Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Training
    • Class Registration
    • On-demand Training
    • GTPAC COVID-19 Resource Page
    • Veterans Verification Video
    • Other Training Audio & Video
  • Useful Links
  • Team Directory
    • Albany Counselor
    • Atlanta Counselors
    • Augusta Counselor
    • Carrollton Counselor
    • Columbus Counselor
    • Gainesville Counselor
    • Savannah Counselor
    • Warner Robins Counselor
  • Directions
    • Atlanta – Training Facility
    • Atlanta – Office
    • Albany
    • Augusta
    • Carrollton
    • Columbus
    • Gainesville
    • Savannah
    • Warner Robins
  • COVID-19
  • New Client Application
  • Contact Us

GTPAC-hosted event supports small businesses, government agencies, and prime contractors

February 9, 2016 By Andrew Smith

The Atlanta chapter of the National Contract Management Association sponsored the Jan. 28th event, including sponsorship of the technology used to manage it.
The National Contract Management Association’s Atlanta Chapter sponsored the Industry Day, including underwriting the cost of the technology used to manage the event.

Nearly 300 people – representing 145 small businesses – got face-to-face with the buyers of 59 government agencies and prime contractors at an event hosted by the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC).

The Small Business Industry Day was sponsored by the Atlanta chapter of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) on Jan. 28, 2016 at the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s conference center in Atlanta.

Mark Teskey, small business director for the U.S. Air Force is seen here at the registration desk.
Mark Teskey, small business director for the U.S. Air Force is seen here at the registration desk.

The day-long event featured briefings by government officials on upcoming contracting opportunities as well as advice offered by successful entrepreneurs on strategies for pursuing government contracts.  The highlight of the day was the matchmaking portion of the program where small business were matched with buyers from local, state and federal agencies, along with large prime contractors.  In all, 589 individual appointments were conducted between small businesses and buyers.

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech conducted a 3-hour briefing for contractors on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech conducted a 3-hour briefing for contractors on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Running concurrently with the matchmaking sessions was a presentation on “What Every Contractor Needs to Know about the Federal Acquisition Regulation,” conducted by one of Georgia Tech’s professional education units, The Contracting Education Academy.  Scores of people attended this workshop as a productive way to spend their time between appointments.

The keynote speaker of the day was Kenyata Wesley, deputy director of the Defense Department’s small business office.  Other featured speakers were Denean Machis, NCMA’s professional development officer; Joe Beaulieu, GTPAC’s program manager; Gwendolyn Miles, small business officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Prudence Howard, regional contracting director for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA); Mark Teskey, small business director for the U.S. Air Force; Jeff Napier, director of acquisition services for the CDC; and Tony Ortiz, small business representative for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Tony Ortiz with the Federal Aviation Administration’s small business office explained how the FAA does business.
Tony Ortiz with the Federal Aviation Administration’s small business office explained how the FAA does business.

Offering advice and insights into the government marketplace were small business representatives Gerald Boyd, CEO, DB Consulting and Kevin Grimes, CEO, CFO Leasing, Inc.   Wrapping up the morning’s presentations, NCMA chapter president Carlos Smiley recognized several individuals and organizations for their support of Small Business Month activities.

Copies of presentations made at the event can be downloaded here:  Industry Day Presentations 01.28.2016

Auditorium
Nearly 300 business people heard briefings by government officials on upcoming contracting opportunities as well as advice offered by successful entrepreneurs on strategies for pursuing government contracts.

Attendees at the Industry Day used a special web site and a smartphone app to register for and check-in at the event, and make their matchmaking appointments.  The website (http://www.ivsnevents.org) and the app were developed by IVSN Group LLC.   The leadership of NCMA’s Atlanta Chapter contracted with IVSN to manage registration and appointment-making for the large Jan. 28 event.  The app – called PTACGo! – is downloaded free from Google Play (for Android devices) or Apple’s App Store (for iPhones).  It allowed users to register in advance for the event and make appointments on smart phones, tablets, laptops and PCs.  “Big data” expert and GTPAC client Riverstone Solutions, Inc. worked with IVSN on data storage and analytics.  Rocky Top Event Management Services provided on-site management for the day.

On-site check-in was quick and easy. At kiosks that were set-up at the entrance, registrants simply typed the first few letters of their last name. This caused their name tag to be printed. Event organizers pulled the self-adhesive tags from printers and helped attendees put them on.
On-site check-in was quick and easy. At kiosks that were set-up at the entrance (photo at left), registrants simply typed the first few letters of their last name. This caused their name tag to be printed (center photo). Event organizers then pulled the self-adhesive tags from printers and helped attendees put them on (photo at right).

In addition, helpful messages were “pushed” through the app to attendees throughout the day (e.g., matchmaking is about to begin, workshop scheduling, handout availability, and reminders to complete the post-event survey).  Any attendees who did not download the app in advance used a QR code on display in multiple locations at the event to allow them to download the app on-site.

On the day of the event, attendees simply typed-in the first few letters of their last name at kiosks set up at the entrance.  Once matching their registrations, bar-coded name tags automatically were printed.  The bar-coding allowed for tracking of appointments fulfilled and workshop sessions attended.

Here’s a summary of what was accomplished:

  • All pre-registrants were given instruction on how to come prepared with an elevator speech and a written capabilities statement. (These resources are still available on the app, and the app is still available for download.)
  • All attendees benefited from individual matchmaking appointments with buyers from six federal agencies: CDC, VA, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), General Services Administration (GSA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
  • State and local government agencies also participating in small business matchmaking were: Georgia Dept. of Administrative Services (DOAS), City of Atlanta, Atlanta Housing Authority, Clayton County, Clayton County Water Authority, and DeKalb County.
  • Federal prime contractors participating in matchmaking sessions were: Amec Foster Wheeler, Booz Allen Hamilton, Georgia Industries for the Blind, Georgia Power, ICF International, IBM, JBS International, LMI, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, RTI International, and Source America.
  • In all, there were 20 federal prime contractors in attendance who used the networking time between sessions to identify small businesses who might be used to fulfill their contractual small business subcontracting goals.
  • The app used for many aspects of the Industry Day can be downloaded for free from Google Play (Android), Apple’s App Store (iPhone) or by scanning the QR code.
    The app used for many aspects of the Industry Day can be downloaded for free from Google Play (Android), Apple’s App Store (iPhone) or by scanning the QR code. (Click image to enlarge.)

    Scores of the small businesses in attendance also took advantage of this occasion to receive contract-related counseling from the team of six GTPAC counselors who were on hand. GTPAC representatives provided help to businesses on such topics as registration in the System for Award Management and creating capabilities statements.  GTPAC also helped out-of-state attendees connect with the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) in their locale.

  • Attendees learned that the app – PTACGo! – that they installed on their phones, tablets and laptops can be used in the future to alert them to similar events coming up across the country. Examples include next month’s Alliance Northwest small business event hosted by the PTAC in Washington State and the National MBE Manufacturers Summit hosted by Georgia Tech’s MBDA Center.
Industry and government representatives were able to exchange credentials and opportunities with one another during networking breaks and over lunch.
Industry and government representatives were able to exchange credentials and opportunities with one another during networking breaks and over lunch.

The vast majority of attendees (88%) at the Jan. 28 event represented Georgia businesses, and business persons from Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and New York made up the balance of the attendance.  According to survey results, 62% said it was the first time they had ever attended an event like this, and 93% of attendees asked to be advised of upcoming events.  Satisfaction with the Industry Day was very high: 97.5% of attendees said the overall event met or exceeded their expectations; 100% said the registration process worked well; 97% found the check-in process easy; 82% liked the app; and 95% found the workshops and the matchmaking sessions meaningful.

589 individual appointments were arranged between small businesses and buyers from government agencies and their prime contractors.
589 individual appointments were arranged between small businesses and buyers from government agencies and their prime contractors.

Filed Under: GTPAC News Tagged With: Georgia Tech, government contract training, GTPAC, industry day, matchmaking, NCMA, small business, small business goals, subcontracting goals

Recent Posts

  • OMB releases guidance related to small business goals
  • Are verbal agreements good enough for government contractors?
  • OMB issues guidance on impact of injunction on government contractor vaccine mandate
  • CMMC 2.0 simplifies requirements but raises risks for government contractors
  • OFCCP launches contractor portal initiating AAP verification program

Popular Topics

8(a) abuse Army bid protest budget budget cuts certification construction contract awards contracting opportunities cybersecurity DoD DOJ False Claims Act FAR federal contracting federal contracts fraud GAO Georgia Tech government contracting government contract training government trends GSA GSA Schedule GTPAC HUBZone innovation IT Justice Dept. marketing NDAA OMB SBA SDVOSB set-aside small business small business goals spending subcontracting technology VA veteran owned business VOSB wosb

Contracting News

OMB releases guidance related to small business goals

OMB issues guidance on impact of injunction on government contractor vaccine mandate

Changes coming to DOD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification under CMMC 2.0

Judge issues nationwide injunction halting enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Nondisplacement of qualified workers is back, but with changes

Read More

Contracting Tips

Are verbal agreements good enough for government contractors?

CMMC 2.0 simplifies requirements but raises risks for government contractors

OFCCP launches contractor portal initiating AAP verification program

GAO rules that DoD may not require small business Joint Venture itself hold facility security clearance

Terminations for convenience clauses vs. mutual termination clauses

Read More

GTPAC News

VA direct access program events in 2022

Sandia National Laboratories seeks small business suppliers

Navy OSBP hosting DCAA overview (part 2) event Jan. 12, 2022

Navy OSBP hosting cybersecurity “ask me anything” event Dec. 16th

State of Georgia hosting supplier systems training on January 26, 2022

Read More

Georgia Tech News

Undergraduate enrollment growth reflects inclusive excellence

Georgia Tech delivers $4 billion in economic impact to the State of Georgia

Georgia Tech awards first round of seed grants to support team-based research

Georgia Tech announces inaugural Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement

DoD funds Georgia Tech to enhance U.S. hypersonics capabilities

Read More

  • SAM.gov registration is free, and help with SAM is free, too
APTAC RSS Twitter GTPAC - 30th Year of Service

Copyright © 2022 · Georgia Tech - Enterprise Innovation Institute