2020 Virtual Conference Program

Conference Tracks

Federal Government Procurement Opportunities
​Maryland Procurement Opportunities (State & Local)
Trending IT & Acquisition Strategies
GWACS (MACS and BICS)
Pathway to Growth

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 - Printable PDF
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Welcome, Plenary, Keynote Panel
Breakout Session: HHS, DHS, GSA
Breakout Session: Contracting Opportunities with the State of Maryland
Exhibitor Roundtable Networking
Lockheed Martin Reverse Mentoring
Breakout Session: CMMC: What Contractors Need to Know

Thursday, August 6, 2020 - Printable PDF
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Breakout Session: Trending IT & Acquisition Services: Center of Excellence
Breakout Session: DoD Panel
Breakout Session: Artificial Intelligence
Exhibitor Roundtable Networking
Breakout Session: Costing Strategies in a Low-Ball World: How Can You Beat the Competition at Their Own Game?
Breakout Session: NASA SEWP
Breakout Session: Using the New Simplified Acquisition Threshold to Your Advantage

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 - Printable PDF
click for more details, including session descriptions, speakers, and sponsors

Welcome, Montgomery County Procurement Information
Breakout Session: State and Metro Maryland Purchasing Panel
Breakout Session: CIO- SP4: Actions Now, Success Later
Breakout Session: GSA's Innovative Approach to Acquisitions
Exhibitor Roundtable Networking
Breakout Session: The Power of Pivot: What it Takes to Position a Business in the GovCon Space to Quickly and Effectively Adjust to Unexpected Circumstances
​Breakout Session: Montgomery County (Maryland) Agencies Panel

Thursday, August 13, 2020 - Printable PDF
click for more details, including session descriptions, speakers, and sponsors

1:1 Matchmaking
​Exclusive Event for Sponsors and Conference Stakeholders

Pathway to Growth Conference Sponsor

Event Sponsors

Conference Media Sponsor

For more on the 2020 Virtual Procurement Conference, please contact Melissa Leigh Childress.

Day 1: Wednesday, August 5 (8:00 am - 2:00 pm)

8:00 - 8:25 am - Welcome and Keynote
  • Georgette "Gigi" Godwin, President & CEO, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
  • The Honorable Chris Van Hollen, Honorary Procurement Conference Chair, U.S. Senate (Maryland)
  • Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Emily Murphy, Administrators, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Georgette "Gigi" Godwin
President & CEO
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
The Honorable Chris Van Hollen
Honorary Procurement Conference Chair
U.S. Senate (Maryland)
The Honorable Emily Murphy
Administrator
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Sponsored By
8:25 - 9:10 am​ - Keynote Panel
Moderator: Jon Williams, Partner, PilieroMazza PLLC

Panelists:
  • ​Mathew Blum, Associate Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy,  U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ​
  • Crystal Philcox, Associate Commissioner, Enterprise Strategy Management for Federal Acquisition Service, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
  • Francis Spampinato, Associate Administrator, Office of Government Contracting and Business Development,  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)​
Mathew Blum
Associate Administrator
Office of Federal Procurement Policy
U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Crystal Philcox
Associate Commissioner
​Enterprise Strategy Management for Federal Acquisition Service
​U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Francis Spampinato
Associate Administrator
Office of Government Contracting and Business Development
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Jon Williams
Partner
PilieroMazza PLLC
Sponsored By
9:10 - 9:15 am - Break
Sponsored By:
9:15 - 10:00 am - Breakout Session: HHS, DHS, GSA
This panel features current acquisition thought leaders within the federal government. They will provide you with insight into their agencies' acquisition priorities as well as new and upcoming procurement opportunities. You won't want to miss this opportunity to engage with these acquisition experts!
​Track: Federal Government Procurement Opportunities
Moderator: Keith Nakasone, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Acquisition Office of Information Technology Category (ITC), Federal Acquisition Services, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

Panelists:
  • Christopher Bennethum, Assistant Commissioner for Assisted Acquisition Services, GSA
  • Paul Courtney, Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • James E. Simpson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions (DAS-A), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)​
Christopher Bennethum
Assistant Commissioner for Assisted Acquisition Services
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Paul Courtney
Deputy Chief Procurement Officer
​U.S. Department of Homeland Security
James E. Simpson
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions (DAS-A)
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Keith Nakasone
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Acquisition Office of Information Technology Category (ITC)
​Federal Acquisition Services
U.S. General Services Administration
10:00 - 10:05 am - Break
10:05 - 10:50 am - Breakout Session: Contracting Opportunities with the State of Maryland
Learn about contracting opportunities with various agencies from the State of Maryland.
​Track: Maryland Procurement Opportunities (State & Local)
Moderator: Alison Tavik, Communications Director, Maryland Governor's Office of Small, Minority, And Women Business Affairs

Panelists:
  • ​​Dana Dembrow, Director of Procurement, Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
  • Tom Hickey, Director of Procurement, University System of Maryland
  • Danny Mays, Director of Procurement, Office of State Procurement, Department of General Services
Dana Dembrow
Director of Procurement
Maryland Department of Health
Tom Hickey
Director of Procurement
University System of Maryland
Danny Mays
Director of Procurement
Office of State Procurement
​Maryland Department of General Services
Alison Tavik
Communications Director
Maryland Governor's Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs
10:50 - 11:00 am - Break
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Exhibitor Roundtable Networking
Sponsored By:
12:00 - 12:15 pm - Break
Sponsored By:
12:15 - 1:15 pm​ - Lockheed Martin Reverse Mentoring
Reverse Mentoring will give companies insight into the vendor's experience. Get a snapshot of doing business with Lockheed Martin, who they are, what they value, and how to most effectively communicate with them!
Sponsored By:
Guest Speaker: Pasquale (Pat) DeSanto, Corporate Supplier Diversity Manager and Certified Supplier Diversity Professional, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Pasquale (Pat) DeSanto
Corporate Supplier Diversity Manager and Certified Supplier Diversity Professional
Lockheed Martin Corporation
1:15 - 2:00 pm​ - Breakout Session: CMMC: What Contractors Need to Know
​Sponsored By:
This panel presentation will provide an overview of DoD's upcoming Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). CMMC will eventually be required for all DoD contractors and may be expanded for civilian agencies as well. As such, CMMC represents a significant change in how contractors will do business with the federal government, in particular with DoD. Cybersecurity is fast becoming much more than a compliance issue - it is also a critical means to gain (or not lose) a competitive advantage in the market for federal contractors. 

This panel will feature representatives from a large contractor (CACI International, Inc.) and a small contractor (X-Energy) who will share their understandings and experiences in preparing for CMMC and in tackling the existing federal cybersecurity requirements. The panel will also include a cybersecurity firm, SysArc, to help contractors understand what they can and should be doing now to prepare for CMMC.
​​
Track: Trending IT & Acquisition Strategies
Moderator: Jon Williams, Partner, PilieroMazza PLLC

Panelists:
  • ​Tim Brennan, CEO, SysArc
  • Kim Lester, Director, Contracts, Procurement, and IT, X-Energy 
  • Joanna Patterson, Director, CACI International, Inc.
Tim Brennan
CEO
SysArc
Kim Lester
Director
Contracts, Procurement, and IT
X-Energy
Joanna Patterson
Director
CACI International, Inc.
Jon Williams
Partner
PilieroMazza PLLC

Day 2: Thursday, August 6 (8:00 am - 2:20 pm)

8:00 - 8:45 am - Breakout Session: Trending IT & Acquisition Services: Center of Excellence
​The United States Department of Health and Human Services embarked on a journey to modernize the way it delivers healthcare and support services. The ReImagine Initiative was created to identify, pilot, and scale-out groundbreaking ideas. Hear from the innovators who are leading and modernizing the acquisition, grants, and public health processes using emerging technologies. Learn about what's next and how it will impact the federal government and industry.
Track: Trending IT & Acquisition Strategies
Moderator: David Nguyen, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, United Solutions

Panelists:
  • Charles Keckler, Associate Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS)
  • Oki Mek, Senior Advisor to HHS CIO, HHS ReImagine, HHS
  • Mike Peckham, CFO, Program Support Center (PSC), HHS
Charles Keckler
Associate Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Oki Mek
Senior Advisor to HHS CIO, HHS ReImagine
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Mike Peckham
CFO
Program Support Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
David Nguyen
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
United Solutions
8:45 - 8:50 am - Break
Sponsored By:
8:50 - 9:35 am - Breakout Session: DoD Panel
​This breakout session will provide updates on the Department of Defense Small Business Program's processes and policies, including how to better situate small businesses to do business with the DoD.
Track: Federal Government Procurement Opportunities
Moderator: Pamela L. Monroe, Assistant to the Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of Army

Panelists:
  • Kimberly Buehler, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of Army
  • Carlen Capenos, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) 
  • Joseph M. McWilliams, Director, Office of Small Business Program U.S. Air Force
  • Jimmy Smith, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Navy
Kimberly Buehler
Director
Office of Small Business Programs
U.S. Department of Army
Carlen Capenos
Director
Office of Small Business Programs
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) ​
Jimmy Smith
Director
Office of Small Business Programs
U.S. Navy
Pamela L. Monroe
Assistant to the Director
Office of Small Business Programs
U.S. Department of Army
9:35 - 9:45 am - Break
9:45 - 10:30 am - Breakout Session: Artificial Intelligence
​Artificial intelligence (AI) has already begun to reshape and accelerate government. Hear from these distinguished panelists on what the federal government and industry are doing with AI, machine learning, deep learning, and robotic process automation. Learn from these experts about what they expect to see in the future.
Track: Trending IT & Acquisition Strategies
  • Steve Babitch, Head of Artificial Intelligence Portfolio, U.S. Technology Transformation Services
  • Omar E. Bouaichi, Data Technology Director, Office of Enterprise Data & Technology Solutions, Ginnie Mae
Steve Babitch
Head of Artificial Intelligence Portfolio
U.S. Technology Transformation Services
Omar Bouaichi
Data Technology Director
​Office of Enterprise Data & Technology Solutions
Ginnie Mae
10:30 - 10:35 am - Break
10:35 - 11:35 am - Exhibitor Roundtable Networking
Sponsored By:
11:35 - 11:50 am - Break
11:50 am - 12:35 pm - Breakout Session: Costing Strategies in a Low-Ball World: How Can You Beat the Competition at Their Own Game?
​This session will cover the following topics:
  • The trade-off between value and price
  • Understanding the best value continuum in proposal evaluation
  • Key differences between LPTA and best value
  • Business strategies and capture
  • Technical proposal strategies
  • Types of cost
  • Cost realism, cost volume completeness, and cost reasonableness
Track: Pathway to Growth
Guest Speaker:​ Olessia Smotrova, President, OST Global Solutions
Olessia Smotrova
President
OST Global Solutions
12:35 - 12:45 pm - Break
Sponsored By:
12:45 - 1:30 pm - Breakout Session: NASA SEWP
​NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) is a Best-in-Class Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) that simplifies the purchase of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment and services for Federal government agencies.

​NASA SEWP Program Director Joanne Woytek will explain who uses SEWP, what can be procured through SEWP, why SEWP is the industry’s fastest growing GWAC, and how you can get your products onto a SEWP Contract. 

Track: GWACS (MACS and BICS)
Guest Speaker:​ Joanne Woytek, NASA SEWP Program Manager, NASA
Joanne Woytek
NASA SEWP Program Manager
NASA
1:30 - 1:35 pm - Break
1:35 - 2:20 pm - Breakout Session: Using the New Simplified Acquisition Threshold to Your Advantage
The New Simplified Acquisition is a game-changer for informed small businesses in the federal marketplace. Now all acquisitions between $10,000 and $250,000 per transaction are automatically set-aside for small businesses provided that government decision-makers can find the small businesses who can actually perform the work or provide the products. This will amount to billions of dollars in revenues to those companies who can adapt and plan a proactive process to pursue those opportunities under $250,000 per transaction. Attendees will learn the steps to take advantage of this new change, the tools to use for success, and the decision-makers who can make these purchases. This session will provide a front-row glance at: ​
  • What is the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)?
  • What is the Micro Purchase Threshold (MPT)?
  • Why are both important to vendors?
  • Decision-makers using MPT and SAT
  • How to use both to your clients' advantage
  • ​Proactively marketing services and products using the SAT and MPT
​Track: Pathway to Growth
Guest Speaker:​ Gloria Larkin, President, TargetGov
Gloria Larkin
President
TargetGov

Day 3: Wednesday, August 12 (8:00 am - 1:45 pm)

8:00 - 8:15 am - Welcome and Montgomery County (Maryland) Procurement Info
  • The Honorable Marc Elrich, County Executive, Montgomery County
  • Ash Shetty, Chief Procurement Officer, Montgomery County
  • Benjamin H. Wu, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)​
The Honorable Marc Elrich
County Executive
Montgomery County, Maryland
Ash Shetty
Chief Procurement Officer
Montgomery County
Benjamin H. Wu
President and CEO
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
8:15 - 8:25 am - Break
8:25 - 9:10 am - Breakout Session: State and Metro Maryland Purchasing Panel
This session will offer conference attendees an opportunity to meet the Procurement Directors or Managers from the State of Maryland and local government. Panelists will provide insight into upcoming procurement opportunities for their jurisdictions and advise on how to help ensure that your bid is among those considered.
​Track: Maryland Procurement Opportunities (State & Local)
Moderator: Grace Denno, Chief, Division of Business Relations and Compliance, Montgomery County Office of Procurement

Panelists:
  • Pam Jones, Procurement Division Chief, Montgomery County Office of Procurement
  • Shawn Brooks, Operations Manager, Prince George's County Contract Administration and Procurement Division
  • Carla Tucker, Minority and Small Business Marketing Manager, Baltimore County Purchasing Division
  • Mahesh Sabnani, Equal Business Opportunity Program Coordinator, Howard County Government Office of Purchasing
Pam Jones
Procurement Division Chief
Montgomery County Office of Procurement
Shawn Brooks
Operations Manager
Prince George's County
​Contract Administration and Procurement Division
Carla Tucker
Minority and Small Business Marketing Manager
Baltimore County Purchasing Division
Mahesh Sabnani
Equal Business Opportunity Program Coordinator
Howard County Government
Office of Purchasing
Grace Denno
Division Chief
Division of Business Relations and Compliance
Montgomery County Office of Procurement
9:10 - 9:20 am - Break
9:20 - 10:05 am - Breakout Session: CIO-SP4: Actions Now, Success Later
NIH's CIO-SP4 is one of the most significant procurements for small and large government contractors this year. Ahead of the Fall 2020 RFP release, NIH issued a draft RFP in May identifying required elements and probable scoring components. Contractors need to take actions now to improve their proposal scoring! Join industry experts sharing tips on how contractors can use draft RFP knowledge to win one of these coveted slots. The presentation will specifically address: 
  • Minimum technical area requirements
  • The critical role of teaming agreements for smaller contractors
  • Go/No Go evaluation criteria - adequate accounting system
  • Maximizing self-scoring
​Track: GWACS (MACS and BICS)
Guest Speakers:
  • Donna Dominguez, Partner, Aronson LLC
  • Tom Marcinko, Principal Consultant, Aronson LLC
Donna Dominguez
Partner
Aronson LLC
Tom Marcinko
Principal Consultant
Aronson LLC
10:05 - 10:50 am - Breakout Session: GSA's Innovative Approach to Acquisitions
This panel will provide recent strategic changes and updates to the Multiple Award Schedule Program, Phase 3, as well as updates to the IT Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts. This information will be great for industry partners and the government acquisition workforce. 
Track: Trending IT & Acquisition Strategies
Moderator: Keith Nakasone, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Acquisition Office of Information Technology Category (ITC), Federal Acquisition Services, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

​Panelists:
  • Paul Martin, Director, Office of IT (Non-MAS) Acquisition Operations, U.S. General Services Administration
  • Stephanie Shutt, MAS PMO Director, GSA​
Paul Martin
Director
​Office of IT (Non-MAS) Acquisition Operations
U.S. General Services Administration
Stephanie Shutt
MAS PMO Director
U.S. General Services Administration
10:50 - 10:55 am - Break
10:55 - 11:55 am - Exhibitor Roundtable Networking
11:55 am - 12:10 pm - Break
Sponsored By:
12:10 - 12:55 pm - Breakout Session: The Power of Pivot: What it Takes to Position a Business in the GovCon Space to Quickly and Effectively Adjust to Unexpected Circumstances
Given the incredible impact that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have on businesses nationally and internationally, this session will explore what it takes for leadership to position a business in the GovCon space to be able to quickly and effectively adjust (pivot) to meet market demands under unexpected circumstances.
​Track: Pathway to Growth
Moderator: Hope Lane, Partner, Aronson LLC

Panelists:
  • Antonio Doss, District Director, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • Lisa Firestone, President and Owner, Managed Care Advisors
  • Pamela L. Monroe​, Assistant to the Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of Army
  • Paul Murphy, Senior Data Analyst, Bloomberg Government
  • Wayne Pizer, Executive Director of Small Business, CACI International, Inc.
Antonio Doss
District Director
Washington Metropolitan District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
Lisa Firestone
President and Owner
Managed Care Advisors
Pamela L. Monroe
Assistant to the Director
Office of Small Business Programs
U.S. Department of Army
Paul Murphy
Senior Data Analyst
​Bloomberg Government
Wayne Pizer
Executive Director of Small Business
CACI International​, Inc.
Hope Lane
Partner
Aronson LLC
12:55 - 1:00 pm - Break
Sponsored By:
1:00 - 1:45 pm - Breakout Session: Montgomery County (Maryland) Agencies Panel
This session will offer conference attendees an opportunity to meet the Procurement Directors or Managers of Montgomery County, Maryland Agencies. Panelists will identify upcoming opportunities and offer best practices to win contracts with their agencies.​ 
​Track: Maryland Procurement Opportunities (State & Local)
Moderator: Grace Denno, Chief, Division of Business Relations and Compliance, Office of Procurement, Montgomery County, Maryland

Panelists:
  • Angela McIntosh-Davis, Team Leader, Procurement Unit, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
  • Tracey Edwards, Supplier Diversity Program Manager, WSSC Water
  • Patrick Johnson, Director of Procurement, Montgomery College
  • Jessica Lewis, Director of Procurement, City of Rockville
Angela McIntosh-Davis
Team Leader, Procurement Unit
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Tracey Edwards
Supplier Diversity Program Manager
WSSC Water
Patrick Johnson
Director of Procurement
Montgomery College
Jessica Lewis
Director of Procurement
City of Rockville
Grace Denno
Division Chief
Division of Business Relations and Compliance
Montgomery County Office of Procurement

Day 4: Thursday, August 13, 2020

8:00 - 11:00 am

8:00 - 10:00 am - 1:1 Matchmaking
10:00 - 10:10 am - Break
10:10 - 11:00 am - Exclusive Gathering for Conference Sponsors and Stakeholders

2020 Procurement Conference Steering Committee

HONORARY CHAIR:
​U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Maryland

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Anthony Briggs
Small Business Program Manager
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Antonio Doss 
District Director, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office
United Solutions LLC
David Nguyen
Founder & CEO
PilieroMazza PLLC
Jon Williams
Partner
Managed Care Advisors
Lisa Firestone
President & CEO
U.S. Department of Army
Pamela L. Monroe
Assistant to the Director
Office of Small Business Programs
Subcontracting and Native American Program Manager
Office of the Secretary of the Army
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Pasquale (Pat) DeSanto
Corporate Supplier Diversity Program Manager and Certified Supplier Diversity Professional
​​U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Keith Nakasone
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, IT Acquisition
Federal Acquisition Service (FAS)
Bloomberg Government
Paul Murphy
Senior Data Analyst
​Aronson LLC
Hope Lane
Partner
​Aronson LLC
Vanessa Wilson 
Managing Consultant
CACI International Inc. 
Wayne Pizer
Executive Director, Small Business
Office of Procurement, Montgomery County
Bethany Manimbo
Marketing Outreach Manager
Office of Procurement, Montgomery County
Grace Denno
Chief, Division of Business Relations and Compliance