Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Cyber Friday: NIST SP 800.171 - 3.13 System and Communications Protection and 3.14 System and Information Integrity
2023-11-09 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
If you are currently, or are planning to be, a contractor or subcontractor within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) you must comply with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS) 252.204-7012. These regulations state that a contractor or subcontractor must implement the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171. To help you know how to comply with these DFAR regulations, this series of webinars will overview the 14 Cybersecurity “Families” and their respective controls.
In this webinar we will examine NIST SP 800.171 3.13 System and Communications Protection and 3.14 System and Information Integrity. Within NIST the importance of assuring the integrity of information involves both procedural and technical controls designed to assure information has not been distorted or changed by bad actors. This webinar will look at how information can be protected both within the system and while in transit. Finally, this webinar will discuss how to correctly implement means by which CUI can be secured and protected within the system.
Topics of discussion include:

An overview of the concepts and principles critical to system and communications protection as well as system and information integrity
A review of the reference documentation that is essential in evaluating your compliance with these controls
A review of the controls, their structure, and what the federal regulations are asking of you and your company
A discussion of the different strategies for implementing these control

Speaker: Matt Frost, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
For the full schedule of the Cyber Friday webinars, please click here.
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.

Satellite Office: Camp Douglas
2023-11-14 09:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-12 09:00 - 16:00 | Juneau County Economic Development Corporation, 122 Main Street, Camp Douglas, WI, 54618, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Juneau County Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC) offices in Camp Douglas, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Camp Douglas JCEDC, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Sales Opportunities with Local Government Agencies – Green Bay Area (virtual)
2023-11-14 10:00 - 12:00 | GoToWebinar
Significant opportunities exist for small businesses to sell to local government agencies in and around Green Bay. Please join us and learn about how to do business with government agencies in the area.
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. Please indicate interest in meetings when registering for this event.
WPI strongly recommends you have a current capabilities statement ready prior to your meetings. Attendees should be ready with a capabilities statement and prepared pitch to take advantage of the meeting time. Assistance to prepare is available with WPI – contact their staff at MichaelS@wispro.org or 414-270-3600.
Speakers will discuss:

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

Presenters:

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
City of Green Bay
Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Acquisition Hour: Preparing a Winning Government Proposal
2023-11-15 12:00 - 13:00
Your proposals are not generating government contract awards. You think you are submitting the greatest option. Why are they not selecting you? Your proposal may offer wonderful things but is it RESPONSIVE and EFFECTIVE?

Writing a proposal takes time, careful planning and a complete understanding of the requirement. A proposal must provide credible evidence that your business understands the 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. An effective, responsive proposal can give you the competitive edge your business is looking for. All contractors and subcontractors looking to improve their proposals should attend.

Speaker: Carol Murphy, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Sales Opportunities with Local Government Agencies - in person
2023-11-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue Campus, 2125 Commercial Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join WPI and the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction at Madison Area Technical College to learn about opportunities related to School Lunch Programs. Wisconsin Procurement Institute staff will also be present to assist with procurement-related questions during and after the event.
This session is intended for businesses interested in working with schools who participate in the USDA National School Lunch Program. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) – School Nutrition Team (SNT) will provide an overview of how procurements are conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the state agency, DPI SNT (in collaboration with DOA), and at the local school level. Since school food service purchases are made at various levels within the supply chain, including national, regional, and local levels, we will discuss the requirements and types of products and services commonly purchased by school food service and the contracting process. The presentation will also cover the Wisconsin Local Food for Schools (WI LFS) Program, which targets involvement from small and/or socially disadvantaged businesses to expand the local supply chain.
WPI Staff:

Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)
Tru Mwololo, Manager, Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

Event Location:
Madison Area Technical College, Commercial Avenue Campus
Room 240
2125 Commercial Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
*Please plan to arrive a little early. Parking is limited at the location.

Emerging Issues: Vetting Subcontractors and Suppliers
2023-11-16 13:00 - 14:00 | WI, United States
Over the last several years, cybersecurity has been front and center and garnered most of DoD’s contractor’s time and energy as it should. Cybersecurity is a major issue that needs to be addressed but it is not the only issue. There are existing and evolving issues that DoD contractors need to know about and in many cases require affirmative actions related to compliance.
This series, WPI’s Emerging Issues Series, is intended as an information tool and resource for contract managers and those with a compliance function. The topics selected for the initial group of Webinars are just some of the important topics. Some have not held the spotlight like others but nevertheless they are important. Others, such as Innovation and AI have recently emerged and have shown that they are not just a passing curiosity but truly topics of importance that will continue to impact DoD policy and provide procurement opportunities. These topics included in our first group, are current topics that need attention and need to be addressed. We expect that over time other issues – topics will emerge and come to the forefront. As these topics are identified we will add them to this series.
Do you know who you are doing business with? This is a critical step related to compliance for all contractors. This session will provide ideas as to – what topics should be discussed, what documents should be created and retained and how frequently should there be updates. This webinar will also address another important question of knowing from where parts originate and do they qualify under the contract.
Speaker: Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
For the list of Emerging Issues webinar, please click here.
With respect to our current offerings don’t worry. We will be continuing our Acquisition Hours series and Cyber Friday. To see the latest calendar of offerings for Acquisition Hours, click here. For Cyber Fridays, click here.

Satellite Office: Madison – hosted by the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue Campus
2023-11-20 09:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-18 09:00 - 16:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue Campus, 2125 Commercial Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue campus in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Madison MATC Commerical Avenue, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Satellite Office: Oshkosh – hosted by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation
2023-11-21 09:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation, 111 N. Main Street, Ste 204, Oshkosh, WI, 54901, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location at the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation in Oshkosh, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Oshkosh, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Satellite Office: Manitowoc – hosted by Progress Lakeshore
2023-11-28 09:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-15 09:00 - 16:00 | Progress Lakeshore, 202 N 8th St Ste 101, Manitowoc, WI, 54220, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Progress Lakeshore offices in Manitowoc, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Manitowoc, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Acquisition Hour: Service Contracts with Federal Agencies
2023-11-29 12:00 - 13:00
Do you currently have or are you considering bidding on a federal contract for transportation, janitorial, lawn mowing, catering, repair/maintenance or similar services? If you answered yes, then you may have or will be bidding for a SERVICE CONTRACT.
Under a service contract, contractors have additional requirements and obligations. This webinar will help you learn what you need to know to be compliant to these specific contract terms and conditions. Join us this webinar as we discuss the ins and outs of Service Contracts.

This webinar will cover:
• General Information
• Performance Based Acquisitions
• Statement of Work
• Service Contract Labor Standards Act
• Department of Labor (DOL) Wage Determinations

Speaker: Carol Murphy, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Government Certification Workshop - State Certifications
2023-11-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
Are you a Minority, Disadvantaged, Small, Women, or Veteran owned or HUBZone located business? Join the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Tru Mwololo, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Manager of Small Business Programs, for a once a month Government Certifications Workshop where you will learn about what local, state, or federal certifications your business may qualify for and how these certifications could help you gain a competitive edge in the government marketplace.
The topic of this workshop is State of Wisconsin certifications. State certifications include:

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
Disabled Veteran Owned Business (DVB)

Agenda:

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Overview of Certification Kinds and Benefits
15 minute break
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Certification Application Overview
15 minute break
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Q&A

Schedule of Topics: click here to view the full schedule and topics for the Government Certification Workshops

Emerging Issues: Foreign Ownership, Control, and Influence (FOCI)
2023-11-30 13:00 - 14:00 | WI, United States
Over the last several years, cybersecurity has been front and center and garnered most of DoD’s contractor’s time and energy as it should. Cybersecurity is a major issue that needs to be addressed but it is not the only issue. There are existing and evolving issues that DoD contractors need to know about and in many cases require affirmative actions related to compliance.
This series, WPI’s Emerging Issues Series, is intended as an information tool and resource for contract managers and those with a compliance function. The topics selected for the initial group of Webinars are just some of the important topics. Some have not held the spotlight like others but nevertheless they are important. Others, such as Innovation and AI have recently emerged and have shown that they are not just a passing curiosity but truly topics of importance that will continue to impact DoD policy and provide procurement opportunities. These topics included in our first group, are current topics that need attention and need to be addressed. We expect that over time other issues – topics will emerge and come to the forefront. As these topics are identified we will add them to this series.
First and foremost, FOCI can negatively impact our National Security. Additionally, FOCI can impact a company’s ability to qualify for a Facility Clearance and in some instances contract award. FOCI is not just a single item or a one-time action. FOCI is central to being a DoD contractor and this webinar will provide an overview of these key ideas, requirements, and resources.
Speaker: Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
For the list of Emerging Issues webinar, please click here.
With respect to our current offerings don’t worry. We will be continuing our Acquisition Hours series and Cyber Friday. To see the latest calendar of offerings for Acquisition Hours, click here. For Cyber Fridays, click here.

Satellite Office: Madison (FEED Kitchens)
2023-12-04 09:00 - 16:00, 2024-01-08 09:00 - 16:00 | FEED Kitchens, 1219 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the FEED Kitchens in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Madison FEED Kitchens, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

The Contracting Academy (TCA) - Virtual
2023-12-05 09:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Sessions
Registration and full agenda to be posted at this page.

The December 5 TCA will focus on federal government contracting and opportunities. Sessions will explore best practices in business development and market research, as well as how to leverage various types of business partnerships, including Mentor-Protégé programs, joint ventures, and subcontracting. Additionally, sessions will feature discussions on opportunities, buying practices, selection criteria, and priorities with representatives from federal government agencies and federal prime contractors.
2023-12-TCA-Agenda-FINALDownload

ALSO, join us on December 6 and 7 for the 42nd annual Marketplace – learn more at Marketplace Wisconsin. Presented by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, MARKETPLACE is the Governor’s Annual Conference on Diverse Business Development. With a particular focus on small businesses, this event connects business owners from across Wisconsin with state, federal, and local government as well as private sector business opportunities.

The Contracting Academy (TCA) is an opportunity for businesses to grow their technical knowledge of contracting with Federal Government, State/Local Government, and Government Prime Contractors. The series of workshops will benefit established businesses looking to grow and develop their government sales.

Marketplace Wisconsin: Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development
2023-12-06 - 2023-12-07 | The Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53203
Marketplace will be held December 6-7, 2023 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI.
Presented by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, MARKETPLACE is the Governor’s Annual Conference on Diverse Business Development. This event connects business owners from across Wisconsin seeking to do business with state, federal and local governments as well as the private sector. The conference provides the opportunity for established minority-, woman-, veteran- and LGBTQ+-owned businesses and small businesses to learn from and connect with resource providers, government representatives, corporate buyers and business professionals to lay a foundation for new partnerships and business opportunities. More information on this year’s program is available at MarketplaceWisconsin.com.

Confirmed Buyers for Dec. 7th Buyer Meetings
Preparing for buyer meetings? Click here for buyer meeting best practices or call 414-270-3600 to speak with a WPI counselor.
Buyer Assignment Map
Colleges/Universities

Marquette University
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee Area Technical College
University of Wisconsin – Madison
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin – System Administration

Corporate/Government Prime Contractors

Advocate Health (formerly Advocate Aurora Health)
American Family Insurance Group
CG Schmidt
JH Findorff & Son
JP Cullen
Generac
Gilbane Building Company
HGA Architects and Engineers
Leonardo DRS – NPS
Michels Corporation
Oshkosh Defense
Snap-on Incorporated
U.S. Bank
Versiti
WPS Health Solutions

Local Government Agencies

City of Milwaukee
City of Wauwatosa
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County Facilities Management – Architecture, Engineering and Environmental Services
Milwaukee County Parks
Milwaukee County Zoo
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)
Milwaukee Public Schools

State Government Agencies

Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Lead Safe Homes Program
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Federal Government Agencies

Beyond Vision – AbilityOne Base Supply Center
General Services Administration, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Click a buyer name to view their buyer profile
If you have questions about preparing for the One-on-One Buyer meetings, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute will be hosting two webinars on “Preparing for One-on-One Buyer Meetings.” These were held on October 17 and November 8. Please visit the Client Portal to view a copy of the presentation’s PowerPoint and the webinar recording.
Additionally, contact us to schedule a one-on-one counseling meeting by calling 414-270-3600.

Black & Diverse Business Showcase
2023-12-08 10:30 - 20:30 | The Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53203
The 2nd Annual Black & Diverse Business Showcase is coming to the Baird Center in December! The event will take place from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm and will feature a variety of retail product and service vendors. Attendees also have the chance to learn about government and corporate contracting. Don’t miss your opportunity on December 8th to come and see what the showcase has to offer!
For more event information, please visit: https://www.twbcc.com/black-diverse-business-showcase

DLA TKO: Doing Business with DLA
2023-12-12 13:00 - 14:00
A Defense Logistic Agency (DLA) Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) seminar will be held December 12, 2023 from 1-2 PM CST. The topic will be, “Doing Business with DLA.” To register, please click here. From the drop down menu, please select “DLA Land and Maritime,” then select the TKO seminar(s) you would like to register for.
Virtual TKO Seminars and Webinars are collective and/or individual sessions that teach 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 many other topics. These courses are designed for dealers, distributors, and manufacturers, but NOT a company that provides “services.” All sessions are held virtually and free of charge.

Acquisition Hour: The HUBZone Program - Certification Benefits and Regulations
2023-12-12 13:00 - 14:00
The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program helps 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
· Terms and no-cost of HUBZone certification
· Process and no-cost renewal of 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
Ben Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Satellite Office: La Crosse – hosted by Veterans in Professions
2023-12-13 09:00 - 16:00 | Veterans in Professions, 1501 St. Andrews Street Ste C-100, La Crosse, WI, 54603, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in Veterans in Professions in La Crosse, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for La Crosse, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Acquisition Hour: Analyzing and Responding to Federal Construction Solicitations
2023-12-13 12:00 - 13:00 | WI, United States
Federal Government construction solicitations might initially seem intimidating, complex, and out of reach. However, the Federal Government spends billions of dollars every year on construction, and therefore, learning how to read, understand, and respond to these solicitations is worth the effort. Join us in this webinar and learn what types of construction projects the Federal Government procures, how the Federal Government solicits bids and proposals, and how to put together proposals to compete for federal construction opportunities.
Speaker: Carol Murphy, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Satellite Office: Fond Du Lac – hosted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2023-12-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Envision Greater Fond du Lac, 23 S Main St Ste 101, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in Envision in Fond du Lac, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Fond du Lac, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Satellite Office: Madison (MATC Goodman South Campus)
2023-12-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
Tru Mwololo will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Madison Area Technical College’s Goodman South Campus in Madison, WI. Contact Tru directly to schedule your meeting with her.
To view the upcoming schedule for Madison – MATC Goodman South, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

DLA Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) Seminar
2024-01-09 - 2024-01-10
The TKO seminar is a course that teaches vendors how to start doing business with DLA. Vendors will 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 Invoicing, Receipt, Acceptance and Property Transfer (iRAPT) to get paid. There will also be other relevant topics of discussion. All sessions are free and held virtually.
Training is provided by DLA Land and Maritime in Columbus, Ohio, but benefits all DLA suppliers.
For more information, click here.

Acquisition Hour: Mastering Federal Construction Contract Performance
2024-01-10 12:00 - 13:00
So, you have been awarded a federal construction contract – now what? Understanding some unique aspects of public federal construction projects upfront can help ensure timely and profitable performance. This webinar will cover topics ranging from the pre-construction conference to contract close out. Some specific topics to be discussed include:
• Baseline and Interim Schedule Requirements
• Davis Bacon Act Requirements
• Invoicing and Progress Payments
• Inspection
• Punch List and Contract Completion
Speaker: Carol Murphy, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

WPI is Wisconsin’s APEX Accelerator

Doing Business with DLA Contracting Services Office (DCSO)
2024-01-10 13:30 - 14:30
The DLA Contracting Services Office (DCSO) manages DLA enterprise-wide requirements including major Information Technology (IT) systems and programs, IT products and services, business and facilities services, and other enterprise services for DLA worldwide. DCSO is also the DoD’s provider of document services, including conversion, digital warehousing, printing, duplicating, and distributing and copier management. Additionally, the office plans, facilitates, and acquires services and supplies to support the storage and sale of strategic materials inventory. DCSO is responsible for acquiring, upgrading, rotating, and disposing of stockpile materials as provided by the Annual Materials Plan to include storage, security, testing, contracting, quality studies, and maintenance and replacement of materials in the National Defense Stockpile.
For more information, click here.
