This is a national conference fostering business partnership between the Federal Government, its prime contractors and small, minority, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone and women-owned businesses. GPC is the largest and longest-running conference for small businesses looking to do business with the government and its prime contractors. This unique one-day event attracts participants from all over the United States including:
A wide variety of government attendees representing Federal, State and Local agencies
Prime Contractors with teaming and mentor-protégé opportunities
Hundreds of small businesses offering products and services from numerous industries
SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE FOR GOVBRIEF USERS: “GPC50off” for $50 off
Online registration starting 2/1/2023
$300.00 per person
Late registration starting at 4PM EST on 4/18/2023
$350.00 per person
Government Attendee (must have .gov or .mil email)
NO CHARGE
What is included in the attendee registration fee?
Access to seminars
Access to exhibit hall – mix of small businesses, prime contractors, and approximately 100 government booths
Opportunity to participate in Matchmaking appointments while space is available
Conference materials – conference program with contact information and tote bag
Please note: In an effort to give our participants more choices, lunch is not included in the registration fee. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center has the following food outlets available in the food court: Annie Anne’s Pretzels, Wings Over DC, Bone Doctors Barbecue Grill and Freschetta Pizzeria. In addition, there are countless eateries in the area within walking distance.
Agenda
To view the 2023 Agenda please click the link below
Venue
The 32nd Annual Government Procurement Conference (GPC) will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center located at 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW Washington, DC. As one of the country’s most accessible cities, Washington is surrounded by three major airports, Amtrak and a first-rate subway system, METRO. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is located between 7th and 9th Streets and N Street and Mt. Vernon Place in downtown DC, right across from Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square.
Procurement Matchmaking
Matchmaking confirmations will begin in February 2023
Procurement Matchmaking will be offered as a value-added opportunity to meet with buyers in special, pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with participating buyers during the conference. This portion of the event is limited in availability and is offered to small business participants registered for the overall conference on a first-come, first-served basis. Procurement Matchmaking “matches” small company “sellers” with participating “buyers” represented by government agencies and large business prime contractors. These buyers and sellers will convene for a series of one-on-one meetings that will occur throughout the event in a special Matchmaking meeting room. Registration and scheduling for matchmaking are by company. Multiple participants from the same company share the matchmaking schedule and can attend meetings together.
Please add gpconference@procurementmatchmaking.com to be accepted by your email inbox to ensure you receive updates for Matchmaking.
How Does Matchmaking Work? How Do I Participate?
Register for the Conference—In order to participate in Procurement Matchmaking, each person must first register for the conference by completing the Attendee or Exhibitor Registration Form and electing to participate in Procurement Matchmaking. Registration for the Procurement Matchmaking program will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 300 companies that register for the overall conference, have a DUNS number or SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI), and select participation in Procurement Matchmaking. Last year’s conference had hundreds of companies waitlisted for matchmaking so don’t delay in registering early.
Receive Procurement Matchmaking Confirmation Email—Upon completion and verification of your registration in the Government Procurement Conference and Procurement Matchmaking, you will receive an email confirming your position in the Procurement Matchmaking event once the matchmaking process begins. (beginning approximately twelve weeks before the event.) If the event is “sold out” you will be placed on a wait list.
Complete the Registration for Procurement Matchmaking—Your confirmation email will invite you to login to the Matchmaking registration page and complete your company profile in anticipation of being matched with buyers for a custom schedule. This registration process will entail providing special keywords and descriptions that will be used to match your company with participating procurement representatives for a customized matchmaking meeting schedule.
Set your Custom Face-to-Face Schedule of Matchmaking Meetings—Approximately two weeks before the event, the Matchmaking Team will send you an email inviting you to return to the system to begin the matchmaking scheduling process. During this process you will be presented with a schedule for the day and the selection of procurement representatives that match with your organization, based on the keywords and descriptions you provided at the time of registration. With this information, you will be able to build a schedule of appointments with your matches.
Frequently Asked Questions About Procurement Matchmaking
How do you match buyers and sellers? Utilizing the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC®), small businesses are able to highlight their products and services. By entering keywords into our system, you will be provided matching UNSPSC descriptions. The Matchmaking system then uses the codes associated with these descriptions as the basis of determining which buying organizations the small businesses match with to set appointments. It is up to each registered small business to enter their keywords and codes order to set their appointment schedule before attending the event.
How long are the Matchmaking appointments? Appointments are in 15-minute increments with a five-minute break in between each appointment. There are three appointments per hour throughout the day.
How many appointments will I receive? The total number of appointments will be based on how well your firm matches up to the product and service needs of the participating procurement representatives. Keep in mind: the more complete your seller profile, the higher the likelihood of making good matches.
What if I don’t match with participating buyers? To help ensure meaningful appointments, small businesses will be unable to schedule meetings with buyers who don’t match the firm’s products or services. Many of the buyers’ schedules will fill up early in the scheduling process. For this reason, we cannot guarantee matches and appointments. Our Matchmaking Team will do everything possible to assist you with securing appointments. If you are not able to secure an appointment, please remember that many of these same agencies and companies will be exhibiting as well, so there is more than one method to connect during the event.
Can I register on the day of the event? Due to the preparation time that goes into the registration and scheduling of the Procurement Matchmaking program, registration must be in advance of the event.
Who are the buyers that are expected to attend? Participating government agencies and large business Prime Contractors that serve these government agencies.
Will small businesses be awarded contracts during Procurement Matchmaking? Procurement Matchmaking provides unique opportunities for small businesses to meet with buyers who are motivated to award contracts and sub-contracts to smaller firms. While the program doesn’t guarantee contracts, simply because of the nature of the normal bidding process between buyers and suppliers, it does create opportunities for small businesses to hold personal, one-on-one meetings with potential clients that would have taken weeks or months—if ever— to research and schedule on their own.
For questions regarding Procurement Matchmaking, please email gpconference@procurementmatchmaking.com.
Procurement Opportunities
Procurement Opportunities
Exhibitors from Federal, State and local governments, and Federal Government large business prime contractors are looking for small, minority, 8(a), SDB, HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program participants, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned and women-owned businesses who provide the goods and services listed below.
Federal agencies post information on contract opportunities over $25,000 on the Internet through Sam.gov at https://fbohome.sam.gov/. Visit the Sam.gov website to register for electronic notification of contract opportunities.
Subcontracting opportunities with large business prime contractors can be found at http://web.sba.gov/subnet/.
Additionally, exhibitors may bring procurement opportunities with them for distribution at the conference. Links to Exhibitors’ web sites are provided below.
Past Federal Government Exhibitors
The agencies listed are only a sample of past conference exhibitors and have not necessarily confirmed for the 2022 conference.
Information technology hardware, software and support services
Building construction and building renovation, including general contracting and special trades (both office buildings and residences), predominantly at U.S. foreign service posts abroad.
Architect & engineering services
Environmental services, including energy savings performance contracting
Products and services that can be used to enhance physical security at our U.S. embassies & consulates worldwide
Office furniture, furnishings and supplies (both on and off GSA schedule)
Professional training services
Telecommunications products and services for use worldwide
Department of the Treasury
For information on contract opportunities with Treasury and its bureaus, click on the bureau name to access their web site.
For information on contract opportunities with FDIC, visit http://www.fdic.gov
General Services Administration (GSA)
Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program
Architect/Engineering services
Information technology equipment and services
Office supplies, furniture, and equipment
Travel and transportation management services
Organizational management services
Financial management services
Marketing, media, and public information services
U.S. Agency for International Development (AID)
Note: AID is the independent government agency that provides economic development and humanitarian assistance to advance U.S. economic and political interests overseas. AID is in search of U.S. businesses with capabilities in:
Do your homework! Review the Procurement Opportunities page to identify your target agencies and learn as much as you can about what the agencies purchase and how.
Be sure your registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) is current. The System for Award Management (SAM) is the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA and EPLS. There is NO fee to register for this site. Entities may register at no cost directly from this page.
Have a clear, concise capability statement that includes business type (socio-economic status), NAIC codes and a description of your products and services. This should either be on a 1-page document, available on a url that you distribute or through a QR code.
View the exhibit listing and map out your day. This is updated daily as new agencies and businesses register.
Check out the agenda on-line. It will be updated with speakers and abstracts as they become available.
