Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. – Members of the Hanscom Small Business Office recently provided insights and resources to local business leaders.
Here Jeff Emmons, director of the Small Business Program, joined members of the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Massachusetts Procurement Technical Assistance Center for a virtual panel meeting of the Hanscom Representative Association. Experts discussed the importance of market research, innovative contract strategies for procurement professionals, related changes in small business legislation, and a variety of other topics.
Emmons believes that market research is one of the most important elements in acquisition and contract planning. He encourages program managers and contract officers to engage early and often with his office and industry partners through requests for information, industry days, draft requests for proposals, and one-on-one meetings. Emmons also discusses the importance of sharing event notifications and timelines to maximize industry awareness and engagement with each acquisition.
“In order for the government to understand what capabilities and cutting-edge technologies exist in the commercial market that can meet or even exceed our requirements, it is important to work with industry,” he said. “We should share as much information and notification as possible so that industry can cooperate and prepare necessary to provide us with acceptable advice on the best possible solution for the Air Force.”
Andrea Panagoulias, a small business expert and deputy director of the Small Business Program, recognized the impact the group could have in fostering relationships between the Air Force and potential commercial partners.
“Our office appreciates this forum provided by HRA because it allows us to reach not only small businesses in our local community, but also large businesses looking to partner with small businesses,” she said. “That’s something we’re excited about.”
Brian Booth, Professional Services Consultant in GSA’s Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories, provided details on OASIS+, a new GSA unlimited, indefinite delivery contract option. According to Booth, OASIS+ will soon replace the current DoD OASIS contract, providing additional resources for non-traditional businesses entering the federal stage. An Exposure Draft is expected to be published for comment in the near future.
Another highlight of the event, Panagoulias said, was an update on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR programme).
“The SBIR/STTR program is re-authorized for the next three years, which is a big deal, as this is a strategy that Hanscom program office staff often use as it helps support many of their goals, such as innovation and supporting small business,” she said.
For non-traditional and small businesses entering the federal or state stage for the first time, a briefing by procurement specialist Stanley Grip of the Massachusetts Procurement Technical Assistance Center provides audiences with a snapshot of the services available to small businesses, said Emmons.
Khanh Nguyen, representative of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Regional Procurement Center, details the impact legislation, such as the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, will have on large and small businesses.
To contact the Hanscom Small Business Program Office, please email Emmons at jeffery.emmons.1@us.af.mil or email Panagoulias at andrea.panagoulias@us.af.mil.
Major General Anthony Genatempo, program executive for command, control, communications, intelligence and cyber, and PEO Digital’s Steven Wert both recently met with HRA.
To read Genatempo’s discussion of enterprise capabilities, Joint All-Domain Command and Control, or JADC2, and more, click here. To read Wert’s updates on the E-7 Wedgetail and more, click here.
The HRA brings together representatives from small, large and start-up businesses in the Hanscom region to encourage collaboration in the acquisition process. For more information about the organization, visit hanscom-reps.org.