9/20/2022 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM (EDT)
Free
Online Meeting (Live)
A Virginia PTAC Organized or a Sponsored event, Government Contracting, Intermediate Level, Market Research and Business Development, Marketing/Sales, Selling to Government, Set Aside Certifications and Designations, Small Disadvantaged Business Program – 8(a)
Many companies fill out piles of paperwork to apply for the 8(a) program, but a few years into the program feel that they are not getting quite the payoff they had expected. The program has many benefits, but targeting sole-source contracts may seem like searching for a needle in a haystack. Additionally, preparing for an 8(a) set aside competition requires a deliberate strategy that may involve enticing the incumbent to join your team. Opportunities rarely leave the 8(a) program once entered. The answer is not only how to identify the 8(a) opportunities in advance, but how to navigate the challenges of knowing which opportunity is real, what graduating companies may be looking for a successor to take over the role of the prime contractor, and how to get in front of the right decision-makers in the Government and industry. This session focuses on developing a cohesive strategy to get the most from your 8(a) designation and develop an opportunities pipeline in the 8(a) program.
Olessia Smotrova, CF.APMP Fellow, president, and CEO of OST Global Solutions, Inc. (www.ostglobalsolutions.com – home of the GovCon Incubator and Bid & Proposal Academy), has more than 20 years of experience in business development, communications, and marketing, including more than 15 years in contract capture and proposal management. She led winning bids for four out of five top Government contractors, winning more than $20 billion throughout her career. She is the author of the book How to Get Government Contracts: Have a Slice of $1 Trillion Pie. She also consults and teaches others how to get contracts with the Government and large commercial organizations, as well as developing processes, tools, and Bid & Proposal Academy courses that enhance business developers’ abilities to win business. She has taught a graduate course at the Stevens Institute of Technology and provided training to Treasury and NASA. She has served for two years as the President of the National Contracts Management Association (NCMA) Bethesda/Medical Chapter and for two years as the President of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) National Capital Area Chapter. She is recognized as an APMP Fellow for her contributions to the field of capture and proposals – the highest honor in the business development profession. Before supporting hundreds of Fortune 500 companies and small businesses as a proposal consultant and growing OST, she worked as a business developer for Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and wrote for the Financial Times of London.
David Huff, Partner, is the Vice President of OST Global Solutions, Inc. (www.ostglobalsolutions.com – home of the GovCon Incubator and Bid & Proposal Academy). Dave brings more than 15 years of Government business development and military experience. As an OST Partner, he oversees business development and operations. As a capture and proposal manager, he has developed over 200 multimillion and multibillion-dollar Government and commercial proposals. He teaches at OST’s Bid & Proposal Academy public courses and custom training to industry and Government organizations.
Dave has presented as a speaker at NCMA, APMP, and other associations’ events. His skills span proposal management, orals coaching, business development, capture, technical writing, editing, graphics development, and desktop publishing. He is an Army veteran that served with the 82nd Airborne Division during two tours to Afghanistan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration in Economics and Public Policy from the George Washington University School of Business, Washington, D.C.
Webinar information will be sent to registrants before the class and will be conducted via GoToWebinar (GTW). After registration is complete, your email confirmation will contain the GTW link. You MUST register your name and email and receive the login information and calendar invite before you can join the webinar.
By registering for this training event, you consent to have your name and contact information, along with your registration and attendance status, shared with the instructor. Instructors do not have access to other confidential client information and often simply use it to send follow-up class materials. As in-kind donors, each instructor has agreed not to use information in any way contrary to the interests of Virginia PTAC, its sponsors, grantors, or clients (you), including but not limited to unauthorized marketing and sales. If you have questions or concerns, please email ptac@gmu.edu to discuss this with the host of this training, or do not register for this session.
