The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) currently provides monthly opportunities for small business vendors to meet with DHS procurement offices as well as various DHS contractors to learn about procurement opportunities and showcase their individual capabilities.
The 15-minute Vendor Outreach Sessions – held at the Homeland Security Acquisition Institute at 90 K. St. NE, Suite 1200, in Washington, DC – include participants from a variety of organizations and divisions, such as the DHS Office of Procurement Operations, Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard, FEMA, Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service and others. Sponsors of the program include the DHS Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and DHS small business specialists.
Registration for the July 20 session begins July 13 at 12 p.m. EDT. Participants must register using the DHS electronic appointment scheduling system. DHS recommends carefully following registration instructions. Vendors must register with the scheduling system before the day they register for a vendor outreach session. DHS notes that the sessions are open to all small businesses, but due to the popularity of the sessions, appointments typically fill up about three minutes after registration opens for a particular session.
DHS also notes the possibility of meetings with large business contractors “to discuss subcontracting opportunities, mentor-protégé relationships, teaming and other potential topics of mutual interest.”
Interested vendors should familiarize themselves with DHS business practices to prepare for sessions and are encouraged to review frequently asked questions, as well as the DHS Forecast of Contracting Opportunities and FedBizOpps.
