Past SECAF Events

Attention SECAF Members:
***SECAF Members***
For the slide presentation/recorded webinar, login and click on Members Only tab (top, right), followed by Past Event Presentations.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Small Business Insights from the 2021 GovCon Clarity Report
12:00-1:00pm Eastern Time

In 2020, small businesses remained optimistic about the government contracting market. More than 50% reported migrating to the cloud, with a corresponding decrease in cybersecurity incidents. However, first time match rates dropped significantly. How can your small business take advantage of the optimistic market while balancing the inevitable tightening of the belt that was brought on by the pandemic?

In this webinar, we'll dive into challenges and insights for small businesses presented by the 2021 Clarity Report, and discuss how you can position your firm for success for the remainder of 2021.

Speaker:

Dan Firrincili - Senior Product Marketing Manager, Deltek

Thursday, June 24, 2021
DHG Matchmaking Conference
8:00am - 12:15pm

Join us for a special two-part half-day conference to gain insight into DHS’s IT Modernization Strategy, IT Modernization initiatives, procurement initiatives and future requirements and innovations DHS will explore with the private sector in the next 12-24 months.

Part I will begin with a fireside chat with Soraya Correa, Chief Procurement Officer at DHS, and Eric Hysen, Chief Information Officer at DHS followed by a panel discussion with representatives from DHS' Head of the Contracting Activity focused on the use of the NextGen suite of contracts and procurement strategies for their respective components. Part II will include industry matchmaking sessions of NextGen suite of contract holders with non-contract holders and the opportunity to network with the participants.

Fireside Chat

Soraya Correa - Chief Procurement Officer at DHS
Eric Hysen - Chief Information Officer at DHS

Panel Discussion

Juan Arratia - Deputy Director, Office of Procurement Operations, DHS
Al Dainton - Director and Head of Contracting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HCA ICE)
Amanda Duquette - Head of Contracting, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (HCA USCIS)

Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Webinar: PPP and the Impact on the ICS
12:00 - 1:00 pm

For many contractors that received PPP loans and applied for forgiveness, the impact to its incurred cost proposal was an afterthought. With the fiscal year 2020 deadline for incurred cost proposal submission right around the corner, we will discuss how loan forgiveness will impact contractor submissions and will dive into strategies for contractors to limit negative impact.

Topics to be covered include:

High-level overview of PPP loans and PPP loan forgiveness
Review of the incurred cost proposal and schedules likely to be affected by PPP loan forgiveness
DCAA guidance on PPP loan forgiveness and corresponding credits
When do you record PPP loan forgiveness
Where and how to apply forgiveness credits
Strategies to limit negative potential impacts to your incurred cost proposal

Speaker:

Brad Tress - Senior Manager, DHG

Tuesday June 8th, 2021
Gov Con Member Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

This will be a Zoom Meeting. We hope everyone will activate video and audio. We will provide a list of registrants in advance to help facilitate connections.

Join us! Here's what our members are saying about virtual networking sessions:

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Monthly Briefing: America's Future in Space - A Discussion of Possibilities for Small Businesses (unclassified)
8:00- 9:30am

This event is focused on helping small business understand how the U.S is engaging in creating space superiority and what the future holds for that realm.

In the year 1800, John Adams was President of the United States and the Louisiana Purchase made by Thomas Jefferson was still three years away. The United States of America had 16 states and was 27 years old. In one short century, the country expanded to the Pacific Ocean and finished creating the foundation for our nation today.

What will the year 2100 look like? In 1800, did early Americans think about long wagon caravans and settlers protected by the US Army, new government policies for managing growth of the West, or the need for treaties with our neighbors and other governments? In this century, technology and opportunity will bring incredible changes some of which we are already seeing with NASA’s Artemis Program to return to the moon and build a permanent presence, Billionaire entrepreneurs that will turn spaceflight into the newest domain for tourists, and industry plans to colonize Mars and mine asteroids for their raw materials.

What types of organizations, human capital, technology, vehicles and equipment will be required to transform science fiction into tomorrow’s new business? How will these needs transform every spectrum of our lives from higher education to services and manufacturing? What new markets will be created?

For SECAF’s last session of the year, we wanted to expand everyone’s minds as well as discuss future business opportunities. Our panel will help you understand the efforts to achieve Space Superiority and how relationships between government and industry continue to strengthen. Our panel will also look into the future and discuss what a nation working in space could look like.

Who should attend this event?

CEOs and Presidents
Business Development Executives
Other company officers responsible for business growth and development.

Moderator:

Thomas Dorame - Senior Vice President, The Space Foundation

Speakers:

John T. Sheridan - General Manager, JTSheridan Associates LLC.
Jason L. Terry - Col, USSF Director, Policy and Integration, Office of the ASAF for Space Acquisition & Integration (SAF/SP)
Paula Trimble - Chief, Policy Legislative Affairs Director, Space Development Agency

Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Effective Bid Protest Strategies Every Contractor Needs to Know
12:00-1:00pm Eastern Time

After spending significant time and resources identifying a federal business opportunity and developing a proposal, it is important to defend your investment. The bid protest process is a key tool for advocating for your business interests in federal procurements. And whether challenging the terms of a solicitation, questioning an agency’s evaluation of proposals, or intervening to defend an award, contractors should understand the process back to front.

Join Jon Williams, Chair of PilieroMazza’s Government Contracts Group, for an overview of the bid protest process and key strategic considerations, including:

common pre- and post-award protest arguments;
deciding whether and where to protest; and
defending your award against a protest.

Speaker: Jon Williams, Partner, PilieroMazza

Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Webinar Series: Strategies for CEOs, How to Set Yourself Apart to Hire Top Talent
12:00 - 1:00 PM

In this continued competitive market for small and mid-size government contractors, we will discuss strategies for CEOs to entice and retain top talent. The recruiting process is enhanced and accelerated when CEOs leverage their brand and are engaged with candidates and employees. Join as we share considerations in how to increase your success rate of employment offer acceptances when paying the top of the market may not be an option.

Helios HR’s CEO Kathy Albarado will interview talent expert Kyle Robertson, Babs Doherty of Solerity, Michael Waddell of INTEGRITYOne Partners, and MJ Wivell of BTI 360, three prominent CEOs making remarkable developments with attracting and retaining top talent for their businesses. Discover how you can strategically and intentionally set yourself apart in this tight market to grow and scale.

Panelists:

Kathy Albarado, CEO, Helios HR
Babs Doherty, President and CEO, Solerity
Kyle Robertson, Senior Management Recruiting Consultant, Helios HR
Michael Waddell, Managing Partner, INTEGRITYOne Partners
MJ Wivell, CEO, BTI360

Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Webiner: GSA's Services Marketplace and New Services IDIQ
1:00 - 2:00 pm

This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of GSA's Services Marketplace and one of the Services Marketplace's main initiatives, the New Services IDIQ. You will learn what to expect with the New Services IDIQ and hear an update on the information collected from Industry and Federal Agency New Services IDIQ engagements. After the presentation, GSA representatives will address questions from attendees.

After you register, you will be able to submit your questions for consideration in advance. Please submit question by May 13. You may also ask a question during the webinar as well.

Speaker:

Bounce Quarry, Supplier Relationship Manager for the Professional Services Category

Bounce Quarry recently joined the PSHC Program Operations group as a Supplier Relationship Management Specialist for the Professional Services Category. His role as a Supplier Relationship Management Specialist is to engage industry on category management goals, performance and how federal agencies perceive the industrial base. Bounce joined GSA in August 2008 and has worked as a Senior Contracting Officer under the PSS, AAS, OASIS and GSA SmartPay contracting portfolios. Bounce earned his Unlimited Warrant as a Senior Contracting Officer and currently holds a FAC-C Level III certification. Prior to joining GSA, Bounce worked for the University of Washington as a Grants Specialist.

GSA colleagues will assist with the Q&A:

Lee Tittle, Project Manager
Paul Szymanski, Contracting Officer
Sheila Morrison, Contracting Officer

Thursday, May 13, 2021
Gov Con Member Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

Thursday, May 6, 2021
13th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
5:00pm

A Virtual Event Brought to You Live From the McLean Hilton
Awards Ceremony 5:00 - 6:00pm

Networking Happy Hour 6:00 - 7:00pm, immediately following the awards ceremony

Attire: Festive
Cost: Complimentary
Registration: Required in advance! Deadline extended - register by May 6 at 12 noon.
Questions? Contact us info@secaf.org

Join us to celebrate the 2021 Finalists and Winners!

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Monthly Briefing: Emerging Opportunities in Environment and Climate Change - NOAA, NASA, and DoD
8:00 - 9:30 am

The new administration has stated a commitment to make the environment and climate change a policy priority. This program will acquaint you with the environmental and climate change work that is being done, and will be done, in the executive branch departments and agencies of the U.S. federal government; and through the public – private partnerships that are working now, in conjunction with governments.

The panel is a mix of those engaged in national security policy, applied research, conservation, and small business programs. They will help you understand where the executive branch is today, where it might be in the near future, and how small businesses can contribute.

Moderator: Mr. Stephen M. James, President and COO, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc.

Speakers:

Dr. Holly A. Bamford - Chief Conservation Officer, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The Honorable John Conger - Director, Center for Climate and Security
Mr. Jeffrey D. Hale - Small Business Officer, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Ms. Jennifer D. Perez - Small Business Officer, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Dr. Gavin A. Schmidt - Director, Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), NASA

Thursday, April 8, 2021
Gov Con Member Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
This will be a Zoom Meeting. We hope everyone will activate video and audio. We will provide a list of registrants in advance to help facilitate connections.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Webinar Series: Recruiting Strategies Matter to Win Business in 2021
12:00 - 1:00 PM

With the market for top talent tougher than ever, particularly in cyber, software, and IT, the government is looking for less "tell me" and more "show me" when it comes to your recruiting capabilities. We'll dig into the government perspective and discuss approaches that make sense for small federal contractors.

Government is expecting new levels of agility and performance when it comes to hiring – they are investing in it for their own hiring, and they want to see it from contractors as well. 2021 will see DHS finally activate new commercial-oriented hiring rules so that they can better meet cyber-hiring requirements, while other agencies like the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) are looking for transformation of workforce delivery contracts that heavily favor large companies who can perform against tough recruiting requirements. The message is clear, “Don’t tell me you can recruit – show me.”

This webinar will focus on the types of hiring requirements that are coming from government RFP’s in 2021 and how small companies can position themselves to compete within this type of framework, on paper to win a bid, and in reality, to fill open jobs and grow.

Speakers:

Aaron McElroy - Founder and CEO of Provato, and Director of Avature Government Solutions
Mike Bruni - Talent Acquisition Officer, Talent Acquisition Strategies LLC

Tuesday, March 9, 2021
8:00- 9:30am

SBIRs – How to take advantage of new opportunities with the Small Business Innovation Research Program

Known as “America’s Seed Fund” the SBIR program provides $3.3 billion annually to startups and small businesses to help transform their ideas into marketable products and services. The SBIR program is also known as one of the best kept secrets in the world of federal procurement because the ways and means by which innovative companies can take advantage of this program is not well known.

This seminar is geared toward early entrepreneurs with early stage companies in need of capital to take their concepts to market as well as executives of established small businesses that are keen to generate additional revenue streams with novel approaches to the federal governments high tech needs. The seminar will discuss:

specific opportunities that are available
how to prepare your company to be competitive for a SBIR award
ins and outs of preparing an application
possibilities for partnering with large businesses under the SBIR program

We’ll also drill down on what it takes to go from Phase I to Phase III and how you can maximize the effectiveness of a SBIR to ensure your company’s success.

Moderated by:

John Williams - Director of Innovation and Technology, Office of Innovation and Technology, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration

Speakers:

Ralph Blakeney - Executive Consultant SBIR/STTR, Technology Transfer & Commercialization Programs
Major Andrew Bowne - Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, USAF
Ben Ledford - Vice President, Eiden Systems
Robyn Snyder - Supplier Diversity Program Manager, Lockheed Martin

Thursday, March 4, 2021
Gov Con Member Networking Event
For SECAF Members only
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

No cost, but you must register in advance. Questions? Contact us info@secaf.org

Gov Con Members Only
Register by Wednesday, March 3rd at 3:00pm.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Webinar Series: Selling a Company - Lessons Learned Presented by FON Advisors
12:00 - 1:00 PM

Webinar for ALL SECAF Members

Join us for a candid discussion with two business owners who sold their companies recently. They'll talk about lessons learned while starting, growing and selling their companies.

How did they prepare?
What they wish they had known BEFORE they began the journey
What's the most valuable lesson they learned from the process?
Top three tips they have for someone who is thinking about selling their company

Who should attend? CEOs

Moderated by: Cameron Hamilton, Managing Director, FON Corporate Finance

Speakers:

Donna Alligood – Owner Knowledge Link, Inc.
Charles Mathews – President at Executive Information Systems, LLC

Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Webinar Series: How to Implement Compliant Business Processes and Systems
12:00 - 1:00 PM

Small government contractors will gain insight into the 6 DFARS Business Systems, which business rules and processes can be automated, and what accounting system requirements are critical to achieve compliance.

Topics to be covered include:

What are the six business systems
Types of contracts associated with each system
Audit authority and responsibility
When an audit is required and what it entails
Contracting vehicles and associated business system point

Presented by: Cyndi Dunn, Senior Director, Cordia Partners.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Webinar Series: CMMC Update - What you need to be prepared for in 2021
12:00-1:00pm Eastern time

The DoD has been trying to implement cybersecurity compliance rules (DFARS 204.252-7012) for the supply chain for several years and there was a lot of activity in this area in 2020 that will affect most government contractors in 2021 and beyond.

This webinar will provide details about some of the latest changes/updates to the DoD's cybersecurity compliance programs including:

• The DFARS 7012 Interim Rule that went into effect on November 30, 2020

• The latest CMMC rollout schedule

• The status of the CMMC Accreditation Board and ecosystem

• How a new Administration might alter the trajectory of the CMMC program

• If and when the rest of the Federal government will adopt the CMMC model

Presented by Tim Brennan, CEO at SysArc and Tony Bai, cybersecurity professional with A-LIGN

Tuesday, February 9, 2021
New DoD Strategy to Optimize Small Business Engagement
8:00- 9:30am

As you may know, in October 2019, the Department of Defense revised its Small Business Strategy. DoD aims to leverage the might of the millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners across the nation to help secure our future. Join us to learn about DoD’s goals and objectives to engage small business. Our panel discussion will focus on tips for small businesses to find opportunities to work with DoD including management, educational and a sample of acquisition tools that could be used to achieve this strategy.

Our speakers will help you understand the game plan for the Department to accomplish its mission by focusing on three strategic goals: 1) creating and implementing a unified management structure across the Department’s small business workforce; 2) aligning the Department’s small business activities with the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS) and 3) supporting documents; and strengthening the DoD’s ability to support the warfighter and serve small businesses.

The DoD Office of Small Business Programs will offer information about how the DoD will organize the department’s small business management to ensure small businesses remain an important part of contributing to our nation’s defense. This structure will assist the Department in assessing priorities across stakeholders, identifying opportunities for enhancement, and leveraging the significant efforts of other departments and agencies that also focus on supporting small businesses.

The discussion will include new small business training requirements for the acquisition workforce to educate new acquisition officials on the role small business perform and operate. Lastly, we’ll hear about small business programs available today in the DoD to leverage and tap into the innovation provided by companies. The overall strategy highlights how the Department is working to identify opportunities to improve its day-to-day support of small businesses, maximize the utility of each individual program, and replicate our most successful tactics across lines of effort.

Who should attend this event?

CEOs and Presidents
Business Development Executives
Other company officers responsible for business growth and development

Moderator: Chris Scirpoli - President, Pumex Computing

Speakers:

Ken Carkhuff – Small Business Learning Director, Defense Acquisition University
Victoria Mundt - Associate Director Office of Small Business Programs, US Department of Defense
Rick Tossavainen - CEO, Dark Wolf

Thursday, February 4, 2021
Gov Con Member Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

Sponsored by: SysArc

Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Webinar Series: New Legislative and Regulatory Developments Affecting Small Businesses
12:00 - 1:30 PM

Webinar hosted by the Chair of SECAF’s Legislative & Regulatory Committee, Devon Hewitt

2020 ended with a bang for small business! In October the Small Business Administration published a lengthy rule overhauling its regulations for virtually every one of its small business programs. At the very end of the year, Congress passed a new COVID relief bill and the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act both of which also included a number of provisions affecting small businesses. This webinar will hit the highlights of these new rules including:
• Consolidation of SBA’s All Small and Section 8(a) Mentor/Protégé Programs
• Revisions to “3 in 2” Rule
• Revisions to Joint Venture Regulations
• Revisions to Recertification Requirements
• Transfer of SDVOSB Certification from CVE to SBA
• Extension of Section 8(a) Program
• Expansion of Paycheck Protection Program

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Webinar Series: ABCs of JVs
2:00 - 3:00 pm

Presented by Protorae Law

Joint Ventures are all the rage in government contracts. Mentor/Protege joint ventures allow large businesses access to revenue they otherwise would not have. Small business joint ventures allow smalls to band together to share resources, past performance and specialized skills. But joint ventures have many mines for the unwary. Join Devon Hewitt of Protorae Law to discuss the ABCs of joint ventures including:

the SBA rules applicable to joint ventures
non competes provisions in joint ventures
"control" issues in joint ventures
withdrawal provisions in joint ventures
joint venture logistics

Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Monthly Briefing: Business Development in 2021
8:00 - 9:30 am Eastern time

Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the turmoil surrounding the change in administrations, small businesses face significant uncertainty as they anticipate and prepare for 2021. Consequently, the adoption and implementation of a disciplined approach to the pursuit of work with the federal government is more important than ever. Join us for a candid discussion about how to grow your company and win business with the government in these strange times and beyond. We will hear from industry and government leaders who will offer practical advice and discuss best practices regarding:

How to position your company to capitalize on opportunities
The steps necessary to obtain that first prime contract
The most common mistakes made by small businesses and how to avoid them
Strategies for healthy partnerships.

Moderator:

Lyn Sherlock - Senior Partner, Federal, Defense & Aerospace, growth[period], Brigadier General USAF (Retired)

Speakers:

Darryle Conway - Chief Growth Officer, Constellis
Susan Hayashi - Vice President and Clinical Advancement Center Lead, JBS International
Matthew Johnson - Industry Liaison and Communications Director, Office of Acquisition and Assistance (M/OAA), USAID
Gary Slack - President and Chief Executive Officer, XLA
Teneshia Alston - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Small Business Goaling Program Manager

Thursday, January 7, 2021
SECAF Member Networking Event
For SECAF Members only
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for an informal networking event to get to know your fellow SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
How can they help you? Can you help them?
What are your biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are you doing that’s working well? What can use help with?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

This will be a Zoom Meeting limited to about 45 SECAF members with no more than 15 Service Provider members and up to 30 Gov Con members. One person per company, please! After a brief introduction with all, there will be a couple of Break Out room sessions with a facilitator and a small number of people in each room. Come prepared with a one-minute elevator speech about your company. Discussion will follow at the direction of the facilitator. We hope everyone will activate video and audio. We will provide a list of registrants in advance to help facilitate connections. We look forward to seeing you!

Join us! Here's what our members are saying about virtual networking sessions:

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

Thursday, December 3, 2020
Gov Con Member Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020
GAUGE Report 2020: Leveraging Technology to Optimize Your Government Contracting Business
12:00-1:00pm Eastern time

Presented by Unanet

The GAUGE is a benchmarking survey designed for the government contracting community to gain insights on industry best practices and performance metrics. The survey focuses on five major areas: Government contract compliance, Accounting, Utilization, Growth and Efficiencies. This is the third year that Unanet has produced the GAUGE report. This year the GAUGE represents input from more than 1400 government contractors and focuses on the theme of leveraging technology to optimize your business. The timing of this topic is fortuitous since many contractors have found themselves relying on more technology to increase efficiencies and decrease costs as a result of COVID-19.

Additional new tools and features of the 2020 GAUGE include:

"Voice of the Experts” callouts that identify key takeaways and predictions
Performance readiness checklists
Extended survival plan for COVID-19 impact

Speakers:

Kim Koster - GovCon Expert, Unanet
Rich Wilkinson - GovCon Expert, Unanet

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology Industry Update
9:00-10:30am

Please join us to hear directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs' OI&T leadership team and gain insight into the strategy, priorities and focus areas for FY2021 and beyond.

Moderator: Greg Giddens - Co-Founder and Partner, Potomac Ridge Consulting

Speakers:

Jack Galvin - Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary of Information Technology Operations and Services (ITOPS) in the Office of Information and Technology (OIT), VA
James Gfrerer - Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, VA
Luwanda Jones - Chief Information Officer, Office of Small Business Representative, VA
Denise Kitts - Executive Director of the Multi-Channel Technology (MCT), VA
Drew Myklegard - Executive Director Demand Management Division (DMD), VA

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Scorecard Procurements: Tips and Tricks from Government and Industry for Small Businesses

8:00-9:30am

Moderator: Mike Mullen - Partner, Deep Water Point, LLC

Speakers:

Alexandra Rouse - Office of Professional Services & Human Capital Chief of Staff, General Services Administration
Tony Petruccelli - Partner, IntegrityOne Partners
Kim Pack - Managing Director, Strategy & Management Consulting, Wolf Den Associates

Ms. Rouse is the Executive Officer for the Federal Acquisition Service, Office of Professional Services and Human Capital with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Through her leadership, she is responsible for the overall portfolio management and strategic vision for professional services and human capital programs.

In her prior role, Ms. Rouse was the strategic planning expert and provided oversight for the OASIS and Professional Services Schedule and relationships with key client stakeholders within the contractor and federal communities. Ms. Rouse was an integral participant to the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiatives programs and was the architect of several viable solutions to include human capital and training and building and industrial supplies.

Ms. Rouse previously served as the Director for Office of Acquisition Support under the Office of General Supplies and Services portfolio. Ms. Rouse directed a team of Business Management Specialists on nationwide programs and helped facilitate long range objectives, policies and procedures for effectiveness and efficiency. She provided oversight and management on several high profile programs including the Multiple Award Schedule modernization effort and GSA Global Supply transformation. Ms. Rouse began her government career at GSA, working in the Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center, formerly the National Furniture Center, as a warranted Contracting Officer. Her primary assignments were within the Special Projects Division for high profile clients within the federal community.

Ms. Rouse has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Averett University in Danville, Virginia. She is a certified Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute. She is a Senior Acquisition Fellow with the Partnership for Public Service, formerly the Council for Excellence in Government. Ms. Rouse is an active ACT-IAC Partners Fellow.

In her spare time, Ms. Rouse enjoys spending time with her family, is an avid DIY-er, and enjoys painting.

Tony Petruccelli is a technology executive with over 30 years of experience in the IT consulting and delivery space. As a Partner at INTEGRITYOne Partners (IOP), Tony is responsible for market strategy and growth across the company and leads its Health IT delivery practice. He brings 30 years of experience providing trusted advice to technology executives. Over the course of his career, he has worked extensively with organizations ranging from large Federal Agencies to Fortune 100 companies to startups.

Since joining IOP in 2003, Tony has led the planning, delivery and implementation of leading-edge technology solutions at clients across DHS, HHS, and DOJ. Prior to IOP, Tony was a Senior Principal at Diamond Technology Partners where he spent four years leading enterprise IT Strategy engagements at large commercial companies, and leading two startup incubations. He began his career at EDS, designing and implementing solutions for healthcare and insurance customers as an Advanced Systems Engineer.

Tony earned his MBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, and his bachelors degree in Management Information Systems at St. Joseph’s University.

Kim Pack is a proven federal market leader with more than 30 years of federal and commercial management experience spanning Business Development, Capture, IT Operations, GWAC and Schedules Program Management, and Corporate Strategic Alliances.

As Managing Director of Strategy and Management Consulting at Wolf Den Associates, Kim manages a portfolio of clients spanning small businesses to large systems integrators, supporting business development strategy and organizational assessments. She provides objective advice and expertise to help her clients solve issues, create value, maximize growth, and improve business performance. To help her clients grow and increase revenue streams, Kim develops quantitative analyses of pipeline health, develops agency and account plans, and leads efforts to identify new business opportunities and leverage existing client relationships to develop follow-on business. She also leads Wolf Den’s efforts to help clients with scorecard procurements, working closely with C-suite leadership, program managers, and proposal teams to maximize scores.

Kim brings a dedication to customer relations and exceptional performance standards, providing solutions in the areas of Enterprise Management, CRM, Cyber Security, Applications Development, and Cloud Computing. Kim has also worked as a subject matter expert in Cloud Acquisition for GSA and drove strategy for the access, acquisition, and adoption of cloud technology throughout the federal government.

Previously, Kim served as Executive Director at InfoReliance Corporation where she led the identification, pursuit, and capture efforts for strategic opportunities. She began her career at Computer Sciences Corporation, advancing to become Acting Vice President of Civil and Health Services. Her portfolio included all DOT operating administrations and bureaus, including the FAA. Kim also expanded and oversaw the new business pipeline, grew the buying activity of the Enterprise Services Civilian customer base, and managed the daily operations of a multi-million-dollar vendor contract, including Enterprise Management, Desktop Management, Service Desk, and Security services.

Featured Diamond Sponsor: Protorae Law

Thursday, November 5, 2020
Gov Con Member Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

IMPORTANT NOTE! This event will be limited to about 25-30 registrants so if you register, please attend. Preferably ONE person per company; two at the most, please. If your plans change, please let us know so that we may invite others on the Waitlist to attend.

Sponsor: Helios HR

Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Claims & Disputes in the Wake of COVID-19: How to Properly Document, Draft & Submit Equitable Adjustment Requests & Claims
Presented by Centre Law & Consulting
12:00-1:00pm Eastern Time

The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and its agency supplements impose detailed and daunting obligations on contractors, and in particular the rules and regulations governing contractors seeking compensation for unanticipated costs. Join Centre Law and Consulting’s attorneys, James C. Fontana and Heather Mims, for the “Do’s and Don’t’s” in preparing, defending and challenging Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REA) and formal Claims under the federal Contract Disputes Act. With the COVID-19 crisis threatening to pave new and uncertain roads from the standpoint of contractor price adjustments and other disputes resulting from what may prove to be a flood of COVID-related REAs and other contract modifications, the importance of this topic increases dramatically.

Topics Covered:

Understanding the statutory and regulatory legal framework for REAs and Claims
Equitable adjustments for a constructive change, delay or other government caused increase in its costs
The potential impact of COVID-19 on the REA and Disputes process
Applicable FAR/DFARS clauses supporting REA/Claims, including Suspension of Work, Stop Work Orders, Excusable Delays, Changes and Government Delay of Work
REAs and Claims, and how they differ
Basics of preparing REAs and Claims
REA Pros and Cons/Claim Pros and Cons
Claims under the Contract Disputes Act
Appeals of Claim denials
Potential influence of the disputes process on the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)
Subcontractor REA/Claims Issues
Practicable tips regarding REAs/Claims

Who Should Attend: Contract managers and administrators

Speakers:
James C. Fontana has over 35 years of experience as an attorney specializing in government and commercial contracts and related litigation, as well as ethics compliance and corporate governance issues. He also specializes in mergers and acquisitions in both the government technology and commercial sectors. In 2006, the Association of Corporate Counsel named Mr. Fontana Outstanding Chief Legal Officer in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. In both 2005 and 2006, the Washington Business Journal named Mr. Fontana a Top Attorney in the Washington, DC area in the General Counsel category. In 2014 Mr. Fontana received the Power Players Award from Washington SmartCEO in recognition of his “leadership, accomplishments, innovation and success” as a Washington, DC-area attorney. During his three-plus decades as a government contracts attorney, Mr. Fontana has represented clients in countless claims under the Contract Disputes Act as well as appeals before both the boards of contract appeals and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. He has also lectured extensively on this subject to include programs sponsored by Federal Publications, Reston Chamber of Commerce and the Centre Law and Consulting Training Program.

Heather Mims, Esq. is an associate attorney at Centre Law & Consulting. Her practice is primarily focused on government contracts law, employment law, and litigation. Heather has extensive experience litigating bid protests before the Government Accountability Office. She also has experience working with contractors on claims and appeals, government contract terminations, and subcontract disputes. Heather also works with government contractors to develop enforceable teaming agreements and subcontracts. Heather is a top-rated attorney selected to Rising Stars for 2019-2020 by Super Lawyers.

For All SECAF Members. No cost, but you must register in advance.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020
SBA in FY21: What’s Ahead for the Small Business Programs
8:00-9:30am

As we gear up for FY21, there are a number of important developments and initiatives underway at the Small Business Administration that will impact its small business procurement programs and regulations this year and into the future. As a small business contractor, it is critical for you to stay abreast of these changes because of how they will shape your pursuit of set-aside work with the federal government.

Please join us on October 14th for an informative panel discussion with two key decision-makers from SBA, Barbara Carson, Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration’s and Sam Le, Deputy Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, U.S. Small Business Administration And the panel will be moderated by John Shoraka, a former SBA official who is currently Managing Director, GovContractPros (GCP).

Moderator: John Shoraka - Managing Director, GovContractPros (GCP)

Speakers:

Barbara Carson - Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration’s
Sam Le - Deputy Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, U.S. Small Business Administration

Featured Diamond Sponsor: DHG

Thursday, October 8, 2020
SECAF Member Networking Event
For SECAF Members only
5:00-6:30pm

We’ve missed you! Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for an informal networking event to get to know your fellow SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
How can they help you? Can you help them?
What are your biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are you doing that’s working well? What can use help with?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

This will be a Zoom Meeting limited to 45 SECAF members with no more than 15 Service Provider members and up to 30 Gov Con members. One person per company, please! After a brief introduction with all, there will be a couple of Break Out room sessions with a facilitator and a small number of people in each room. Come prepared with a one-minute elevator speech about your company. Discussion will follow at the direction of the facilitator. We hope everyone will activate video and audio. We will provide a list of registrants in advance to help facilitate connections. We look forward to seeing you!

Join us! Here's what our members are saying about virtual networking sessions:

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

No cost, but you must register in advance. Questions? Contact us info@secaf.org

Thursday, October 1, 2020
12th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
5:00 - 7:30pm

Winners were anounced at a virtual event brought to you live from the McLean Hilton

Awards Ceremony 5:00 - 6:30pm
Networking Happy Hour 6:30 - 7:30pm, immediately following the awards ceremony

Attire:  Festive
Cost:  Complimentary
Registration:  Required in advance!

Congratulations to the 2020 Finalists! Click here for a complete list.
Congratulations to the 2020 SECAF Award winners! Click HERE.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Webinar For SECAF Government Contractor Members
Maximizing Your Time as a Small Business
12:00-1:00pm Eastern Time

As a federal contractor, your small business status is one of your most important assets and differentiators as you pursue contracts. Join us for this webinar with Jon Williams, Partner with PilieroMazza PLLC’s Government Contracts Group, as Jon discusses several strategies to help ensure that you protect your small business status and maximize the amount of time you will qualify for small business set-aside contracts. Topics covered will include:

Understanding, avoiding, and mitigating affiliation
Utilizing joint ventures and mentor-protégé
Strategic sales and corporate restructuring
Changing NAICS codes
Revenue exclusions

Speaker: Jon WIlliams, Partner, PilieroMazza

Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The Small Business Landscape – Trends and Opportunities in FY2021
8:00-9:30am

Join us as we hear from Bloomberg Government Services about the funding sources, acquisition trends, and major opportunities shaping fiscal year 2021. The presentation topics will include:

How to operationalize budget data with agency plans to win more business
Small business acquisition trends shaping federal spending
The opportunities and markets to target for growth in fiscal 2021 and beyond

Speakers:

Rob Levinson - Senior Defense Analyst, Bloomberg Government
Dan Snyder - Director of Government Contracting Analysis

Members: Recorded webinar may be found in the Members Only are of the website. Login, click on MEMBERS ONLY (upper right), click on Past Event Presentations (in blue box on left).

Thursday, September 10, 2020
Gov Con Member Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

IMPORTANT NOTE! This event will be limited to 25 registrants so if you register, please attend. Preferably ONE person per company; two at the most, please. If your plans change, please let us know so that we may invite others on the Waitlist to attend.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Virtual Gov Con Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

Thursday July 16, 2020
Webinar - Reopening the Workplace: Considerations for Leaders in Minimizing Risk, Presented by Helios HR

Join us on July 16th from 12pm-1pm for an engaging webinar on “Reopening the Workplace: Considerations for Leaders in Minimizing Risk”. Greater Washington’s leading human capital and talent acquisition consulting firm, Helios HR, will join us for a thoughtful conversation on the topic of reopening the workplace. Gain insight into what other businesses in the Mid-Atlantic are doing, guidance on the decision-making process for today and in the future, and the opportunity to ask the experts any HR-related questions you have about the transition back to work for your business.

Panelists:

Kim Moshlak, Principal Consultant, Helios HR
Cassee Ger, Senior HR Consultant, Helios HR

Tuesday June 30, 2020
Webinar: GSA's Supplier Success Strategies: Using Federal Tools and Dashboards to Build a Better Opportunity Pipeline

The Supplier Success Strategies initiative is designed to help GSA industry partners use the federal government’s category management framework to find business opportunities. GSA has made category management dashboards and tools that were previously “federal only” open to industry as well. These tools and dashboards can help a supplier:

Find expiring contracts
See what contract vehicles agencies use
Find subcontracting or prime partners
Compare your Schedules pricing to the broader market
More effectively share a capability statement
And more...

Speaker:

Zachary Lerner, Professional Services Category, U.S. General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service

Tuesday June 16, 2020
Gov Con Member Virtual Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

We used to greet you at Maggiano’s for this networking event. Without the hassle of traffic and parking, we'd like to help you wrap up your day with an informal virtual networking session. Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Here's what our members are saying about virtual networking sessions:

Casual and friendly, yet informative and clearly a conduit for collaboration.
I liked the chance to see people and also hear of their companies. It was great!
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
First one I've attended, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
Variety and experience of attendees.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirk. Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.

Tuesday June 9, 2020
Webinar: The Virtualized Procurement Process: Are You Ready?

Join government procurement executives and industry proposal experts in a discussion about the COVID-19-accelerated virtual future of the government procurement process. From virtual industry days to oral presentations, contractors need a new set of skills and strategies to reflect the virtualization of nearly every aspect of the government procurement process. This webinar will help you get a leg up in the future of government contracting with insights from experts in the field.

Speakers:

Soraya Correa, Chief Procurement Officer and Senior Procurement Executive, DHS
Jim Ghiloni, Director and Orals Coach, Wolf Den Associates
Corey Nickens, Acquisition Quality Director, FEDSIM

Moderator:

Curt Anderson, E-Innovation Global LLC

Tuesday May 14, 2020
Webinar: The Business of Projects

Learning Objectives: How to make the project lifecycle come alive!

Growth, It All Starts with a Plan
CRM
Pipeline
Winning new Contracts
- Execution
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Earned Value Management
- Project Management Office
Reporting/Analysis
Understand the Project Lifecycle and it’s components
Learn how to drive efficiencies, profit, and win more business - throughout each major function
- KPIs
- Value of a PMO
- Best practices for budgeting and forecasting
- Getting started with EVMPresented By: Unanet

Presented by Unanet

Kim Koster, VP, Product Marketing
Rich Wilkinson, Director, Sales Engineering and Enablement

Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Gov Con Member Virtual Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

As you may know, we usually greet you at Maggiano’s for this networking event. Without the hassle of traffic and parking, we want to help you wrap up your day with an informal virtual networking session.

Our first session held on April 16 went very well. here's what some of our members had to say about it:

First of its kind, but video feed made it easier to connect and speak, as opposed to an audio-only bridge.
This virtual environment via video teleconferencing is the new normal. I was impressed! SECAF has matured as a SB advocacy organization, and that was apparent. Good attendance. Great discussion.
I liked the combination of business with cute personal quirks.
Great ice breaker, and humanized the artificial Zoom situation.
Dynamic group. Exciting possibilities.

So please join us! Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do? Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Monday, April 27, 2020
CIOS-SP4 Webinar

With an expected ceiling of $40B, and 15-year period of performance (with all options exercised), CIO-SP4 is one of the most anticipated contract vehicle competitions of 2020. CIO-SP4 is the follow-on to CIO-SP3 and CIO-SP3 Small Business. These 10-year, $20 billion, government-wide acquisition IT services contracts, hit a record spend of $6 billion in 2019.

Join us for a virtual conference with Brian Goodger, Associate Director for the Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (OLAO), Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC), followed by an industry panel discussion.

Moderator:

Richard Pineda, President and CEO of CALIBRE Systems, Inc.

Panel:

A-TEK, Inc. - Stephanie Cumberbatch, Executive Vice President
CACI - William Mickler, Sr. Business Development Executive
IntelliBridge (Formerly Trowbridge & Trowbridge) - Greg Price, Senior Vice President- Operations
NTT Data - Heather Mori, Senior Director, GWAC Programs
Octo Consulting - Charlie McQuillan, Executive Vice President- Federal Health

Thursday, April 23, 2020
SECAF Virtual Community Conversation
5:00-6:00pm

SECAF will host an informal town hall-style meeting with members online, aimed at fostering conversations within the SECAF community in these times of uncertainty. We want to help! Please let us know what’s on your mind during this crisis.

Moderator:

Devon Hewitt - Protorae Law, Partner

Panel:

Mark Melton - Cordia Partners, Managing Partner
Adam Nalls - Atlantic Union Bank, Senior Vice President
Jon Williams - PilieroMazza, Partner

Thursday, April 16, 2020
Virtual Gov Con Networking Event
5:00-6:30pm

As you may know, we usually greet you at Maggiano’s for this networking event. Without the hassle of traffic and parking, we want to help you wrap up your day with an informal virtual networking session. Grab your favorite beverage and a snack and join us for a ‘round the room introductions to get to know your fellow Government Contractor SECAF members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
What are the biggest concerns during this crisis?
What are they doing that’s working well?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Executive Briefing: A 2020 View of Emerging Technologies in Government
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

Emerging technologies such as Blockchain, AI, and RPA are shaping the government’s modernization efforts, streamlining processes, protecting infrastructure, enhancing defense and much more. Industry holds a key role in bringing these technologies to the government in practical ways. Join SECAF on March 10th to hear the perspectives of government, academia, and industry, both large and small businesses, on the emergence of these technologies in government and the opportunities for government contractors.

Moderator:

Mitchell Ross, Principal, Acquisition and Management, LLC

Speakers:

Andrea Brandon - Deputy Assistant Secretary, Budget, Finance, Grants, and Acquisition, Department of Interior (MIB)
David Dacquino - Chairman and CEO of Serco
Marc Harlacher - Founder, President and CEO of Expedition Technology, Inc.
Nirup Menon, PhD - Chair & Professor, Information Systems & Operations Management, George Mason University
Askari Rizvi - Chief of Technical Services Branch, NCHS, CDC

Thursday, March 5, 2020
Webinar Presented by SysArc: Cybersecurity Compliance (NIST 800-171, CMMC, DFARS 7012, etc.)

With the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) looming right around the corner organizations need to start preparing for a cybersecurity audit soon if they want to continue doing business with the DoD. The webinar will cover the latest CMMC news and timelines as well as practical steps towards CMMC readiness and details around the level of effort and costs associated with getting certified to the appropriate CMMC maturity level for your organization.

Presented By: SysArc - Tim Brennan

Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Webinar Presented by Protorae Law: Understanding and Negotiating Teaming Agreements

Teaming agreements are a staple of government contracting. For many businesses, teaming agreements are a gateway to federal business – if they are done right. This webinar will discuss the “tricks of the trade” in negotiating teaming agreements that work for a proposed prime contractor, a proposed subcontractor, a large business, a small business or some combination. Learn which terms should be included, excluded or modified in a teaming agreement in order to best position your company during a procurement and for success following the award of the prime contract.

Presented By: Protorae Law - Devon Hewitt

Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Member Forum: Prepare and Plan for Your Exit Strategy
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

It is never too early to think about and plan for your eventual exit from your business. There are many possibilities to explore, such as selling your business to a third party, bringing on a minority investor, or a buyout by your management team. While the options vary, a common thread running through all succession planning strategies is the importance of starting early and planning intentionally. The exit strategy that develops on short notice is rarely executed well. Ideally, you want to plan carefully in advance, build value, vet the available options, and be prepared to move on the best strategy when the time is right.

This panel discussion is will be of interest to small business owners that are interested in strategic planning, building value, and understanding potential exit strategies. Whether you have already started your exit planning already, or never given it a thought, you will benefit from the insights of your fellow business owners who have gone through various exit and investment strategies. They will share their personal stories on what they did to prepare, what worked well, and what they would do differently. This Member Forum will also feature industry experts who will provide legal and practical insights on the unique considerations for small business contractors when embarking on strategic planning and executing exit strategies.

Moderator:

Cameron Hamilton – Senior Managing Director, The McLean Group

Panelists:

Kathryn Freeland – President/Chief Executive Officer, A-TEK, Inc.
Deepak Hathiramani - Co-Founder/Executive Chairman, SteeleHarbour Capital Partners
Devon Hewitt – Partner, Protorae Law
Jack Moore – Managing Partner, Evans Incorporated

Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano’s Little Italy, McLean, VA 22102

You are invited to come get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Thursday, January 16, 2020
CXO Forum: CMMC Update – What you need to know about the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program, Presented by SysArc
Maggiano's, McLean, VA
11:30am-1:00pm

Join us!

CMMC Overview, Updates and Timelines
The 5 CMMC Levels Explained and Which Level Is Right for Your Organization
Getting Ready for a CMMC Audit to Ensure Success
Cost considerations for reaching a desired CMMC Level and what, if any, costs are "allowable expenses".

Speakers:

Bernhard Bock - CISO, Sysarc
Tim Brennan - CEO, Sysarc

Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Executive Briefing: Sparking Innovation at Air Force
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

Join us for a breakfast presentation and panel discussion on IT modernization and innovation efforts underway at the United States Air Force. The program will feature USAF’s Chief Transformation Officer and Director of Cyberspace Innovation and industry perspectives from small and mid-tier businesses working at the leading edge of USAF IT modernization.

Moderator:

Molly Cain - Founder, GovCity

Speakers:

Lauren Knausenberger - Chief Transformation Officer, United Stated Air Force
Sam Stollar - Vice President, Intelligence Operations, Octo Consulting Group
Rick Tossavainen - CEO, Dark Wolf Solutions

Tuesday, December 17, 2019
SECAF Holiday Party
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
6:00-8:00pm

Please join us to celebrate a wonderful season!

Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Member Forum: Cybersecuring Your Supply Chain
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

Securing the supply chain and protecting information is critical to the continued mission of the federal government and our National Defense. New programs and standards -- like 800.171 and the anticipated Department of Defense Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) -- reinforce the government’s acknowledgement of the threat and its commitment to work with industry to ensure all information and material items are generated, stored, transported and delivered without loss of integrity or unauthorized influence. Small Businesses seeking to do business with the federal government (and other Government Contractors as partners) are now being asked to provide basic certifications and explain best practices to protect their work product and information. This session will discuss the challenges and recommendations for small businesses that wish to participate in government contract opportunities in this rapidly changing environment.

Moderator:

Tim Brennan - CEO, SysArc

Speakers:

Bob Metzger- Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, P.C.
Ed Patton - Distributed Solutions Incorporated
Glenn Hernandez - OpEdge Solutions LLC

Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano’s Little Italy, McLean, VA 22102

You are invited to come get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
CXO Forum: Growth-Focused Talent Acquisition Strategy for Small Federal Contractors, Presented by Provato
Clarity, Vienna, VA
11:30am-1:00pm

Join us for a discussion on talent acquisition including:

Talent revenue roadmap: matching business development efforts with recruiting priorities to realize growth and ROI.
Organizing efforts to address the who, what, when, where, how many, and how much do you pay dilemmas that make competing with and for talent challenging.
Which resources are worth the money and investment? Technology? Resume databases? Personnel?
How to compete for talent when you are small and possibly lacking the name recognition of the big companies.

Speakers:

Aaron McElroy, CEO, Provato Inc
Jeff Smith, CEO, True Upside Consulting
Mike Bruni, Talent Acquisition Officer, Talent Acquisition Strategies LLC

Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Executive Briefing: Small Business Program at NOAA
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

The Small and Emerging Contractor Advisory Forum (SECAF) is pleased to present a breakfast program for members and the public on the Small Business Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The program will feature speakers from NOAA and Industry.

Moderator: Mitchell J. Ross, President, Puyenpa Services, LLC, and former Director NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office

Speakers:

Jeffrey D. Hale, NOAA Small Business Officer
Marcelle L. Loveday, NOAA Director, Strategic Sourcing Acquisition Division
Wallace T. (Tom) Bucher, CEO and Founder, Integrated Systems Solutions (ISS)

Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Executive Briefing: Evolving Your Company’s View of Capture to Secure and Execute Effective Customer Meetings
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

Join SECAF and learn the nuances of capture as a function, the capture process, activities, and best practices that are propelling companies to exponential growth; identify how to incrementally add to your capture capability to secure and execute an effective customer meeting. Don’t be reluctant to engage in the topic of capture, a successful capture strategy is key to long-term customer success.

Moderator: Mike Mullen - Partner, Deep Water Point

Speakers:

Ronald Bouchard - Brigadier General (Retired) and Partner, Deep Water Point, LLC
Mariela Cardona - Chief, Office of Citizenship and Applicant Information Services External Affairs Directorate, USCIS/DHS (Retired)
Kim Hayes - Owner, The Ambit Group
Naveen Krishnamurthy - Founder & CEO, RIVA Solutions, Inc.

Thursday, October 3, 2019
SECAF Panel at the GMU 2019 Government Contracting - Confronting the Challenges Facing Today's Government Contracting Community and the Government: What’s Next?
Washington Marriott at Metro Center, Washington, DC 20005
2:00-3:15pm

For over 65 years, beginning with the Small Business Act of 1953, the Federal government has embraced legislation and policies having the goal of aiding, counseling, assisting and protecting the interests of small business concerns. Contracting preferences have been extended to small business participants in the 8(a) Business Development program, the HUBZone program, the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business program, and the Woman-Owned Small Business Program to diversify the industrial base, create jobs, and increase competition. The experience and expertise of the panelists afford a much-needed discussion on how the policy affects both sides of the GovCon Industry, government and business: from socio-economic policy goals, to business creation and growth, and how both government and industry can best adopt and adapt these policies for efficiency and innovation. We will talk with senior executives and officials who have lived or studied effects of small business policy on the shape of the government contracting industry.

Moderator: Sumeet Shrivastava- President and Chief Executive Officer, ARRAY and Board Member, Center for Government Contracting

Speakers:

Craig Reed- Chief Growth Officer, Serco NA & Senior Fellow and Board Member, Center for Government Contracting
Bed Edson- Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VariQ
Soraya Correa- Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Homeland Security

Thursday, September 26
Webinar Presented by SECAF and Citrin Cooperman: Pitfalls and Best Practices for Government Contractors: Fundamentals of Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Tax Strategies

Government Contracting organizations encounter complex and sensitive issues daily, all of which require proactivity, business transparency, and accurate reporting. In addition to remaining compliant, precise financial and tax reporting is crucial to management decisions and the ultimate success of any government contractor. Join Citrin Cooperman’s Government Contracting team as they take us through the best practices (and worst pitfalls) of financial reporting and accounting for government contractors.

Expand your knowledge on:

Important aspects of an accounting system
- Cost accounting
- Indirect rates
Financial reporting uses
- Internal – what information is useful as an owner or C-level person to manage the company
- External - information critical to bankers and other external users
Tax Tips From Start-Up to Exit
- Choice of Entity
- Filing Requirements
- Exit Strategies
  - Stock Sale
  - Asset Sale
  - Stock Sales Treated as Asset Sales for Tax Purposes

Presented By: Citrin Cooperman - Sirena Johnson, Michael Cannon, Kevin Jones and Ryan Ham

Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Executive Briefing: Small Business Landscape - Trends and Opportunities in FY2020
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

Join us as we hear from Bloomberg Government Services about the funding sources, acquisition trends, and major opportunities shaping fiscal year 2020. The presentation topics will include:

How to operationalize budget data with agency plans to win more business
Small business acquisition trends shaping federal spending
The opportunities and markets to target for growth in fiscal 2020 and beyond

Who should attend? C-level executives and business development leaders will not want to miss this!

Build out your organizations’ strategic plans with tips and actionable information from one of the leading experts in federal contracting. Bring your questions for a lively Q&A.

Speaker: Dan Snyder - Bloomberg Government

July 30, 2019 12:00 - 1:00pm EDT

Webinar Presented by SECAF and DHG: Understanding Government Contract Cost Accounting and Pricing

Overheads, loads, add-ons, burdens, indirect costs, allocations, wraps... What do they all mean? Successful government contractors are able to navigate the sea of indirect rate complexities while complying with regulations, maintaining cost and delivering for their customer.

Understanding Indirect Costs
Typical Indirect-Cost Pools
Allocation of Indirect Costs
Contractor Management of Indirect Costs
Impact of Government Contracting Requirements
Implications of Contract Type
Cost Accounting Standards Requirements
How the Government Monitors Indirect Costs

Presented by SECAF and Hosted by DHG

Speaker: Mike Mardesich, CPA, PMP - DHG, Senior Manager

Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Executive Briefing: Emerging Technologies and the Government: What’s Next?
Valo Park Mclean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Gaming… it seems like these buzzwords are everywhere and it can be difficult to cut through the noise. But what does government actually need? Join SECAF and a panel of government and small businesses leaders on June 11, as we discuss Federal priorities in emerging technology, what is next, and how small businesses can help.

Moderator: Richard Pineda - CALIBRE Systems, Inc., President &CEO

Speakers:

Michael McFarland - Director of the Office of Acquisition Business Systems in the Office of Grants and Acquisition Policy and Accountability, Division of Acquisition in the Department of Health and Human Services
Kevin McGuire - SysNet Technologies
Anne Neumann - SBPO, Program Manager (SETA) at DARPA SBIR/STTR Program

Thursday, May 30, 2019
Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members Only
Cocktails with Hors D'oeuvres 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Maggiano's Little Italy, Tysons

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Thursday, May 2, 2019
11th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
Hilton McLean 6:00pm

SECAF announced the winners of its 11^th Annual Government Contractor Awards. More than 500 people representing government contracting firms and leading industry professionals gathered to recognize and celebrate excellence. For more than a decade, SECAF’s flagship event has honored small and emerging government contractors by recognizing the key role these firms have in creating innovation and advancement within their industry.

The Government Contractor of the Year awards recognize companies in four revenue categories (Under $7.5M, $7.5-15M, $15-27.5M, and $27.5-50M) that have shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence in growth and financial performance. The Award of Excellence highlights an organization that represents excellence within their community, the government contracting industry, and towards employees. The Government Project of the Year is given to a company that has delivered a stellar program with significant value to the federal government. The Mentor-Protégé Program of the Year honors companies that have shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence through its efforts as a prime contractor. The Special Recognition Award is presented to a small business that – in the judges' view – exemplifies many of the core qualities of the other SECAF awards and has a strong focus on providing class-leading services and solutions. The Government Advocate of the Year commends an organization or a person within the federal government who has provided leadership, commitment, and direction and had a profound and positive impact on the small and emerging contracting community. Finally, the SECAF Advocate of the Year is bestowed upon a member who tirelessly championed the organization’s mission.

Click here for a list of the 2019 winners!

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Member Forum: Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Cleared Professionals
Valo Park McLean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Recruiting cleared talent can take time, perseverance and some creativity for small businesses today. The increasing number of positions requiring security clearances, the massive clearance processing backlog, and increased competition for the limited pool of available resources demand an organizational focus on unique programs and processes to build and sustain a talent pipeline. Join SECAF and a panel of small businesses on April 9th for an inside view on successful programs, approaches and tips to finding and retaining cleared resources.

Moderator: Devon Hewitt - Partner, Protorae Law

Speakers:

Steve Bailey - Dark Wolf, COO
David Reid - Axiologic Solutions LLC, Chief Strategy Officer
Michael Waddell - INTEGRITYOne, Managing Partner/Co-Founder

Thursday, March 28, 2019

CXO Forum: Navigating Cybersecurity Compliance - How to Get Your Company DFARS / NIST 800-171 Compliant in 3 Easy Steps
Presented by: SysArc, Inc.
Maggiano's, McLean, VA
11:30am - 1:00pm

If you do business with the DoD or aspire to do business with the DoD, you should seriously consider implementing an internal cybersecurity program for your corporate network and become compliant with DFARS 252.204-7012 and the NIST 800-171 or NIST 800-53 requirements. In 2019 and beyond, this will also become a requirement for doing business with all Federal agencies and will be a significant competitive advantage for contractors who demonstrate their ability to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

For some small contractors it appears to be a complex and costly effort to implement a strong cybersecurity program, but in reality, it is a lot easier and less costly than you may think. In this CXO Forum, we will walk you through the details of a 3-step process for complying with the NIST 800-171 (DFARS) and NIST 800-53 (FISMA) requirements and implementing the tools and processes to have a more secure environment. We will also cover the costs associated with getting and staying compliant as well as resources available to defray some of the costs of implementing a cybersecurity program in your organization.

Speakers:

Asya Smith – COO, SysArc
Bernhard Bock – CISO, SysArc

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

CXO Forum: Indirect Rates Discussion
Presented by: Unanet
Unanet Dulles, VA
11:30am - 1:00pm

Managing Projects with Ever Changing Rates: Government Contractors struggle to forecast the impact costs will have when you bid a multi-year project. We will discuss how to carefully manage the ebbs and flows of the costs in the organization and stay vigilant and be ready for unexpected expenses during the execution of your project.
What should be included in the Fringe pool? FAR 31.205-6(m) outlines what should be in a fringe pool. The question is should you have a separate fringe and overhead pool or just put fringe in overhead? In the session we will discuss the pros and cons of each methodology. What are the effects of rates on winning new business and executing projects?
Have you selected the right General and Administrative (G&A) base for your company? You may be struggling with how to pick the right G&A base for your organization or considering making a change. The discussion will be around the finer points of Total Cost Base, Value Added Base and Single Element Base. You will learn about the components of G&A and the base, the rules and where to locate them, and the pros and cons of base selection. In addition, topics related to the FAR, CAS, and DCAA will be discussed.
Other Topics: Other discussion topics will be Actual vs Provisional vs Target/Planning rates, calculating rates from GL budgets, and even for an organization with no cost plus work, why they should look at using indirect rates to understand profitability on T&M and FP projects.

Speaker:

Rich Wilkinson - Solutions Engineering Group, Unanet

***SECAF Members*** - For the slide presentation/recorded webinar, login and click on Members Only tab (top), followed by Past Event Presentations

Thursday, March 14, 2019

For SECAF Gov Con Members!

CXO Forum: Managing Federal Sector Growth - Business Infrastructure and Compliance Tips
American Center Conference Center
Vienna, VA

7:30am - 9:00am

Business owners crave direction on their growth trajectory, and having the right information at the right time will help them capture growth opportunities. Building a sound business infrastructure is critical to successful and scalable growth. This is a must see presentation to prepare you for what lies ahead for businesses experiencing much sought after growth in the government contracting industry. You will obtain valuable information about right sizing your accounting system, employing risk management techniques, developing your strategy and budget, transitioning to a prime contractor, and strengthening your overall compliance.

Who Should attend? CEO, CFO, COO, Controller

Speakers:

Brigitta Scott, CPA - Cordia Partners, Principal
Traci Shepps, CPA - Cordia Partners, Partner

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Executive Briefing: Doing Business with the Intelligence Community

Valo Park
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22101
7:30-10:00am

The agencies which form the “intelligence community” (IC) provide fruitful contracting opportunities for small government contractors. These opportunities will only continue to grow as the intelligence community’s mission expands to deal with today’s complex security environment. However, the secretive nature of the work these agencies perform means that often there are barriers to entry which are difficult for an emerging government contractor to navigate. The panel, including representatives of intelligence agencies as well as large and small contractors that have had success contracting with the intelligence community, will provide tips and guidance to how to prepare your company to compete for and win contracts with intelligence agencies.

Moderator: Tom Stauber - Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Axiologic Solutions
Speakers:

Michael Chavira - Managing Partner, Axiologic Solutions, SECAF Member
Scott Jackson - Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, National Security Agency (NSA)
Anna Kurtz - Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of General Counsel
Karen Mumford - Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Small Business Programs Office Director

March 6, 2019 12:00 - 1:30pm EDT

Webinar Presented by SECAF and Unanet: Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments Affecting Small Businesses

Several legislative and regulatory developments occurred last Fall which affect all small businesses and particularly SDVOSBs and HUBZone companies. Sponsored jointly by Unanet and SECAF, the webinar will be presented by Devon Hewitt, Chair of SECAF’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee. Ms. Hewitt will summarize these developments and their impact on your business, including:

The Small Business Runway Extension Act
Consolidation of VA’s SDVOSB eligibility rules with SBA’s SDVOSB eligibility rules
SBA’s proposed revamping of the HUBZone program
Proposed Rule amending FAR provisions on Limitations on Subcontracting

This webinar will also be the launch of SECAF’s new GovCon institute. The institute will offer SECAF members the opportunity to learn and discuss topics directly relevant to starting, managing, and growing a small business. Topics will include creating a robust capture process; engagement and use of outside professionals such as accountants, lawyers, and others; securing a Facility Clearance; understanding pricing and the development of loaded labor rates; best practices for recruiting; and options for marketing your company effectively and efficiently. SECAF also welcomes your suggestions on topics that you think are necessary building blocks for a small business competing in the federal market. Each topic will be discussed in a webinar, to be hosted by an expert in that respective area.

Presented by SECAF and Hosted by Unanet

Devon Hewitt
Protorae Law, Partner

Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members Only
Cocktails with Hors D'oeuvres
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Maggiano's Little Italy

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Member Forum: Cybersecurity Compliance Requirements-Practical Guidance on DFARS-NIST 800-171
Valo Park McLean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Addressing cyber threats has become an enormous priority for the federal government.

Under DFARS 252.204-7012, the cybersecurity regulations set out in NIST 800-171 became mandatory for contractors and subcontractors in the Department of Defense supply chain at the end of 2017.
GSAR – GSA’s own cybersecurity regulations covering all government contractors - are due out in 2019.
The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became effective in May 2018, regulating the processing of personal information originating from the European Union.
California even rushed through its own data protection law affecting companies that do business in California.

The government’s oversight on how contractors store and use information is expanding and compliance is becoming more and more complex.

Join us for this informative panel to hear from one of the authors of the NIST regulations and industry colleagues who have implemented their own cybersecurity programs and required subcontractors to do the same.

Moderator: Tim Brennan - CEO and Founder, SysArc

Speakers:

Mark Birch - President and CEO, Automation Technologies Inc. (ATI)
Kristin Grimes - Corporate Counsel, Leidos
Ron Ross - Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Thursday, January 17, 2019
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Growing Your Business - Navigating Varying State Employment Laws
Presented by C2 Essentials
7:45am - 9:15am

Small contractors often grow their business by taking on contracts wherever they happen to be located. But in today’s legal landscape, setting up operations in a different state can be far more complex than finding office space and registering your business. Increasingly, states are enacting employments laws that differ from federal requirements and, more confusingly, differ from state-to-state. There are several areas where multi-state contractors routinely encounter problems, but which can be avoided through careful, early planning.

Pre-employment Procedures: “Ban the box,” drug testing, and background check differences among the states
Paying Your Employees: Differing state minimum wage, overtime, wage notice, and pay equity requirements
Managing Employee Leave: Navigating the growing patchwork of state paid leave laws
Internal Policies/Handbooks: Be mindful of differences in state and local anti-discrimination laws

Speaker: Kevin McCoy, General Counsel, C2 Essentials, Inc

Who Should Attend? CEO, CFO, COO

Wednesday, December 12, 2018
SECAF Holiday Party
For SECAF Members
Valo Park 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Please join us to celebrate a wonderful season!

November 14, 2018 at 12 noon EDT
Webinar: The Professional Services Category Introduces Its Supplier Marketing Initiative

The supplier relationship management specialist for the government-wide Professional Services Category is seeking to help suppliers better understand and operate within the category management framework. He will discuss and seek feedback on content and prospective data sources that will support the initiative.

Webinar Presented By: Zachary Lerner - GSA, Federal Acquisition Service

Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Member Forum: Bid Protests - Practical Advice - When, Why and How
Valo Park - McLean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Following the loss of a contract competition, small and emerging contractors may be eager to protest the loss but may not fully understand the protest process. Protesting the government’s procurement decision is an important right that can be part of a larger business development strategy. However, contractors should use the right sparingly and only when conditions warrant. Our panelists, including a government procurement official, a GAO attorney, and representatives from industry will discuss the important considerations for a contractor facing a protest or no-protest decision, recent trends in the protest world and the success that contractors are seeing from filing protests. The program will also include a brief overview of recent changes in protest rules.

Moderator: Ryan Bradel, Partner, Ward & Berry, PLLC
Speakers:

Devon Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law
Ed Rinkavage, President, Sehlke Consulting, LLC
Kathryn Szymanski, former senior government acquisition official and current consultant to government contractors
Evan Wesser, GAO senior attorney

Thursday, November 8, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Preparing for a Successful Exit
Presented by Citrin Cooperman
Valo Park - McLean, VA

Join us to learn how to prepare for a successfull exit!

Accounting and Financial issues related to transactions
Tax issues and structuring surrounding the transaction
How do the new tax regulations impact M&A deals?
State and Local tax issues specific to government contractors

Who should attend: CEO, CFO, COO, CTO

Moderator: Cynthia Barreda - CEO, Netcentrics

Speakers:

Sirena Johnson - Partner, Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
Shawn Howard - Partner, Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
Sylvie Gadant - Partner, Practice Leader Transaction Advisory Services, Citrin Cooperman, New Jersey Office

Wednesday, October 31, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Interpreting, Enforcing and Complying with Non-Solicitation and Non-Compete Provisions
Presented by Protorae Law
Tysons International Plaza Vienna, VA 22182

“Non-solicitation” and “Non-Compete” provisions are part and parcel of the business of government contracts. These provisions can appear in non-disclosure agreements, employment agreements, teaming agreements, subcontracts and joint venture agreements, among others. These agreements also can include provisions which are not explicitly called “non-compete” or “non-solicitation” provisions but, in effect, operate as such. To further confuse matters, state law governs the interpretation and enforceability of these provisions and the law in this regard across different states is not always uniform. Come hear attorneys from Protorae Law explain the nuances of these provisions and how they may impact your business.

Who Should Attend? CEO, CFO, COO, CIO

Speakers:

Devon E. Hewitt - Partner, Protorae Law, Government Contracts Practice
Brian F. Chandler - Managing Partner, Protorae Law, Employment Law Practice

Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Executive Briefing: Becoming a Small Business Partner of Choice - Views from SBA and Industry
Valo Park, McLean, 7:30-10:00am

Join us for this two part program as we learn how to make the budget work for you as a small business. First, the SBA will discuss acquisition trends in the small business community, changing rules and regulations, and tools available to you to access SBA customer funding. Then, we will hear from a panel of large and medium-sized systems integrators as they discuss how they build relationships with the small business community and meet SBA goals. They will also highlight key capabilities and expertise they look for in small business partners. At the conclusion of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to network and make connections.

Moderator: Robert Burton - Crowell and Moring, Partner in the Government Contracts Group
Speakers:

Robert Wong - SBA, Associate Administrator of Government Contracting & Business Development
Cameron Hogan - E3 Federal Solutions, Chief Strategy Officer
Asad Jabbar - LMI, Director of Capture Management
Robyn Snyder - Lockheed Martin, Rotary & Mission Systems (RMS), Supplier Diversity Program Manager

Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano's Little Italy - Tysons 5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Special Guest: Dwight D. Deneal - Director, Small Business & Industry Liaison Programs, U.S. Coast Guard (CG-913), U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
New Member Breakfast, By Invitation Only
7:30-9:00am

Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Executive Briefing - FY2019 Federal Budget: What You Need To Know as a Small Business
Valo Park McLean, VA 7:30-10:00am

Join us as we hear from Bloomberg about the funding sources, acquisition trends, and major opportunities shaping the next fiscal year. After the presentation, learn what the forecast means for your small business. Kevin Brancato will be joined by procurement and small business experts to discuss:

How to operationalize budget data for your strategic plan
The acquisition trends shaping federal spending and how to leverage them to access funding dollars
The resources available to small businesses at government agencies

Speakers

Kevin Brancato, Director of Government Contracts Research at Bloomberg Government
Jim Ghiloni, Director, Wolf Den Associates
George Price, Director of the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization for the U.S. Department of State

August 30, 2018 at 12 noon EDT
Webinar: Category Management - What does it mean for your small business?

Join us as we learn about Category Management.

What is Category Management
- Why is GSA focused on it?
- How does it differ from how things were managed/procured in the past?
What are the initiatives' strategic goals?
What does Category Management mean strategically/tactically for small businesses?
- Best in class contracts and onboarding opportunities
- Leveraging schedules
- Overview of agency customer contracting trends and additional resources for small businesses to access funding

Webinar Presented By: Geri Haworth, Professional Services Category Management Division, Director

Ms. Geri Haworth was appointed the Professional Services Category Manager in June of 2013. In this role she manages a team of employees working in the Professional Services and Human Capital Portfolio of the Federal Acquisition Service.

Specifically, she is responsible for the oversight and management of the strategic initiatives related to category management. These initiatives focus on customer and industry engagement, the Acquisition Gateway category hallway, and improving the contract offerings that provide the services represented in the category. Ms. Haworth has more than 26 years of experience working in FAS helping federal agencies meet their mission requirements.

In previous roles, Ms. Haworth served as the Business Management Director for the FAS Management Services Center, the Deputy Director for the Regional Customer Accounts and Research Division, and the Regional Retail Services Manager overseeing the management of the Auburn and Alaska Customer Supply Centers. She began her federal career at the Social Security Administration and joined GSA in 1990 as a Management Intern.

Ms. Haworth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and is a graduate of The Management Program at the University of Washington.

***SECAF Members*** - For the slide presentation/recorded webinar, login and click on Members Only tab (top), followed by Past Event Presentations

Wednesday, June 13, 2018
CXO Forum: Preparing for a Successful Exit
Presented by Citrin Cooperman
The Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30-9:00am

Highlights will include:

Accounting and Financial issues related to transactions
Tax issues and structuring surrounding the transaction
How do the new tax regulations impact M&A deals?
State and Local tax issues specific to government contractors

Who Should attend? CEOs, CFOs, COOs, Controllers

Moderated by: Cynthia Barreda - CEO of NetCentrics Corporation

Speakers:

Sirena Johnson - Partner and Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
Shawn Howard - Partner and Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
David Seiden - Partner and Practice Leader of the State and Local Tax, Citrin Cooperman

Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Executive Briefing on OTAs - Other Transaction Agreements: Growth Opportunities for Small and Emerging Businesses

Valo Park (formerly TEGNA) McLean, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

There has been an explosion of interest in Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) as a method of acquisition streamlining. OTAs are agreements between the government and private sector entities that are free from the Federal Acquisition Regulations and provide unique opportunities for small businesses to participate in exciting technology development! Hear the perspectives of an OTA government customer, small business and consortia. Join us as our panelists offer insights on OTAs – What are they? How are they used? How can small businesses win OTAs? What is the outlook for OTAs?

Moderator: Kevin Brancato, Director of Government Contracts Research at Bloomberg Government
Speakers:

Devin Edwards, COO Phoenix Operations Group
Will Graves, Chief Engineer for PM DoD Biometrics within the Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (IEW&S)
Bob Tuohy, COO Advanced Technology International (ATI)

Thursday, June 7, 2018
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano's Little Italy -Tysons 5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement

Thursday, May 31
New Member Breakfast, By Invitation Only
7:30-9:00am

Thursday, May 10, 2018
10th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
Hilton McLean 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Attire: Business, Festive

The Government Contractor of the Year recognizes companies that have shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence in financial performance. The SECAF Award of Excellence highlights organizations that represent excellence within their respective communities, the government contracting industry, and towards employees. The Government Project of the Year is given to a company that has delivered an exemplary program with significant value to the federal government. Finally, the Small Business Mentor/Partner of the Year is awarded to a company that has shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence through its efforts as a prime contractor by providing tangible benefits to small businesses and/or subcontractors during the previous year. Note: All applications must be submitted by a small business.

IMPORTANT NOTE: REVENUE CATEGORIES CHANGED EFFECTIVE 2018 AWARDS.
Award winners will be selected from a group of finalists in six categories as follows:

SECAF Government Contractor of the Year (under $7.5 million in revenue)
SECAF Government Contractor of the Year ($7.5 to $15 million in revenue)
SECAF Government Contractor of the Year ($15 to $27.5 million in revenue)
SECAF Award of Excellence (under $25 million in revenue, SECAF Members Only)
SECAF Government Project of the Year (SECAF Members Only)
SECAF Small Business Mentor/Partner of the Year

For more information, contact us info@secaf.org

Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Executive Briefing: 360° Modernization at DoD - How Small Businesses can Shape our Vehicles, Systems, and Technology

Tower Club 7:30 - 10:00 am

Modernization efforts within the DoD are ongoing across the spectrum of equipment and technology. After years of use during our conflicts in the Middle East, Congress has approved for $700 Billion (an increase of $94B) in 2018 appropriations to sustain and modernize our aging equipment. Learn about how your small business can get involved with modernization efforts within the Department of the Army to update our vehicles, aviation assets and technology.

Highlights will include:

Discussion of key modernization trends and initiatives for combat vehicles, aviation systems, and application migration
Emerging capabilities of tactical wheeled vehicles providing greater battlefield situational awareness, force protection, and freedom of maneuver
Future Vertical Life capabilities and developments
Future Unmanned Aerial Systems
Overview of Cloud Computing and migrating Army Applications
Enterprise System Management and preparing applications for migration
How small businesses can be a part of the modernization program

Speakers:

Colonel Jason Craft, Director Army Aviation Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT))
Timothy Hale, Product Director, Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Enterprise Systems and Services (ALTESS)

Tuesday, April 10, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Keys to Building an Accounting Infrastructure that Scales with Your Growth
Presented by Cordia Partners 7:30am - 9:00am

Having the right information at the right time will help you capture growth opportunities. Building a sound accounting infrastructure is critical to successful and scalable growth. This event will provide you with information surrounding:

The government’s perspective and rules on an acceptable accounting system
Accounting system options – pros and cons
Key accounting and financial reports for timely decision making
Risk management and sound internal controls

Who Should attend? Business owners, CEOs, Presidents, COOs, CFOs, and Controllers

Speakers:

Brigitta Scott, CPA - Cordia Partners, Principal
Traci Shepps, CPA - Cordia Partners, Partner

No cost but you MUST register in advance.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Talent Acquisition Strategies
Presented By: Helios HR 7:30am - 9:00am

Are you experiencing issues with attracting and/or retaining people with targeted and highly sought-after skill sets? Come participate in a discussion of emerging pay strategies in the government contracting market.

Pay trends for different factions (i.e., operations vs. client services) are shifting. To remain relevant in talent acquisition strategies, leaders find themselves with a need to respond to market compensation demands in ways they’ve never had to before. Join us in this interactive conversation with Helios HR Compensation experts and discover innovative strategies that will help your business achieve success.

Speaker: Cicely C. Clayton, Principal Consultant

Who should attend? CEOs, CFOs, and CHROs

No cost but you MUST register in advance. Space is limited.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Member Forum: Is Your Insider Threat Program Up to Speed?
Valo Park (formerly known as TEGNA/Gannett)  7:30 - 10:00am

On May 18, 2016, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence issued NISPOM Change 2, which requires cleared contractors to establish and implement insider threat programs. These programs must be consistent with Executive Order 13587 and the National Insider Threat Policy and Minimum Standards for Executive Branch Insider Threat Programs.

Led by key figures in government Insider Threat policy and program offices, this panel will discuss the evolving development of insider threat programs within both government and contractor entities. Panelists will explore the current framework of requirements, technologies, and processes being employed, as well as opportunities for small businesses to support innovations in this growing industry in the public sector.

Moderator: Rear Admiral (retired) David Simpson - Principal, Deep Water Point, FCC, DISA

Speakers:

Jacqueline Atiles - Department of State, Insider Threat Program Director
Michael Seage - Director, DoD Insider Threat Management Analysis Center (DITMAC)
Randy Trzeciak - currently holds a dual appointment between Heinz College and the CERT Program of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University

Thursday, March 8, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Understanding Project KPIs to Drive Financial Performance for Gov Cons
Presented By: Unanet 11:30am - 1:30pm

Join us! Emerging contractors face significant challenges when competing with each other and the largest Primes! The most successful emerging contractors rely on a set of key performance indicators (KPls) to track financial and project performance. These KPIs are utilized by various stakeholders that need real time information to ensure success and profitability. Establishing the right KPls needed to support business goals can be tricky, and in this session we will discuss best practices to establish metrics, how to avoid common mist akes, and see how a single source of truth can help your company get the actionable information needed to drive project success!

Highlights will include:

Best practices for establishing KPls for your organization
Aligning KPls to corporate goals
Common financial and project metrics
Real-time metrics for reliable decision making

Speakers:

Fran Craig, Unanet, Chair and CEO
Kim Koster, Unanet, Director of Product Marketing

Thursday, February 15, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: The Keys to Growing a Small Business in the Federal Market
Presented by: Deltek at Maggiano’s Little Italy Tysons 11:30am - 1:30pm

Growing a small business in the federal market is never easy. But, by executing in four key areas, companies can build a foundation for growth for years to come.

Set aside a lunch hour to learn how thousands of small businesses have found success in federal contracting despite the market headwinds. Over lunch, Kevin Plexico, Deltek’s Vice President of Information Solutions, will discuss the landscape of federal small business contracting and share the four key areas successful small businesses must address in laying a solid foundation for growth.

Who Should attend? CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, COOs

Speaker:

Kevin Plexico, Deltek, Vice President, Information Solutions

Tuesday, February 13
New Member Breakfast, By Invitation Only
7:30-9:00am

Thursday, February 1, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Selling My Company - What I Learned and What I Wish I Had Known
Presented By: The McLean Group 11:30am - 1:30pm

Join us for lunch with an owner who has sold her businesses to discuss:

How she prepared their business for the sale
What did she learn from the process and what she wished she had know BEFORE she started the process
What advice she would give to someone who is thinking about selling

Who should attend? CEOs

Speaker: Nicole Geller – CEO, Founder, Entrepreneur

Thursday, January 25, 2018
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Tysons International Plaza 5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Executive Briefing: GSA – Raising the Bar for Professional Services

Tower Club 7:30 - 10:30am

Join SECAF on January 9th as we hear directly from GSA's Professional Services Program Management team on new initiatives at GSA and how to navigate the Professional Services category as a small and emerging business. Key topics include:

OMB directives and the impact of Category Management on your business
“Best in Breed” contracts: who is using them, and how do they impact your strategic plan?
Updates to the schedule program to streamline the process and make it easier for contractors to get on schedule and refresh their offerings
The future of OASIS and potential on-ramp opportunities

Speakers:

Geri Haworth - Division Director Professional Services Category Management Office of Professional Services & Human Capital Categories Federal Acquisition Service U.S. General Services Administration
Alexandra Rouse - Professional Services Program Executive Office of Professional Services & Human Capital Categories Federal Acquisition Service U.S. General Services Administration

After the event, Government Contractor members are invited to stick around for the opportunity to provide feedback on the RFI process directly to GSA, in the first Information Exchange Forum (IEF) of the year. The IEF is a quarterly gathering of industry partners and representatives from the Professional Services Category, aimed at facilitating dialogue, sharing information, and eliciting feedback. The conversation will shape the PSC’s efforts to enhance small and emerging contractor’s positions within the Category. Attendees should have an active Professional Services Schedule (PSS) or OASIS contract.

Speaker: Zachary Lerner – Supplier Relationship Management Specialist, Professional Services Category

Wednesday, December 13, 2017
SECAF Holiday Party
Convene 6:00 - 8:00 pm McLean, VA

Please join us to celebrate a wonderful season!

Wednesday, November 29, 2017
CXO Forum: Debt & Equity to Accelerate Growth in Government Service
Presented by: Access National Bank 7:30-9:00am

This dynamic panel of distinguished speakers will focus on a variety of sources of capital available to help accelerate growth for emerging and middle market government contractors. We'll discuss the differences and benefits of bank debt, mezzanine debt and venture capital and how they can often be utilized together, for both organic growth as well as M&A opportunities.

Who should attend? CEOs and CFOs of growing government contractors looking for additional sources of capital to fuel current growth or to help accelerate growth.

Speakers:

Javier Aguirre, Farragut Capital Partners, Managing Partner
Mark Frantz, Blue Delta Capital Partners, Co-Founder
Adam Nalls, Access National Bank, Senior Vice President

Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Executive Briefing: DHS – The Future of Procurement is Now!!!

Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

Come join SECAF for an informative discussion directly from Department of Homeland Security’s leaders on the Department’s overall goals, acquisition directions and strategic sourcing considerations. Learn how current mission priorities, speed to force, and congressional and presidential mandates, might be changing or not changing these considerations. Listen to thought leaders Soraya Correa and Jaclyn Smyth provide their insight and intel obtained from within the DHS walls to our SECAF membership and supporters.

The discussion will include:

What is the current update on the Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge Solutions, EAGLE, the Acquisition Innovation Act and other acquisition considerations for the next several years
What are Procurement Innovation Lab programs? What is Flexible Agile Support for the Homeland (FLASH) and how does provide support for future Procurement Innovation Lab programs?
Will DHS consider OTA’s or Other Transaction Authorities in the future? Science & Technology Directorate has initial feedback and have obtained speed to the organization on contracting. Less than 2 months in some minor cases
Effect of political situation and back-to-back-to back natural disasters on Mission

Speakers:

Soraya Correa, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chief Procurement Officer
Polly Hall, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL), Strategy & Planning Lead
Jaclyn Smyth, Director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Strategic Sourcing Program Office within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer

Wednesday, October 25, 2017
CXO Forum: ABC's of JVs in the Federal Marketplace
Presented by Protorae Law Vienna, VA 7:30 - 9:00am

The use of joint ventures in federal procurement has increased dramatically in the last few years. Procurements have become increasingly complex—primarily those set aside for small businesses. As a result, small businesses frequently must combine resources in order to be competitive. Joint ventures also are on the rise due to the expansion of the Small Business Administration’s Mentor-Protégé Program to include not only Section 8(a) business concerns but also all other types of small business concerns. The expansion of the Mentor-Protégé Program to include all types of small businesses has made joint venturing a very popular option because joint ventures formed by small and large businesses in the program are eligible to participate in procurements set-aside for small businesses.

Topics discussed will include:

What is a Joint Venture?
Why do contractors form Joint Ventures?
How do Joint Ventures help small and emerging businesses grow?
What are the typical issues that arise with the formation, drafting and negotiation of Joint Venture and Operating Agreements?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Joint Ventures in federal procurements?

Speakers:

Devon Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law
Kathleen Kelley, Partner, Protorae Law

Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano's Little Italy Tysons 5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Member Forum: Myth-Busting Strategic Planning
The Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30 - 10:00am

In today's market, volatility and uncertainty cloud the lens of traditional long-term strategic planning. Market shifts and opportunistic necessities can quickly render five-year plans obsolete, and companies don't have the time to launch resource-draining six-month planning campaigns. However, for small and emerging contractors, focus and discipline is still essential to building enduring enterprise value.

Join us for a panel with experienced small business CXOs and GovCon strategic planning experts as we discuss how best to execute agile planning, deploy limited resources, and avoid the "Me Too" trend chasing trap. Discussion themes include:

Real-time situational awareness and competitive intelligence
A nuanced understanding of ROI tradeoffs and the virtues of uneven resource allocation
Strategic direction that preserves tactical flexibility
How to connect the strategy to operational and budget plans to make the plan actionable

Moderator: Greg Nossaman, Managing Director, The McLean Group
Speakers:

Michele Bolos, CEO and Founder , Next Tier Concepts (NT Concepts)
Deepak Hathiramani, Founder, Vistronix

Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Executive Briefing: FY ’18 – Is it a Boom for GovCon Small Businesses?

Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

Join SECAF, news giant Bloomberg, and GovCon consulting firm Wolf Den, to explore the upcoming issues, legislation, trends, and forecasts for government contractors! We’ll explore issues like:

How will the President’s Budget affect my small business? What agencies are gaining?
Contracting legislation pending and near-term impact on small businesses
What are the top 5 opportunities that small business SHOULD take advantage of in the coming next 2 fiscal years
Potential for a Continuing Resolution and Gov’t Shutdown
… and other topics!

We’ll focus on issues affecting small government businesses by asking questions like:

What does this mean for my small business… how can I pivot to be positioned?
Should I “follow the money” or is there a different direction that should be considered?
Is incumbency on contracts growing and should I partner with mid and large businesses?
Should I expect the competitive environment to change with changes in the political environment?
Will my GSA contract and other contract vehicles be more or less important?

This event will equip you with the best information and ideas you need to make informative strategic decisions and position your company for growth in FY18/19!

Speakers:

Robert Levinson, Senior Defense Analyst at Bloomberg Government Division
Kevin Robbins, Co-Founder of Wolf Den Associates

Wednesday, August 30, 2017
SECAF Member Barbeque
SECAF Board Chair Cameron Hamilton's Residence 5:30 - 7:30 pm

The SECAF Board of Directors warmly invites you to a Member Summer Barbeque at the current Chairman’s residence. Come join us for networking in a relaxed setting as our Board Chairman Cameron Hamilton passes the gavel to Kathy Albarado, incoming Chair. Bring plenty of cards for connections as we launch our new program year.

Attire: Business Casual

Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Executive Briefing: The State of Federal Health IT - The Landscape, Challenges and Potential Directions for Small Businesses Considering Engaging this Market
Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

An informative, educational discussion on the dynamic environment of Federal Health IT and the 2017 initiatives on the minds and desks of government leaders. The event will bring together accomplished leaders at the forefront of Health IT strategy at the VA, DHA, GSA, and CMS along with industry leaders in the Federal Health IT space.

Moderator: Ben Edson, Founder and CEO of VariQ

Speakers:

Roya Konzman – Senior Information Technology Specialist, Office of IT Schedule Programs, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Thomas Leney - Executive Director for Small and Veteran Business Programs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Daniel Levenson - Digital Service Contracting Adviser and a Contracting Officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
David Guillory - U.S. Defense Health Agency, CO-HIT, San Antonio as the onsite Small Business Specialist

Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Chef Geoff's Tysons 5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Member Forum: Reprogramming Potential of Contracting Dollars in a Trump Administration
Tower Club Vienna, VA 4:00 - 6:30pm

President-Elect Trump ran on a platform of comprehensive Federal agency reform. For the Trump administration to make good on its campaign pledges to radically reform the government, agencies will have to reprogram dollars from some current programs. Reform is dependent on the ability of Federal agencies to redirect existing resources to fulfill new priorities. Govini’s newest Analytic Report - Trump’s Swamp: The Reprogramming Potential for Agencies and Contractors in 2017 - reveals which agencies and contractors are best positioned for the disruption, and which are most at risk. All registered participants will get a FREE copy of the report (a $5000 value).

Govini will also discuss its current Federal Scorecard. Utilizing more than 6,000 data points, the Scorecard is a powerful market intelligence resource creating a provocative view into the Federal procurement landscape. The Federal Scorecard highlights agency spending trends, including a contracting overview, product and service spend, contract vehicle usage and set-aside performance.

Speaker: Chris Taylor, CEO, Govini

Tuesday May 9, 2017
9th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
McLean Hilton, 6:00 - 9:00pm

The Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum’s (SECAF) 9th Annual Government Contractor Awards
honor small and emerging government contractors and the players in the industry that rely on small business.

Congratulations to the 2017 winners - click here for a list!
Congratulations to the 2017 Finalists - click here for a list!

Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Member Forum: The Continuously Emerging World of Cybersecurity – Are you compliant?
SECAF Members Only, Tower Club, 7:30 - 10:00am

What is Cyber Compliance? What is needed to be a cyber compliant superstar? What are the ultimate considerations when trying to be cyber compliant in this hacker rich environment?
What are the differences between maintaining compliance as a Prime versus a Subcontractor?
What must a company consider down the road to maintain its compliance? What if they do not? Is there a bigger legal issue here not being considered? What is Congress thinking?
Cybersecurity certifications – What are they and are they useful?

Speakers:

Kaylee Cox, Associate, Holland & Knight LLP
Camille Tuutti, Executive Editor, NextGov
David M. Wennergren, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Professional Services Council (PSC)

Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Webinar: Changing Federal Acquisition Landscape Under the New Administration
Presented By: Rob Levinson and Stan Soloway

With Congress and the Presidency under the Republican Party, what are the changes that could impact Small and Emerging Government Contractors? Come learn from GovCon Industry experts on what priorities and programs could change in Federal Contracting and how to prepare your Small Business to successfully adapt to those changes. Bob Levinson from Bloomberg will provide the media/research perspective on impending political and program changes and how they might impact Government contractors. Stan Soloway, CEO of Celero Strategies (and former CEO of the Professional Services Council and Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense) will provide the Government acquisition and GovCon industry perspective on what to expect and how to prepare your Small Business to not only survive but also succeed in a changing world.

SECAF Members - For the slide presentation and recorded webinar, login and click on Members Only tab (top), followed by Past Event Presentations

Thursday, January 12, 2017
Executive Briefing: The Honorable Tom Davis Provides Post-Election Insight - Wake Up - The Election is Over!
TEGNA/Gannett McLean, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

How will the focus shift in the Executive branch policies, and the “behavior” or direction of the House and Senate? Is continued gridlock inevitable?
What does the election say about the prospects for small government contractors? Will the push for LPTA continue?
What funding changes are possible for Defense, National Security or Veterans programs? Which Civilian agencies will see changes in their budgets?
What are the prospects for immigration reform?

Thursday, December 1, 2016
SECAF Holiday Party
TEGNA/Gannett McLean, VA 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Please join us to celebrate a wonderful season!

Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Executive Briefing: GSA’s OASIS - Answers to Your Questions and Preparing for the Future!
TEGNA/Gannett McLean, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

Come learn more about OASIS including where it is and where it’s going, the ins and outs of on-ramping, partnerships and the strategic value for small and emerging businesses.

Moderator: Curt Anderson, Director of Strategic Alliances, CSSI, Inc.

Speakers:

Satya Akula, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amyx, Inc.
Prashant Gaur, President, Credence Management Solutions LLC
Todd Richards, Program Manager for GSA OASIS

Join us for a discussion about OASIS including the overall contract, its successes, the organizations involved, the future directions of the contract, and the organizations that are considering its use of the contract in the future. During this informative Q&A-driven session, the discussion will include the nuances, the benefits, the myths, and the overall status of the contract. Organizations such as Air Force, Army, Navy Supply Command, and DHS are all taking advantage of this contract today and will continue to do so with many task orders already solicited and awarded!

Learn about the on-ramping considerations for OASIS and how and what YOUR company needs to consider to prepare and position itself to compete and become an effective partner on this contract with GSA.

OASIS and OASIS Small Business (SB) are multiple award, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts that provide flexible and innovative solutions for complex professional services. OASIS is not a GSA Schedule contract such as the Professional Services Schedule (PSS), so there is no continuously open application process.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members
Eastern Foundry Rosslyn, VA 5:30 - 7:30 pm

As you may know, Eastern Foundry is forging innovation in the government marketplace by serving as a central hub where small business, tech startups, professional service providers, primes and agencies convene to exchange ideas and do business.

You are invited to come get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members and be introduced to Eastern Foundry members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.
Encourage members of the Eastern Foundry will also be invited to attend to consider joining SECAF!

Thursday, October 13, 2016
Member Forum: Small Businesses Can Be Acquirers Too – How to Successfully Acquire Assets, Contracts or Another Small Business
TEGNA/Gannett McLean, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

Join us for a panel discussion with seasoned business executives and advisors providing growth strategies for small businesses, including:

How to open up new lines of revenue and create synergies through a merger of two equal companies;
How minority investment can keep your business in a small set-aside program, while adding capital to expand operations;
Asset purchases and other alternatives available to access a new line of business; and
Steps that can be taken now to position your business for a future sale.

Moderator: Kathleen Kelley, Protorae Law

Speakers: Babs Doherty, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eagle Ray, Inc.
Kevin Robbins, Co-Founder Blue Delta Partners
Andrew Sherman, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw

October 4, 2016
Webinar: Small Business Mentor-Protégé Program
Presented by: Devon Hewitt, Protorae Law

On July 25, 2016, SBA issued its long-awaited final rules implementing a new Small Business Mentor-Protégé Program. Join Devon Hewitt, Chair of SECAF’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee, in a discussion about these new rules, including:

• Key Aspects of new Small Business Mentor-Protégé Program
• Changes to the Joint Venture regulations
• Status of other agency Mentor-Protégé Programs
• Changes to the 8(a) Program
• Changes to the HUBZone Program

Devon Hewitt, a partner at Protorae Law PLLC, has over 20 years’ experience in the field of government contracts, representing small, mid-tier and large government contractors. She advises clients on a wide range of government contracting issues including FAR compliance; small business contracting programs; intellectual property and data rights; GSA Schedule; the Service Contract Act; noncompete, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreements; subcontracts and teaming arrangements; joint ventures; FOIA; due diligence and novations; contract claims; codes of ethics and business conduct; mandatory and voluntary disclosures; suspension and debarment; terminations; and government audits and investigations.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Executive Briefing: FY '17 GovCon Trends, Outlook and Major IT Opportunities

McLean Hilton 7:30 - 10:00 am

Gaining certainty in uncertain political times: FY17 GovCon legislative outlook, trends and forecasts and overview of major IT procurement opportunities for small business.

Join SECAF and the thought leaders from leading, innovative companies in analytics and real-time information delivery for Government Contracting professionals to learn effects of changing political landscape on rules and regulations, contracting outlook and major business opportunities in the IT arena for small businesses. This event will equip you with the information and tools you need to make informative strategic decisions and position your company for growth in FY17.

How will the winners in the 2016 elections impact the business of government contractors?
What legislation is pending on the Hill that will affect small business, and what is the likely movement on it?
What are the emerging trends in contracting processes and contract vehicles?
What are the critical contract vehicles to consider in FY2017?

Moderator: Joe Golden, Principal and Senior Managing Director, The McLean Group

Speakers:

Robert Levinson, Senior Defense Analyst at Bloomberg Government
Nate Nash, CEO of GovTribe

Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Webinar: SBA Final Rule NDAA of 2013
Presented By: Devon Hewitt, Protorae Law

SBA has issued its long-awaited, final rules implementing the statutory changes enacted by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2013.

Topics to be covered include new regulations addressing:

Limitations on subcontracting and “similarly situated entities”
Affiliation rules
Nonmanufacturer rule
Joint Ventures
Recertification
Calculation of Annual Receipts

Presented by: Devon Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law and SECAF Board Member will provide this Legislative & Regulatory update

SECAF Members - For the slide presentation and recorded webinar, login and click on For Members Only tab, Past Event Presentations

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Member Forum: Strategic Business Development
The Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

What does it take to compete in today’s Federal procurement environment and what’s the best way to align your business development efforts? Most small businesses don’t have the luxury of large business development shops to search out opportunities, work capture, and write winning proposals. Learn what are the best strategies that small and emerging businesses can deploy to compete in today’s procurement environment.

Our panel of business development experts will discuss:

Approaches to making informed bid/no-bid decisions
Strategies around organizing your business development function/team
Trends in business development functions
Aligning business development with your business goals and capabilities
How to best navigate the federal marketplace and position your company
Winning proposal and business development strategies

Moderator: Joseph Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, FedBid, Inc.

Speakers:

Mickey Jones, Partner, Evermay Consulting Group
Scott Shaul, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Services, Savi
Jeffrey Shen, Vice President and General Manager, Red Team Consulting

Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Spring Social for SECAF Members

The Tower Club Vienna, VA 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Please join us to celebrate another successful SECAF year.

You are cordially invited to attend the annual Spring Social for SECAF Members.

Enjoy the opportunity to network and optimize your membership:

Do you know about everything SECAF has to offer?
Find out how you can get more from your membership by getting involved.
Do you know about SECAF's Contractor Advice Forums known as "CAF"?
Mingle with fellow SECAF members and Board members.
Learn about SECAF committees and which one might benefit from your expertise.

Thursday, June 2, 2016
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Chantilly, VA 5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Executive Briefing: SBA and Large Gov Cons–Learn How Your Businesses Can Engage!
Gannett/Tegna McLean, VA 7:30 - 10:00 am

Ralph Buchanan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) will moderate a panel of Small Business Liaisons from some of the area’s most prominent large government contractors: BAE Systems; Northrop Grumman; CACI NSS, Inc. Come learn how small and large businesses working together can be mutually beneficial. This panel will engage in open communication and help connect these large businesses with SECAF members who can offer innovative solutions.

Each company will provide information about its small business goals and areas of interest for future endeavors, revealing opportunities to establish new connections as well as enhance existing ones. Before and after the panel discussion, there will be ample time for networking among members, guests and the speakers.

Moderator: Ralph Buchanan, US Small Business Administration (SBA), Senior Economic Development Specialist

Speakers:

Diane G. Dempsey: BAE Systems, Intelligence & Security, Director, Socio Economic Business Programs
Wayne Pizer: CACI NSS, Inc., Director of Small Business
Carla Undurraga: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Technology Services Sector, Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO)

Thursday, May 12, 2016
8th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
Hilton McLean McLean, Virginia 6:00 - 9:00 pm

The Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum’s (SECAF) 8th Annual Government Contractor Awards honor small and emerging government contractors and the players in the industry that rely on small business.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Member Forum: Labor Regulations Every Government Contractor Must Know

The Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30 - 10:00am

New labor regulations have drastically changed the way every government contractor has to do business. The new Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces regulations require disclosure of labor violations during the bidding process and prohibit arbitration of certain employment disputes. The new minimum wage regulations require that contractors pay certain employees (whether they are working on a federal contract or not) higher wages. Other regulations require that contractors attempt to hire veterans and the disabled and that offers of employment be given to an existing workforce when a contractor takes over a new contract, and even change how overtime is treated. Importantly, none of these regulations exempt small businesses.

Our distinguished panel will provide an overview of these new requirements and practical information to help small businesses navigate them successfully.

Moderator: Devon Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law PLLC
Speakers:

Tim Helm, Former Chief, US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Roger Jordan, Professional Services Council (PSC), Vice President, Government Relations

Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Executive Briefing: What You Should Know About Doing Business with the Department of Veterans Affairs!
Tegna/Gannett McLean, VA 7:30 - 10:00am

Join SECAF and key leaders from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to gain insight on how the VA operates in today’s changing climate. Learn how your organization can get an extra edge in order to interact with the VA and procure future opportunities. This event will be an open discussion followed by a Q & A session to help you discover:

Why you, as a small business, should consider opportunities with the VA and how you can provide innovations, services and support for its incredible mission.
The re-organization strategy the VA is currently undertaking to provide opportunities to small and emerging businesses in an effort to make it a better and more efficient operation.
The Who, What and How the VA procures its vast array of services, including the intricacies of the buying organizations, their locations, and how to connect and communicate your capabilities and learn of new opportunities.

Moderator: Curt Anderson, Director of Strategic Alliances, CSSI, Inc.

Speakers:

Chanel Bankston-Carter: Director of Strategic Outreach, OSDBU, Department of Veterans Affairs
Regina McGlinn-McGregor: Customer Liaison and Small Business Program Manager, Office of Acquisition Operations, Strategic Acquisition Center, Department of Veterans Affairs

Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Bethesda, MD 5:30 - 7:30pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring your capabilities statement.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Webinar: Leveraging Outside Advisors for your Company's Strategic Growth and Development
Presented By: Jack Hughes, Principal and Founder of PHOENIX Financial and Advisory Services, LLC and Principal Partner with Altus Associates

This SECAF webinar will explore the various tactics that small businesses can use to obtain expert advice necessary to build successful companies. Often, small companies simply don't have the resources to hire the expertise that they need. Outside advisors can be invaluable in helping companies execute on their growth strategies. Join us for a discussion about how to utilize consultants for expert advice in specific areas such as business development, strategic planning, financing and merger/acquisition planning. Find out how to assemble a formal Advisory Board that can provide routine and continuous advice on a variety of business issues and opportunities. SECAF members can always take advantage of SECAF's Contractor Advice Forum (CAF) which has been established to provide SECAF members with the expert advice they need at no extra cost. In addition, SECAF provides a forum called SECAF Chat, an online “list serve” for SECAF members. Members may use SECAF Chat to connect with fellow SECAF members, ask a question or share an idea about anything related to your business or just take a look to see what SECAF members are talking about.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Member Forum: Strategic Differentiation - Keys to Success in the Changing GovCon Environment
The Tower Club Vienna, VA 7:30 - 10:00am

Learn valuable tips from successful Government Contractors on how to strategically differentiate and distinguish your business to successfully compete in the new world of contracts. Fish do not jump in the boat – what should be on your small business strategic checklist? CMMI? Socio-Economic designations? DCAA audit? ISO? Come hear SECAF company leaders who have executed on strategic decisions to position themselves to successfully compete in this complex marketplace and hear their lessons learned so you accelerate your corporate growth.

Corporate certifications as differentiators
- Government provided certifications (e.g., Facility security clearance, DCAA audit) – how to get things moving
- Commercial certifications ( e.g., CMMI, ISO) – how to assess cost vs. value
Resources/legislation for small businesses
- FAR
- National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) actions
How to leverage small business status (socioeconomic designations, differentiators, etc.)
Considerations for building relationships with both small and large companies
- Asset-based Thinking (Lemons vs. Lemonade)

Moderator: Jack McGuinness, Managing Partner, Relationship Impact

Speakers:

Darryl Britt, President and Founder, Apprio
Ben Edson, Founder and CEO of VariQ
William Jaffe, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President/General Manager for TAPE

Thursday, December 10, 2015

SECAF Holiday Party - Members Only
Gannett/Tegna Building McLean, VA
6:00 - 8:00pm

Join us to celebrate the season!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Executive Briefing: A View of GSA’s IT 70 Leading the Way in 2016 – Understanding how to use your schedule in a changing environment with fewer opportunities and steeper competition.
Gannett/Tegna McLean, VA
7:30 - 10:00am

GSA’s schedule leadership provided an in-depth conversation regarding the upcoming changes and directions for IT 70, category management, and other considerations that industry requires knowledge in their pursuit of business opportunities and the changing landscape. This interactive discussion allowed GSA to hear industry's reactions to the changes and learn of areas that should be considered to make this successful for both GSA and industry.

Are you aware of the changes happening to the GSA Schedule 70?
How do you keep your IT Schedule 70 viable in this changing market?
Learn about how GSA is structuring the Schedule – i.e. Cloud SIN, lead time needed for modifications and acquiring the schedule, and benefits of using the Schedule (BPAs, etc.)
Hear what the IT Schedule 70 Program is saying about Category Management and what industry needs to be aware of regarding this new Government direction.
Interact with IT Schedule 70 personnel and gain an understanding of how to use your schedule in a changing environment with fewer opportunities and steeper competition.

Moderator: Kimberly Pack,Wolf Den Associates, LLC, Vice President, Senior Capture and Proposal Leadership

Speakers:

Willie Mills, GSA, Director IT Market Development Division (QTFBB)
Giovanni Onwuchekwa, GSA, Branch Chief, Programs and Analysis Office of IT Schedule Programs

Sponsor: Fairfax County Economic Development

Thursday, November 12, 2015
Webinar: Key Value Drivers for Gov Cons

The most important value drivers – both qualitative and quantitative - that all Gov Cons should know about
Some of the less obvious elements that you may not have considered that can be valuable for smaller companies to be aware of
How to avoid issues that may limit exit alternatives down the road
Financing options for small to mid-size contractors that wish to grow by acquisition
When and how do you start positioning your company for an exit

Speaker: Cameron Hamilton, The McLean Group

Thursday, October 29, 2015
Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members Only
Tyson Corner
5:30 - 7:30pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor Members!

What do they do?
Might there be a teaming opportunity?
Can they help you?
Can you help them?
Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
Bring you capabilities statement.

Thursday, September 17, 2015
Executive Briefing: Preparing for Change-A Preview of Contracting Trends in Fiscal Year 2016
Gannett Building McLean, VA
7:30 - 10:00am

What are the prospects for the 2016 Budget? Will we see another… Shutdown, Continuing Resolution, Ryan-Murray 2, Grand Bargain, or something else?
How will the winners in the 2016 elections impact the business of government contractors?
What are the prospects for Acquisition Reform? What does it mean for industry?
What are the emerging trends in contract vehicles – including consolidation, on/off ramps, small business set-asides, competition levels and unrestricted/small business pool structures?
What are the critical contract vehicles to monitor in FY2016 and FY2017?
How will the trends in contract vehicles reshape the industry, including the sudden and rapid growth of mega-small businesses?

Moderator: Kevin Robbins - Founder, BlueDelta Capital Partners and Founder and Managing Partner, Wolf Den Associates

Speakers:

Brian Friel - Bloomberg Government, Senior Government Contracts Analyst

Rob Levinson - Bloomberg Government, Senior Defense Policy Analyst

SECAF Sponsor: John Marshall Bank

June 17, 2015
Member Forum: Teaming Agreements - A Strategic Asset for Corporate Growtth
The Tower Club Vienna, VA
7:30 - 10:00am

A panel of experts focused on the use of teaming arrangements with other businesses (teaming agreements, subcontracts, and joint ventures) to position your company for greater success and possible sale. The discussion included the benefits of such arrangements, potential pitfalls and their limitations (for instance if a company is reliant on such arrangements because of a set-aside status).

Moderator: Gene Schleppenbach, Principal, Miles & Stockbridge

Panelists:

Ryan Bradel, Associate, Greenberg Traurig
Darryl Britt, President and Founder, Apprio
Cameron Hamilton, Principal, The McLean Group
Susan Hawkins, Vice President, Business Strategy, L-3 National Security Solutions

EVENT SPONSOR: Greenberg Traurig

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

SECAF Spring Social
The Tower Club Vienna, VA
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Members Only

Celebrate with SECAF!

Spring Social Sponsors: Federal National Commercial Credit and INDUS Corporation

An opportunity to network and optimize your membership:

Do you know about everything SECAF has to offer?
Find out how you can get more from your membership by getting involved.
Do you know about SECAF's contractor advice forum?
Mingle with fellow SECAF members and Board members.
Learn about SECAF committees and which one might benefit from your expertise.

Thursday, May 28, 2015 Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members

City Club of Washington, DC
5:30 - 7:30pm

For SECAF Government Contractor Members Only

Get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?

Wednesday, May 20, 2015
SECAF Executive Briefing: Let SBA Help You Get SMART on SECAF's Large Business Members
Gannett McLean, VA
7:30 -10:00am

Representatives from the Small Business Administration and three of SECAF's Large Business Members - BAE Systems, L-3 National Security Solutions, and Northrop Grumman - engaged in a lively discussion about how large businesses can benefit from small businesses.

What do SBA, Northrop Grumman, L-3 National Security Solutions and BAE Systems all have in common? They want YOU, the small businesses with powerful ideas, conviction, and heart! If that describes your business, then don't miss the event! These SECAF Large Business members and the SBA will share their critical needs, pathways to success, and secret tips!

From the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Washington Metropolitan Area District Office

Antonio Doss, District Director
Ralph Buchanan, Senior Economic Development Specialist

From BAE Systems

Susan King, BAE Systems, Electronic Systems Sector, Director of Supplier Diversity Programs

From L-3 National Security Solutions

Chemise Smith, Small Business Liaison Officer, L-3 National Security Solutions
Wayne Pizer, Vice-President, Small Business Programs, L-3 National Security Solutions

From Northrop Grumman

Cary Havert, Senior Manager, Strategic Business Development, Health Division Northrop Grumman
Lynn Livengood, Sector Manager, Northrop Grumman Information Systems Sector, Global Supplier Diversity Program

Event Sponsors: The McLean Group and Pleasant Valley Business Solutions

Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Webinar: Indirect Rates - From Strategy to Transformation

Presented By:

Fran Craig, CEO and Founder, Unanet
Dave Johnson, Principal Product Manager, Unanet
Nicole Mitchell, Partner-Government Contractor Services, Aronson LLC

Understand Basic Indirect Calculations
Learn How To Develop Competitive Rates
Use Insight Gained From Business Analytics

Sponsored by: Unanet

Thursday, May 7, 2015

The 7th Annual SECAF Awards Gala
Hilton McLean 6:00 - 9:00pm

The SECAF Awards Gala is the premier commemorative event honoring small and emerging government contractors and the players in the ecosystem that support and rely upon small business. Award winners will be chosen by an independent judges committee and announced at the Awards Gala in the following categories:

SECAF Government Contractor of the Year: under $6 million revenue
SECAF Government Contractor of the Year: $6 to $12 million revenues
SECAF Government Contractor of the Year: $12 to $25 million revenues
SECAF Award of Excellence: under $25 million revenues (SECAF Members ONLY)
SECAF Small Business Partner of the Year
SECAF Government Project of the Year (SECAF Members ONLY)

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Member Forum: Competitive Pricing - Living with LPTAs
Tower Club Vienna, VA
7:30 -10:00am

Price to Win! Sales/marketing focus versus the accountants
How to set up pricing
Risks and rewards versus challenges and opportunities
Dealing with the realities

Speakers:

Mark Burroughs, CPA - Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Partner, Government Contract Advisory

Bill Walter, CPA - Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Partner, Government Contracting

EVENT SPONSOR: Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

Wednesday, March 25, 2015
SECAF Webinar: Legislative and Regulatory Update for Small Businesses
Presented by: Devon Elizabeth Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law

Discussion of some significant proposed rules and regulatory changes recently issued by the Small Business Administration, including:

A proposed rule to establish a Mentor-Protégé Program for all small businesses, including WOSBs, SDVOSBs, and HUBZone businesses, modeled on the current Section 8(a) Mentor-Protégé Program
A proposed rule to change the performance of work requirements set out in the FAR’s Limitations on Subcontracting clause
Proposed changes to small business joint venture rules
Proposed changes to the non-manufacturer rule
Changes to the Women-Owned Small Business Program

Also discussed - the small business provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2015 and what’s likely to be on Congress’ radar this year.

Sponsored By: Protorae Law

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Networking Reception For Government Contractor Members Only

Chef Geoff's Tysons
5:30 -7:30pm

Get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members!

What do they do?
Might there be teaming opportunities?
Can they help you? Can you help them?
Bring your capabilities statement!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 SECAF Webinar

Webinar: Attracting and Retaining the Right Talent for Your Federal Contracting Workforce
Presented by:

Kathy Albarado, SPHR, President & CEO, Helios HR
Amy Stark, Practice Director, Talent Acquisition, Helios HR
Amy Gulati, GPHR, SPHR & SPHR-CA, HR Business Partner, Helios HR

It is widely recognized that the government contracting workforce of today faces significant challenges. With many of our most experienced and highly skilled senior leaders nearing retirement over the next decade and the LPTA demands for low-priced labor categories, attracting, growing and retaining high performers is becoming a serious dilemma. We all know that the best employees have options. So, how will you get ahead? How will you maintain the skills, experience, productivity and quality necessary to accomplish both your mission and your client’s?

This was an engaging webinar with the talent management experts at Helios HR. Participants learned strategies to help them attract, grow and retain top talent to give their businesses an advantage in a competitive environment.

Sponsored By: Helios HR

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

SECAF Executive Briefing: Get Smart on GSA's Schedule Consolidation Plans
Gannett Building McLean, VA
7:30 -10:00am

Do you hold a GSA contract?
Will your contract be consolidated with other GSA contracts?
How will that work?
What will the impact be?
When will this happen?

Moderator: Maureen Jamieson, Fed Nexus Law
Panelist: Geraldine Watson, GSA
Panelist: Hope Lane, Partner, Aronson LLC, Government Contract Services Group

Event Sponsor: Squire Patton Boggs

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Member Forum: Department of Labor Compliance Update: What you need to know!
Tower Club Vienna, VA
7:30am - 10:00am

A panel of Federal compliance experts will discuss the latest Department of Labor regulatory and compliance issues which impact small and emerging contractors including the impact of:

New OFCCP regulations
New Executive Orders
New SCA enforcement and regulations
Recent enforcement of misclassification of 1099 vs. W-2 workers

Join us to learn more about new areas of enforcement as well as the latest on the changing compliance picture and how small and emerging contractors can prepare and ensure that they stay compliant.

Moderator: Kevin McCoy - General Counsel, C2 Portfolio, Incorporated

Panelists:

Devon Hewitt - Partner, Protorae Law
Tom Wells - District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Baltimore District Office
Mark Lara - District Director, US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Baltimore District Office

Event Sponsor: C2 Essentials

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

SECAF Holiday Party
The Tower Club Vienna, VA
6:00 - 8:00pm

For SECAF Members Only

Holiday Party Sponsor: InCadence Strategic Solutions

Collected Winter Coats For Those in Need!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

SECAF Executive Briefing: Get SMART* on Today's SBA-How SBA is Working for Small and Emerging Businesses

*SMART - Sensibly Mindful About Recent Transactions

Gannett McLean, VA
7:30 - 10:00am

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has been making news of late with several pending actions and directions that have immediate impact on the small and emerging contractor community. Come hear SBA leaders share the direction of regulatory, policy, standards and certification trends under consideration and the time frame for review and adoption. This event will provide a powerful, relevant and interactive exchnage between leadership from the SBA and the SECAF community to enable members to grow their companies.

Moderator: Natalia Olson-Urtecho, Regional Administrator - U.S. Small Business Administration, Region III

Speakers:

Mehul Sanghani, Founder and President of Octo Consulting Group
Anthony Ruiz, Assistance District Director/8(a) Business Development Program, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
Maria Kersey, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Defense Intelligence Agency

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

SECAF Matchmaking and Networking Session with Northrop Grumman Information Systems
Northrop Grumman McLean, VA
8:30am until 11:00am

Networking and matchmaking with key contacts from Northrop Grumman Information Systems sector who are looking to fulfill subcontracting requirements. Decision makers will be available to discuss how your company can help meet their needs. Representatives from Northrop Grumman's Global Supplier Diversity Program Office will be on hand to help you get connected.

Event Sponsor: Northrop Grumman, SECAF Large Business Member

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Member Forum: Legal, Regulatory and Market Trends Affecting Gorwing Contractors - What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You!
The Tower Club Vienna, VA
7:30-10:00am

Forecasting the 2015 Capital and Regulatory Climate and Trends - What Emerging Contractors Need to Know!
Counterfeit Parts - The New Rules Every Prime and Sub Needs to Know
Government Contractor Compliance - Current Issues and Trends
Calculating the Limitation on Subcontracting - Status of the Small Business Administration's ("SBA") implementation of Section 1651 and 1652 of the Department of Defense's ("DoD") National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA") for Fiscal Year ("FY") 2013
Developments in Open Systems Architecture at DoD - Key Take-Aways from GAO Report GAO-14-617R, “Defense Acquisitions: Review of Private Industry and Department of Defense Open Systems Experiences,” June 26, 2014
Recent Protest Decisions Every Contractor Should Appreciate

Speakers:

Andrew Sherman - JonesDay Partner and SECAF Co-Founder and Board Member

Fernand A Lavallee - JonesDay Partner

Grant Willis - JonesDay Partner

Event Sponsor: Jones Day

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Executive Briefing: Fiscal 2015 - Are You Looking at the Right Business Opportunities?
Gannett Building McLean, VA

Looking toward fiscal year 2015, SECAF will have an open discussion with suggestions where small and emerging businesses should consider putting their Business Development budget dollars (and what areas should they avoid) based on the hot trends of government spending. Come join us to hear from some visionary leaders knowledgeable about the government funding and spending trends for the coming year. Some topic areas to be discussed will be:

What are the top government opportunities in the under 25M dollar range?
What are the top government organizations that have the largest IT budget for 2015?
Who are the top small and emerging businesses in the federal marketplace?

Moderator: Christopher J. Dorobek - Founder, editor and publisher, GovLoop's DorobekINSIDER

Speakers:

Robert Levinson - Senior Defense Analyst with Bloomberg Government
Nate Nash - Chief Executive Officer at GovTribe
Carey Webster- Director, Federal Information Services at Deltek

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Webinar: Legislative and Regulatory Developments Affecting Small Businesses

Jack Hughes, Treasurer of SECAF and Principal and Founder of PHEONIX Financial and Advisory Services, LLC, and Devon Hewitt, a Member of SECAF’s Board of Directors and Chair of SECAF’s Legislative & Regulatory Committee and Partner at Protorae Law.

Efforts to increase the government-wide small business contracting and subcontracting goals
Extension of the 8(a) Mentor-Protégé program to all small businesses
Changes in the Limitations on Subcontracting clause
Transfer of SDVOSB verification from the Center for Veterans Enterprise (VA) to SBA
SBA’s WOSB Program and Sole Source Contracts

Webinar Sponsor: Protorae Law

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Spring Social and Member Orientation
Gannett Building McLean, VA

5:30 - 6:15 pm Member Orientation
6:00 - 8:00 pm Social

In celebration of another successful SECAF year, you are cordially invited to attend the annual Members Only SECAF Spring Social.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Webinar: Achiving Small Business Growth During Challenging Times

Presented by Greg Baroni, Chairman and CEO, Attain, LLC

How do you grow your small business during challenging times?
What works and what doesn't?
How do you win your fair share of business by spending your precious little resources on the right oppportunities at the right time?

Webinar Sponsor: Unanet

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Gannett Building McLean, VA
Executve Briefing: DHS-ICE Update with Phil Letowt
7:30-10:00am

Speaker: Philip J Letowt, Chief Technology Officer at the Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Event Sponsor: JAMIS Software Corporation

Thursday, May 1, 2014

McLean Hilton
2014 Sixth Annual Goverment Contractor Awards Gala

The Gala is the premier commemorative event honoring small and emerging government contractors and the players in the ecosystem that support and rely upon small business. For a list of 2014 award wiinners, please click here.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Other Barn Columbia, MD

SECAF and Fort Meade BASE Business Initiative (BBI) - SECAF and BBI Partners for networking and a procurement discussion with Fort Meade Defense and Intelligence Agencies and Prime Contractors. Representatives from Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics as well as governmental representatives from the Defense and Intelligence Community discuss the procurement process and small business environment within the Fort Meade region.

Speakers:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Deon Viergutz, Dorector of Operations
NSA, Office of Small Business Programs - Grant Gursky, Outreach Advocate
General Dynamics Information Technology, Intelligence Programs - Dave Dobbs, NSA Business Operations Director

The BASE Business Initiative (BBI) helps business to navigate the complex defense contracting environment. The BBI team works with more than 2,500 partner companies through outreach and networking, to help position business to support critical defense missions, with a focus on Ft. Meade. The BBI tenets are transparency – support – connect.

Event Sponsors: The McLean Group and John Marshall Bank

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Educational Forum: Strategic Cost Estimating – Understanding Your Costs to be More Realistic and Competitive in Today’s Market
The Tower Club Vienna, VA
7:30-10:00am

Speaker: Bill Walter, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

Event Sponsor: Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Executive Briefing: Insights and Opportunity – The CIO Transformation at HUD
Gannett Building McLean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Speaker: Tarrazzia Martin, Senior Technical Advisor to the CIO Transformation, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Insights for small and emerging businesses wishing to pursue business with HUD and also strategic directions the organization is heading in light of budget challenges, sequestration, debt ceiling and other factors affecting business opportunities at the Department.

Event Sponsor: C2 Essentials

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Webinar: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Small and Emerging Government Contractors
Presented by Cindy Castillo, CEO of CSS I Inc.
•   What makes contractors successful in challenging times.
•   How government contractors can overcome obstacles in today's market.
•   How independence, interdependence and continuous improvement are vital to your business' health.

Webinar Sponsor: INDUS

Webinar Host: Unanet

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Educational Forum: Government Contracts: Opportunities and Obstacles - Presentation by Jones Day partners Grant Willis and Andrew Sherman addressing the rewards and risks associated with federal government contracting, practical considerations in dealing with federal agency customers, and current trends and issues.

Event Sponsor: Jones Day

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Gannett Building
Executive Briefing: Creative Insights for Success from Former Federal CIOs - A Conversation with Small and Emerging Businesses

Speakers:

Nitin Pradhan - GOVonomy, former CIO at DOT
Vance Hitch - Deloitte, Former CIO at DOJ
Chris Niedermayer - BRMi, Former Deputy CIO at HUD
Moderator - Roger Jordan of PSC Group

The role of the government contractor is changing as is the target of engaging our federal counterparts in pursuit of opportunity. On January 16th, SECAF will host 3 former CIO level leaders joining us to discuss how small and emerging businesses can learn potential new strategies to pursue business with the federal government. Coming from the other side of the table into industry, these individuals bring years of federal service experience and are coming to SECAF to share their wisdom, experience, and some new insight on how our membership can achieve success in this challenging, lowest price, highly competitive marketplace.

Event Sponsor - Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

December 15, 2011

SECAF Holiday Party (Members Only)

Please join us again this year to celebrate our successes and look forward to a new year of progress and opportunity.

December 6, 2011

SECAF Education Forum: Indirect Rates for Government Contractors

At this session Paul Roche will discuss his experience in designing indirect pool structures for success in the marketplace and with comforting Government auditors. Specifically, Paul will answer from his experience questions such as:

How does the rate process/cycle work?
How many overhead pools should I have?
What should my indirect rates be?
What is a “wrap” rate and what should it be?
When, how, and why should I implement a Subcontractor & Material Handling rate?
How do I set rates for more than one year?
When would I set up forward pricing rates?

Please come prepared with questions.

November 10, 2011

Executive Briefing: Programs and Resources at OPM and DOC

Participants will hear from the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Commerce's CommerceConnect.

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn about resources for advancing their business.

Featuring: Matthew Falls, Department of Commerce's CommerceConnect and Dana Taylor, Deputy Director, Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization & Policy, Office of Personnel Management

Event Sponsor: Argy

October 4, 2011

Executive Briefing: On & Off Ramps in Government Contracting

With more and more agencies looking to use in-place contracts for IT project tasking, getting the opportunity to do business can be a daunting process. Bill Walter, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, will present the process and identify key contracts small businesses should be tracking. IDIQs, BPAs and to-be-awarded contracts will be discussed at this must attend session.

September 8, 2011

Executive Briefing: Opportunity Landscape for Government

SECAF presents a powerful panel discussion for the government contracting community. Participants will learn from the region's top analysts about what they think the coming year holds for government contractors.

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn where the opportunities are and how to engage them.

Featuring: Paul Murphy, Bloomberg and Kevin Plexico, Deltek Input
Moderator: Fran Craig, CEO, Unanet Technologies

June 8, 2011

Optimizing SECAF Membership & Member Appreciation Social (Members Only)

Topics include:

Connect with SECAF Board members in a more intimate setting.
Learn which committee may best address your needs.
Hear how other members have grown their business as a direct result of their SECAF membership.

June 7, 2011

Member Forum: Business Systems Made Easy (Members Only)

The session will discuss the ever-increasing importance of business systems in the Federal marketplace. Formerly only cost reimbursement contracts and large contractors needed to ensure business systems that satisfy the requirements of the DCAA audit. Today, the smallest contractor can be easily omitted from the competitive range or face a tremendous squeeze on cash flow if they fail to understand and ensure that their business systems are adequate for Government contracting.

The expert panel will discuss:

Contract type risks and how they impact business system requirements
What a business system is – and what a business system is not supposed to be
The current status of the draft DoD business system rule and how this may impact future contract awards and subsequent performance
Recent activities of DCAA and DCMA regarding responsibility for adequacy determinations
How to use your business system as an effective tool to help you run your business rather than simply letting Federal oversight “run your business”

The session will provide an opportunity for Q&A with the audience.

May 23, 2011

Member Forum: Key Legal and Strategic Issues for Growing Contractors (Members Only)

The panel will cover several key growth challenges facing today's growing contractor, including formulating effective growth strategy and current trends in government contracts law and a special opening “state of the market” introduction. This program will be led by Jones Day partners Andrew J. Sherman (SECAF co-founder and Board member) and Grant Willis.

May 12, 2011

Executive Briefing: Counterintelligence for American Business

This panel features Laurie A. Schive, Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships, Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (ONCIX) and Mischel Kwon, President, Mischel Kwon Associates.

In today's wired and global world, foreign intelligence services, criminals and private sector spies are increasingly focused on American companies. Their efforts compromise intellectual property, trade secrets and technological developments that are the key to both our national security and long-term economic prosperity.

April 12, 2011

Demystifying Earned Value for Government Contractors (Members Only)

The session will discuss the increasing importance of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) to government contractors. Formerly the realm or the largest DoD projects, EVMS is becoming a common requirement on smaller contracts for both Civilian and Defense Agencies.

The expert panel will discuss:

What contractors need to know about EVMS, how to respond to RFPs, and how to comply with contract requirements
When EVMS is appropriate to service type contracts
Earned Value – not just as a Federal contract requirement, but as a capability for your organization
New directions in Civilian Agencies such as Agile Development and EVM

The session will provide an opportunity for Q&A with the audience.

March 24, 2011

Executive Briefing: New from the SBA

This is a dynamic and informative SECAF event featuring a panel discussion by experts from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Presenters include: Bridget Bean, District Director, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office and David Loines, Area Director, Office of Government Contracting

What you will learn:

Update on the Women-Owned Small Business Contract Program
Update on the Small Business Jobs Act
Resources available to the small business owner through SBA

March 8, 2011

Educational Forum: Secrets of Success - Understanding Value Drivers in a Government Contractor

You will learn to focus on the metrics and value drivers that are important to be thinking about and tracking as you grow and plan long-term.

February 10, 2011

Doing Business with the Intelligence Community: What You Need to Know for 2011

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn about doing business in the Intelligence Community.

What you will learn:

How to utilize outreach programs
How to receive the necessary clearances to engage in classified discussions
How to market your business to agencies

January 13, 2011

Executive Briefing: SBIR - What You Need to Know from the Experts

At this panel presentation you will hear from experts from DARPA, USDA and the CIT.

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn about the SBIR programs and how they can position their business to participate.

Presenters include: Robert Brooke, Director of Federal Funding Programs at the Center for Innovative Technology, who will provide an overview of the program and describe the assistance CIT provides to Virginia based firms; Susan Nichols, SBIR/STTR Program Manager at DARPA, who will discuss DARPA’s programs and specific opportunities available; and Charles Cleland, PhD, National Program Leader, Division of Environmental Systems, USDA, who will talk about the portfolio of applied research and development projects supported by the SBIR program.

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