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The SBA and other agencies have set a goal of awarding 23% of all federal government contracts to small businesses. In 2022, the Biden Administration increased the Small-Disadvantaged Business goal from 5% to 11% in hopes of encouraging small businesses to do business with the federal government. In 2020, that equated to $145 billion dollars awarded according to the SBA, exceeding their goal of 23%.
2023 is a great year for small and medium businesses to engage with the federal government. Larger prime contractors are seeking suppliers and subcontractors to help with their larger contracts.
In this 1.5-day Forum, we will discuss a number of topics that will help answer questions and make navigation of federal contracting less daunting for a small or medium business.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Ms, Debbra Caw, Deputy Director, Defense Contract Audit Agency
Ms. Debbra M. Caw, a member of the Senior Executive Service since June 2015, assumed the position of Deputy Director, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) in January 2023. She is responsible for assisting the Director, DCAA in leading the Agency's over 4,000 personnel as they execute the Agency's worldwide operations and managing an annual operating budget of approximately $650 million.
2023 Small & Medium Business Forum on Federal Government Contracting
Day 1
9:00 - 9:50 a.m.
Keynote Address
Debbra Caw, Deputy Director, DCAA
9:50 - 10:00 a.m.
Break
10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
2023 Growth Opportunities for the Federal Market
Kevin Plexico, SVP Info Solutions, Deltek
While not without its challenges, in FY 2023, the federal contracting market is vibrant and healthy with an increased focus on enabling opportunities for small businesses to compete and for record levels of contracting. Join Kevin Plexico, Deltek’s Senior Vice President of Information Solutions, to hear his perspectives on the opportunities in the federal contracting market and get advice to help future-proof your company to help set it up for success in 2023 and beyond. Kevin will focus on 3 main topics:
- The state and funding outlook of the Government Contracting Market
- Ten major trends impacting high growth small Government Contractors
- Small business policy trends and Initiatives
This session will help you gain insight into market and economic challenges to tee your business up for success in 2023 and beyond!
10:45 a.m.
Break
11:00AM - 12:00 p.m.
How to Have a Successful Relationship with the DCAA
Patrick Fitzgerald, Managing Director & Drew Lewis, Director, Baker Tilly
Amanda Cline, Small Business Program Manager, Defense Contract Audit Agency
This session will continue the discussion started at last year’s conference in the session “Becoming a Blip on DCAA’s Radar Screen” and build on this year’s Keynote address from DCAA’s Deputy Director. During this session, the panel will:
- Examine the DCAA’s recent initiatives and its expectations for growing companies regarding their compliance and audit requirements.
- Explore the triggers for increased government compliance for growing businesses and how best to comply.
- Discuss the most significant compliance topics and emerging issues that many growing companies are either dealing with or will likely face in the near future.
The panel presenters will offer their perspectives and prognostications on these emerging issues and some practical solutions and best-in-class practices to help the small and medium business community achieve mission success.
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Accounting and Tax Considerations for Small and Medium Government Contractors
Nick Goodman, Partner and Dan Gillen, Partner, Baker Tilly;
Accounting rules under U.S. GAAP and tax considerations can be complex, especially for growing businesses in the government contracting space. During this session, Baker Tilly professionals will provide a financial accounting update focused on the most pressing U.S. GAAP rule changes affecting government contractors and address income tax changes and considerations impacting your business. The panel will discuss relevant hot topics such as:
- Revenue recognition challenges and the impact by type of contract
- ASC 842, Leases – What we know now
- U.S. GAAP Update
- Business Combinations (Topic 805) & Intangibles (Topic 350)
- Share-based Compensation (ASU 2021-07)
- Upcoming financial statement audit areas (SAS 143 and SAS 145)
- State & Local Pass-through Entity Level Tax
- Section 41 / Research and Development Credit Overview
- Accounting Methods for Small Businesses
- State and Local Tax Considerations
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CMMC as a Differentiator for Small and Medium Businesses
Matt Gilbert, Partner, Baker Tilly
In the past few years, focus on cyber has been a priority for the federal government and its agencies, especially agencies with critical infrastructure vulnerable to cyber-attacks. CMMC has had its issues in implementation but is still moving forward. With this session, we hope to make the business case for why investing in cybersecurity and CMMC can be part of a strategy for growing your business. We will also cover the updated CMMC timeline, expected NIST 800-171 changes, and other relevant topics to understand as your build or refine your cybersecurity plans to maximize future opportunities.
3:00 -4:00 p.m.
Why a Comprehensive ERP Solution is Important for Small and Medium Businesses
Tara Cannon, Deltek
Leveraging opportunities to gain a competitive edge in your project-based business could make the difference between surviving and thriving in Government Contracting. It’s imperative to have a strong strategy in place to move the needle. Join this session to get the best practices, tools, and resources needed for continued success. Learn how high-performing small businesses are taking control of what they can in a volatile market to propel their business. Steps like strengthening communication and collaboration to streamline project management and investing in the appropriate tools to improve processes across the project lifecycle.
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The Regulatory Panel – Rules, Relevancy & Requirements
Derek Boyd, Partner, Baker Tilly, and Matthew Haws & Carla Weiss, Partners, Jenner & Block
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provides contractors with significant regulatory guidance and clauses to comply with. At the same time, understanding and implementing Executive Orders (EOs) and the continuously proposed and new changes to guidance, regulations, and programs impacting federal contractors can be complicated, daunting, and risky if not properly incorporated into running the business. During this session, our panel of legal and compliance experts will help decipher some of the most critical issues in the FAR and discuss the latest EOs and program changes every business should know.
Day 2
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Market Update PSC Council – Discussion on Policy and Appropriations
Stephanie Kostro, Executive Vice President of Policy, Professional Services Council
This session will highlight U.S. Government spending and policy trends, including impacts of inflation, the war in Ukraine, and funding uncertainties that extend into the Government’s fiscal year 2024 and beyond. Which agencies have seen the most (and least) growth in contracts? How will the Fiscal Responsibility Act (debt limit) implementation affect spending? How is the Biden-Harris Administration connecting policy goals and contracts?
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Working with the Defense Contract Management Agency for the First Time
Krista Larson, Corporate Administrative Contracting Officer, Defense Contract Management Agency; D.J. Halpaus, Sr Manager, Baker Tilly.
This session will provide small and medium-sized federal contractors, especially compliance and contract professionals, with insight to working with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and Administrative Contracting Officers (ACOs). As federal contractors grow their business with the Department of Defense (DOD), the progression from engaging with only the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) will shift to working more with an ACO at DCMA. This change in oversight can be confusing and difficult for an organization as it tries to understand how and when it should interact with each agency.
During this session, D.J., who worked for DCMA for over 12 years, will share his experience working with small and medium businesses during this transition. Krista, a current contracting officer with DCMA, will provide an overview of DCMA, including who they are, what they do, and how they work with DCAA to provide contract management for DoD. Both D.J. and Krista will discuss and provide their perspectives on how to build relationships with contracting officers and their teams, minimize confusion, and help companies thrive through this transition so that contractors can continue to deliver world-class products and services.
11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Best Practices for Working with Large Prime Contractors
Stephen Bozarth, Manager, Baker Tilly; Mike Davis, Sr. Manager – Supply Chain, Ball Aerospace
This session will look in-depth at the relationship between small and mid-sized subcontractors and their larger prime counterparts. The panel will examine the following:
- Key Stakeholders: Who they are, what are their roles, what motivates them
- Relationship Management: How to foster healthy long-term relationships with your prime customers and common pitfalls to avoid
- Balance of Power Dynamics: What are the common points of leverage for small to mid-sized firms, how can these be exercised, and when should they be exercised
- Attention to Details: Operate on their level by making sense of solicitation details, SOWs, contracts, and various supplemental data requests
The panel presenters have a procurement, supply chain, estimating, and business development background. With years of experience working for large prime contractors and small to mid-sized subcontractors, their stories and perspective will provide insight into best practices and relationship management.
12:15 -12:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
