Tips on networking for small federal contractors

by Tom Johnson, publisher, Set-Aside Alert

Government contracting is an intense business. Proposal due dates are tight. Arcanely-written specifications must be met. Deliverables must be on time. Payments never are. Claims documentation is a nightmare. But, the rewards are great, so how to make it less stressful?

Get out and meet other executives and learn from the broader community.

Regardless of the problem you are facing, others have met and overcome it in the past. And rubbing elbows with those people can transfer knowledge and experience, and create that “a-ha” moment when you realize the path to success, or get that partner or introduction you need to fill a hole in your team’s capabilities.

Here is a partial list of contractor membership organizations that you can join that provide numerous opportunities to network and learn from your colleagues.

National Organizations

Perhaps the most widely dispersed national organization with local programs is the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which has established chapters in virtually every city with a significant federal presence. The monthly meetings and occasional industry days sponsored by these chapters provide double value: networking with federally-focused business executives and agency contracting and program officials, who frequently participate in the events and hold chapter offices.

AFCEA – the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association – has a large national presence, with many local chapters hosting events.

Another national group with broad reach of chapters across the country is the Society of American Military Engineers, focused on work and opportunities in construction and environmental contracting, primarily with the Army Corps of Engineers. Chapters host small business conferences, industry days and luncheons with key program and local command officials.

Others are:

• ACT-IAC (American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council);
• Associated General Contractors;
• Coalition for Government Procurement (CGP);
• NDIA (National Defense Industrial Association);
• Professional Services Council (PSC);
• and TechAmerica.

Set-Aside Community

The set-aside community is well-represented through a number of national organizations.

For example, the National 8(a) Association conducts two annual conferences and numerous networking opportunities.

The Minority Business RoundTable produces an annual CEO Summit in Washington, with events in Congressional committee hearing rooms and the White House. The summit sells out early. MBRT also produces monthly luncheons with federal speakers and state-level events as well.

The National Veteran Small Business Coalition hosts an annual training and networking meeting with hundreds of veteran business owners from across the country.

The HUBZone Contractors National Council conducts regional meetings around the country, and an annual training conference in September.

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) is active in hosting training, networking and advocacy events related to women-owned small businesses in federal contracting.

Other membership groups that support federal contracting include:

• Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce;
• Association of Latino Professionals in Finance & Accounting (ALPFA);
• Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce;
• Native American Contractors Association;
• National Association of Minority Contractors;
• National Association of Women Business Owners;
• National Black Chamber of Commerce;
• National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development;
• and National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Regional Groups

In addition to national organizations, there are many local and regional membership groups for networking among small federal contractors.

In the Washington, DC region, these include:

• AFCEA-Bethesda;
• BASE Businesss Initiative (Fort Meade, MD);
• Montgomery County (MD) Chamber of Commerce;
• Northern Virginia Technology Council;
• and Small Business Roundtable at Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

What similar organizations are at work in your community? Please let us know. You may email me at tjohnson@setasidealert.com.

Conclusion

Get away from the office every once in a while and participate with one or more of these groups. It will clear your head, ease your way to some new approaches to doing business, and provide connections to agency program directors and potential teaming/subcontracting partners with the past performance and contracting experience to fill those pesky voids in your own team.

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Column: Tips on networking for small federal contractors

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