Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Sales Opportunities in the Dane County and UW-Madison Government Markets – Webinar
2021-05-11 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | WI
Significant opportunities exist for small businesses to sell to State and Local governments. Please join us and learn about how to do business with Dane County and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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:

Carolyn Clow, Lead Purchasing Officer, County of Dane
Hartley Murray, Assistant Director-Strategic Purchasing, UW-Madison
Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
Kim Garber, Manager-Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

May 2021 HHS Vendor Outreach Session (VOS) - Teleconference
2021-05-11 08:00 - 15:00
Each Prime Company has a set of NAICS Codes criteria. If your small business meets that criteria, you can register to meet with one(1) Prime Company. The featured Prime Company for the May Teleconference Vendor Outreach Session is:
General Services Administration(GSA): 611420, 541511, 541512, 541513, 541519, 517110, 517911, 517919, 518210, 519130
May 2021 Teleconference Vendor Outreach Session
Registration will open Monday, April 26, 2021 at 7:00AM
In light of the current COVID-19 Health advisory alert, the Vendor Outreach Session (VOS) will continue as a Teleconference VOS until further notice. You will receive an order confirmation containing the phone number you should call at the time of your meeting. It is your responsibility to call.
Prior to attending the Vendor Outreach Session, please be sure your company is registered in our Small Business Customer Experience (SBCX) system. You can register at: osdbu.hhs.gov

Virtual Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) Seminar
2021-05-11 07:00 - 14:30
The TKO seminar is a session that teaches vendors how to START doing business with Defense Logistics Agency. Vendors learn how to find open solicitations, how to submit a quote through the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS), the procedures for viewing/downloading drawings, and how to use Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) to get paid. There will also be many other relevant topics of discussion. This course is designed for dealers, distributors, and manufacturers, but NOT a company that provides services.
To register for this event go to https://tko.dla.mil, select “DLA Land and Maritime,” fill out the registration form, and additional information will be provided to you.

IAE Stakeholder Forum - Virtual
2021-05-05 12:00 - 14:00
GSA is excited to announce that on May 24th, 2021, SAM.gov will merge with beta.SAM.gov, becoming one system. This milestone will mark the culmination of significant work with IAE system users and stakeholders across the board who all have helped create what will be the ‘new’ SAM.gov. The new SAM.gov – that will now be much more than a registration system only – incorporates customer-focused functionality changes, improving the overall experience for you.
In preparation for the upcoming integration of SAM.gov, you are invited to participate in the next Integrated Award Environment online Stakeholder Forum on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT.
This program will provide a detailed presentation of what is (and what is not) changing when SAM.gov integrates with beta.SAM.gov on May 24, 2021. If you are a non-federal entity administrator, use data entry tools on SAM.gov, or are a system account user of SAM.gov, this event is for you.
Participants will learn about how they can access the data and tools they use today in legacy SAM.gov in the modernized SAM.gov.

Wisconsin Center Expansion Project Early Sitework Information Session - Virtual
2021-05-04 15:30 - 16:30
Please join CAA ICON and Gilbane | Smith on Tuesday, May 4, for a virtual information session about the Wisconsin Center Expansion project.
During the briefing, businesses will learn about the project and the procurement process, as well as economic inclusion commitments and early sitework packages listed below.
Bid packages:

Deep foundations
Excavation and site preparation
Site utility work

Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs Webinar Series – Air Force
2021-05-04 12:00 - 13:00
Mr. Scott Kiser, Director (SES), Air Force Small Business Programs will provide an overview of Air Force Small Business Achievements, FY2021 Goals and opportunities for procurement suppliers to support Air Force Technology and the SBIR Program.

Cyber Friday: Testing and Strengthening Your Cyber-Defenses Using Exercises
2021-04-30 11:00 - 12:00
Having a plan is one thing, trusting that it is adequate may be optimistic, and waiting to see if it works against an attack is not acceptable. There are many alternatives from which a company can choose. Internal testing and using exercise scenarios is one option. This webinar will explore the use of scenario planning (using exercises) to review the strengths, weaknesses, overall readiness, and completeness of cybersecurity plans as well as provide suggestions on how to identify and develop their own scenarios.
Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

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

Minority Business Certifications Demystified - Virtual Event
2021-04-29 16:00 - 18:00
Are you a minority business owner looking to expand the reach of your business to government opportunities in the City of Madison, Dane County, WisDOT State Highways, and/or the State of Wisconsin? Do the acronyms DBE, MBE and TBE sound like alphabet soup? If so, this is the virtual event for you!
Please join our virtual platform to learn about each government program’s unique certification requirements and tips for successfully bidding on government contracts.
This event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), City of Madison, County of Dane, and the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program.

The Contracting Academy (TCA) - Writing Winning State and Federal Proposals - Virtual
2021-04-28 13:00 - 16:00
Is Your Proposal Responsive and Effective?
Writing a government proposal takes time, careful planning and a complete understanding of requirements. It must provide credible evidence that your business understands a problem, has a comprehensive solution, has the skills and experience to do the work and can provide the solution at a competitive price. Join us and learn what makes an effective winning proposal. All contractors and subcontractors looking to improve their proposals should attend!
View the Full Agenda at the conference site.
Sessions will cover:

Federal Construction
State of Wisconsin Goods and Services
Federal Goods and Services

TCA attendees will qualify for CPE credit.
This event is presented by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Wisconsin Procurement Institute.

2021 Virtual Industry Day - USACE Rock Island District
2021-04-28 08:00 - 16:00
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CST
The event is open to all businesses, both small and large, interested in working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Rock Island District. Morning briefings from Rock Island District leadership as well as representatives from the St. Paul and St. Louis Districts will provide information on upcoming business opportunities within the Upper Mississippi Valley region. Afternoon sessions will focus on networking opportunities, project-specific details and needs, information from state Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, and more. This event will be a great opportunity for businesses to showcase their unique capabilities and learn about projects within the Rock Island and surrounding USACE districts.
Registration for the 2021 USACE Rock Island District Industry Day is required for all attendees.
Click here to view the day’s full agenda.
In addition to registering USACE also encourages businesses to email a capability statement to Troy Robbins at: troy.a.robbins@usace.army.mil so that USACE may gain a better understanding of your capabilities.

2021 HHS Small Business Program Conference - Virtual
2021-04-26 - 2021-04-30
Did you know… The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is one of the largest sources of early-stage capital for life sciences in the U.S.? There is more than $1.2 billion of seed funding for small businesses who are developing innovative products and services that could potentially save lives.
Are you…

New to the NIH small business grant programs?

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

A diverse life science entrepreneur or biomedical researcher looking for seed funding?
A stakeholder in a minority-owned or woman-owned small business?

Make plans today to learn how to apply for seed funding to support your early-stage biomedical research and grow your small business at this FREE virtual conference on April 26-30.
More details available at the full event site.

GSA's Online Federal Acquisition Service Training (FAST) Monthly Conference
2021-04-22 12:00 - 14:00
GSA’s Office of Customer Accounts & Stakeholder Engagement is hosting a series of online trainings to support both prospective and current federal buyers and industry partners!
The second session is Thursday, April 22nd from 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET: FAST2021 Conference Series – Electronic Records Management.
Join us for the FAST2021 Conference Series providing updates and resources on Category Initiatives. Attendees will receive (2) Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) for this session.
Click here for more information on this training series.

Acquisition Hour: Learning about the Surety Bond Guarantee from the U.S. SBA
2021-04-21 12:00 - 13:00
Failure to provide required contract bonds can result in an offeror being excluded from competition or a contractor being terminated for default!
Required contract bonds often include Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, and Payment Bonds. The Federal Government will require that offerors provide Bid Bonds for any contract that requires Performance and Payment Bonds. Performance and Payment Bonds are generally required for federal construction contracts that exceed $150,000. In addition, Payment Bonds may be needed for federal construction contracts between $35,000 and $150,000.
Unfortunately, small businesses sometimes have a difficult time qualifying for, and obtaining, such bonds in the standard marketplace. Join us in this webinar and learn about the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Surety Bond Guarantee Program and how the SBA can help you obtain the needed contract bonds at reasonable prices, terms, and conditions.
Speakers:

Tamara Murray, Underwriting Marketing Specialist, Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Surety Guarantees
Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

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

Acquisition Hour: Introduction to Certifications Available to Minority Owned Businesses
2021-04-20 13:00 - 14:00
Minority owned business can receive advantage when selling to various Public and Private entities. In most cases, a certification process must be completed to qualify.
It is important for business to understand the certification requirements and the potential benefits to their business prior to investing their time and resources in the certification process.
This presentation will provide an overview of these programs, application process, describe eligibility requirements as well as the benefits and obligations for certifications with:

Federal Government agencies
State Government agencies (including WisDOT and State of Wisconsin)
Local Government agencies (including Milwaukee City and County, Dane County, Madison (City), MMSD)
Corporate (Large business)

Speakers:

Tondra Davis, Director, Supplier Diversity Program, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Operations
Madalena Maestri, DBE Program Chief, Office of Business Opportunity & Equity Compliance Division of Transportation System Development, WisDOT
Benjamin Blanc, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

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

Cyber Friday: Your Cyber Plan Cannot Be Static - Here's Why!
2021-04-16 11:00 - 12:00
Every day brings both old and new cyber threats. Is that email legitimate? How about the link? – should I click it? Additionally, there are new devices, new settings, and even new staff. Each and every change brings some probability of risk which in the worst case can shut down a company. This webinar will review why trusting last year’s, last month’s or even last week’s cyber plan may be overly optimistic and will provide suggestions for staying abreast of changes and threats in this ever-evolving cyber-world.
Speaker: Marc Violante, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

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

FAR Up Close - FAR Regulations for Procurement of Architect Engineer Services
2021-04-14 13:30 - 14:30
The federal process for procurement of Architect Engineer (A/E) Services is unique and fully understanding this unique process is key to getting federal AE contracts. This webinar will provide a comprehensive, up close analysis of the A/E procurement processes specified in FAR 36.6, including both the normal AE procurement process and the Simplified Streamlined AE procurement process. In addition, attendees will learn about the 6% statutory Fee limitation for A/E contracts, the special FAR clauses used in A/E contracts, and about how the federal government uses A/E IDIQ contracts. Whether you are an experienced federal A/E contractor or an AE firm that is new to federal contracts, this presentation will provide valuable information and insights into federal AE contracting.

Speaker: Helen Henningsen, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View the full 2021 FAR Up Close series schedule.

Doing Business with DLA - Webinar
2021-04-14 12:30 - 13:30
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Office of Small Business Programs offers monthly webinars to educate small businesses and others about DLA’s mission and opportunities to participate in our various supply chains.
To register for this event go to https://tko.dla.mil select “HQ DLA Small Business Programs” fill out the registration form and additional information will be provided to you.

Cybersecurity for Current and Prospective DOD Contractors
2021-04-14 08:00 - 09:30
Companies currently conducting business with the Department of Defense, and those which would like to have DOD as a customer, need to know about and comply with DOD cybersecurity requirements. Companies must be aware both that there are requirements in place today and that there are pending changes to these requirements that will soon be the norm for primes, subcontractors and suppliers. This webinar will provide an overview of the current requirements, of reference documents and actions that businesses need to take, and information required for businesses to satisfy these requirements. Additionally, this session will review DOD’s Cyber Security Maturity Model (CMMC), the current timeline for implementation, levels of certification, applicability, and essential actions that will be required and reviewed during certification.

Presenter: Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is presented by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Door County Economic Development Corporation, and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute.

Acquisition Hour: Veterans’ Small Business Certifications – Federal and State
2021-04-13 13:00 - 14:00
Government contracting offers tremendous financial opportunities for Wisconsin’s veteran-owned small businesses, but it can be difficult to compete in the marketplace. SBA and its local resource network help set veteran entrepreneurs up for success no matter where they are in their government contracting journey.
WPI is hosting the SBA and the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program to present on federal and state certifications available for veterans and how these certifications can lead to new customers and new business.
Speakers:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
Tondra Davis, Director, Supplier Diversity Program, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Operations
Mark Dennis, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

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

TKO Alternate Offers - Webinar
2021-04-13 13:00 - 14:00

NASPO Exchange - Virtual Conference
2021-04-13 - 2021-04-15
The purpose of the NASPO Exchange is to build relationships among the supplier community and state governments, the largest consumers of goods and services in the country. This conference is a place where learning, networking, and partnering come together to develop business relationships to support public procurements that are effective, efficient, transparent, and fair.
For additional information, visit the full conference site here.

FAR Up Close - FAR Clauses in Federal Construction Services
2021-04-07 13:30 - 14:30
The federal government spends billions of dollars on construction each year. This webinar will explain, in easy to understand terms, the FAR regulations and clauses related to bonding and alternate payment protections, the Davis Bacon Act, the Changes clause, the Suspension of Work Clause, Differing Site Conditions, Brand Name or Equal Specifications, Certified Cost or Pricing data and Audits. Join us for an up close analysis of the FAR clauses related to these topics and gain a better understanding on the rights and responsibilities of both parties in a federal construction contracting.

Speaker: Helen Henningsen, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View the full 2021 FAR Up Close series schedule.

TOMAH WI VA Medical Center Industry Day - Virtual
2021-04-07 10:00 - 12:00
This virtual event (ZOOM) will focus on opportunities for two requirements at the TOMAH VA Medical Center. This event will consist of a requirements overview, discussion on bid preparation, and a networking and discussion session. Industry is highly encouraged to come prepared and ask questions.
View additional information on this event in beta.SAM.gov at this link.
AGENDA
10:00am Welcome and Introductions – moderated by Steve Maier, Small Business Liaison NCO-12, Great Lakes Acquisition Center
10:15am Overview of the Requirements – presented by Brandon Harris and Maureen Falaschi, Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes Acquisition Center
10:45am Preparing to Quote on These Requirements – presented by Helen Henningsen, WPI
• Registration
• Form 1449
• Performance Standard
• Preparing your response – proposal instructions
11:30am Post Event Networking and Discussions – hosted by WPI – an interactive session
• Teaming and Partnering
• Additional questions and assistance
Click here to view the Tomah VA Medical Center primary service area.

Acquisition Hour: Introduction to Certifications Available to Woman Owned Businesses
2021-04-06 13:00 - 14:00
Woman-owned businesses can receive advantage when selling to various Public entities. In most cases, a certification process must be completed to qualify. It is important for businesses to understand the certification requirements and the potential benefits to their business prior to investing their time and resources in the certification process.
This webinar will provide an overview of these programs, application processes, describe eligibility requirements as well as the benefits and obligations for certifications with:

Federal Government agencies
State Government agencies (including WisDOT and State of Wisconsin)
Local Government agencies (including Milwaukee City and County, Dane County, Madison (City), and MMSD).

UPDATE: The U.S. SBA has ended self-certification of Woman Owned Small Businesses and, as of October 15, 2020, self-certification is no longer an option.
Speakers:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
Tondra Davis, Director, Supplier Diversity Program, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Operations
Kim Garber, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

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

Acquisition Hour: Intellectual Property for Government Contractors & Subcontractors & the STTR/SBIR Stakeholder
2021-04-06 11:00 - 12:00
When doing business with the Federal Government, you (the contractor) may encounter situations where the government is entitled to receive intellectual property rights. The scope of government rights in a contractor’s intellectual property depends primarily on the type of intellectual property at issue, specifically, whether the intellectual property is a patent or patentable intellectual property, copyrighted material, or rights in technical data or computer software.
Small businesses participating in the SBIR/STTR programs encounter those different types of IP and should have a good understanding of the rights to which the government may be entitled. For small businesses participating in the SBIR/STTR program it is important to understand Intellectual Property (IP) ‐ Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks, and Copyrights.
Companies should not shy away from business opportunities with the government out of fear they will lose valuable intellectual property rights. However, it is critical that a company seeking to do business with the government, either as a prime or subcontractor, understands its intellectual property rights.
This webinar will help you understand the many differences in property rights and help you ensure that you are only providing the government with what is strictly necessary.
Speakers:

Laura Grebe, Partner, Husch Blackwell
Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

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

NCMA SubCon Training Workshops
2021-04-06 - 2021-04-07
Join us April 6-7 for a new, flexible approach to SubCon!
SubCon 2021 is an integrated, in-person, and virtual event, giving you the option to connect face-to-face or dive deep with virtual sessions to jumpstart that big idea.
Ready to Connect Face to Face?
Then plan to join us at Convene in downtown Arlington! We’re getting back to the event you know and love. Education sessions, networking, speakers, and solution providers all in-person in Arlington, VA.
Prefer to Stay Virtual?
If you can’t get away from the office but still want to experience SubCon, then the virtual option is perfect for you. Watch educational sessions and connect with peers from the comfort of your computer.

Moving the Northwest Wisconsin Advantage Forward – Virtual
2021-03-25 12:00 - 13:30
Please join us for a discussion on financial preparation, current programs and resources as well as government contract opportunities for Northwestern Wisconsin businesses.
Moving the Northwest Wisconsin Advantage Forward will be about making sure your business is financially fit BEFORE accepting additional funding or government contract and developing new market opportunities.
With lending changes and new lending programs due to COVID-19, if you want to take advantage of recovery lending from a traditional or public revolving loan fund to complete your contract obligation, you need to make sure your company is financially fit enough first. This session will cover pitfalls of taking a loan just because it seems the advantage is there, and having it cost you in the long run. Also, currently available government contracting opportunities will be highlighted – potentially a new and long term customer.
Speakers:

Shane Mahaffy, U.S. SBA Wisconsin District
Tammie Clendenning, U.S. SBA Wisconsin District
David Wierzba, Northwest WI Regional Economic Development Director, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Ken Pearson, Northwest Regional Planning Commission
Anna Ringstad, Indianhead Community Action Agency
Mark Dennis, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

This webinar is presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Indianhead Community Action Agency, and Wisconsin Procurement Institute.

Acquisition Hour: Using the New FPDS and Desktop Tools to Analyze Federal Procurement Data
2021-03-24 12:00 - 13:00
Identifying and accessing data related to federal procurement is for the most part a relatively easy task. Making sense of the data; seeing patterns and answering specific questions can be extremely challenging without the use of commonly available software tools. This webinar will review tools such as Excel, Excel Pivot Tables and Microsoft BI and how these tools can be used to gain insight, understand patterns and in general turn data into a viable and usable strategic resource.

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

8th Annual WPI and NCMA WI Chapter - FAR Evening Study Group - Session 8, FAR Parts 42-53
2021-03-23 18:00 - 19:30
This will be the 8th 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://www.ncmahq.org/certification/certified-federal-contract-manager-(cfcm)

This session will be presented by Jason Rathsack, Group Lead, Business Operations, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).
This webinar is eligible for 1.5 CPE credits.
View the full 2021 FAR Evening Study Group schedule.

Acquisition Hour: The SBA 8(a) Certification Program and Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) Program
2021-03-23 13:00 - 14:00
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 that include 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

Speakers:

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

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