Air Force Small Business Industry Days a Success
The Air Force held its third Small Business Industry Days (SBID) event in Macon, GA hosted by Air Force Sustainment Center last week (July 14-15, 2015). The event was attended by over 240 small business POCs, Major Defense Contractors, Air Force technical personnel, and OEMs. The purpose of the event is to transform how the Air Force works with small business and to provide benefit to both the Air Force and small businesses alike by creating partnerships and increasing participation in the Air Force acquisition process, oftentimes a difficult chore. Briefings were given by several keynote speakers including Richard Lombardi, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Anthony Bauman, Director of Contracting, Air Force Sustainment Center, and Jim Sweeney, Air Force SBIR/STTR Commercialization Program Manager. Air Force representatives outlined their needs to the audience and several small businesses presented briefs highlighting their capabilities, new technologies, products and services, which typically responded directly to those needs. There were 25 exhibits with the majority from small businesses, many with new technologies from additive manufacturing to advanced wiring testers capable of identifying “no-defect found” defects.
Frank Zahiri, Warner Robins ALC Technology Development and Insertion Office, and
Jim Sweeney, Air Force SBIR/STTR Commercialization Program Manager
A unique feature at the event was a series of Strategic One-on-One sessions that allowed technology providers to meet with Air Force representatives and discuss upcoming business opportunities and their capabilities directly. The meetings (initially by invitation only) were held in a closed door, but casual setting for 30-60 minutes each allowing plenty of time for interaction and discussion on upcoming opportunities to become a prime contractor and/or next steps to promote their technology through a SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation/Small Business Technology Transfer) project with government funding. Including additional onsite One-on-Ones, there were a total of 50 sessions that took place between small businesses and the Air Force and Major Defense Contractors. Another SBID is planned at the Space and Missile Systems Center at the Los Angeles Air Force Base in the spring of 2016. All NCMS small business member companies are encouraged to attend. Watch for details in an upcoming CTMA Connector.