Contractors.
Well prepared responses to a Sources Sought and/ or the development of a focused Capabilities Statement are critical to the successful presentation of your capacity and capabilities to Government agencies and their Primes – especially in our current dynamic contracting environment.
This webinar will cover:

What are Sources Sought Notices (SSNs) and Requests for Information ((RFIs)
Locating SSNs and RFIs
Preparing a focused response to SSNs and RFIs
How to develop a targeted and effective Capability Statement

Speakers

Carol Murphy, Government Contract Specialist, WPI
Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist, WPI

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.
