ARLINGTON, Va.—Growing a company in today’s market environment is no simple feat, particularly for small businesses vying for success in the federal sector.
To open new pathways to partnership, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) will join with entrepreneurs, start-ups and other emerging entities Aug. 6-8 at the 24th annual Navy Gold Coast Small Business Conference at the San Diego Convention Center.
“Many small businesses have great new technologies and concepts, but they don’t know where to start,” said Brenda Pickett, director of ONR’s Office of Small Business Programs. Finding out that ONR is “an entry point for the Department of the Navy science and technology acquisition cycle is a real eye opener.”
The conference provides a forum for government agencies to engage small businesses on critical issues affecting them and best practices for succeeding in the federal sector. ONR team members will provide insight on the command’s contracts and acquisitions process. At the same time, ONR and conference attendees can explore research and technology concepts of mutual benefit.
ONR’s Office of Small Business Programs advises the underrepresented businesses community, providing access to the information needed to compete and participate in the federal acquisition process. The office targets disadvantaged, women-owned, service-disabled veteran- and veteran-owned businesses and those in historically underutilized business zones, as well as historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions.
More than 250 exhibitors are expected at this year’s event. Attendees can meet with ONR subject-matter experts in booth 117 and at the ONR Navy Commands Industry Day on Aug. 8, Room 31C, from 1:30-5 p.m.
The conference is hosted by the Navy Office of Small Business Programs and co-sponsored on a rotating basis among the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command and the U.S. Marine Corps.