DVIDS – News – NAVFAC Washington Strengthens Small Business Partnerships at Federal SAME Conference

WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives from the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) in Washington joined more than 6,200 industry professionals at the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Federal Small Business Conference (SBC). ) in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 19-22. The conference connected federal agencies with small businesses in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction and facilities management.

“The conference provided an invaluable platform to engage with our industry partners and federal agencies,” said Capt. Atiim Senthill, NAVFAC Washington operations manager. “Hearing directly from our small business counterparts about their challenges helps us identify and remove barriers to entry, expanding our contracting capabilities.”

NAVFAC Washington’s participation included dedicated booth presentations and networking sessions with small business representatives. The command focused on emerging opportunities in sustainable construction, including energy-efficient methods, renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly materials.

The SAME SBC featured interactive sessions on the applications of artificial intelligence in building and mitigating cybersecurity risks, as well as strategic networking opportunities with small business leaders. Attendees engaged in discussions about innovative partnerships for complex logistics projects and learned about the Office of Small Business Programs’ APEX Accelerators program, which provides training to businesses seeking contracts with federal, state and local governments .

“Our participation in this conference directly supports NAVFAC Washington’s commitment to expanding opportunities for small businesses,” said Anna Jiles-Bedenbaugh, deputy director for small business. “The knowledge gained will help us develop more effective strategies to increase small business participation in federal contracts.”

The SAME SBC reinforced NAVFAC Washington’s focus on leveraging market trends and industry capacity to improve small business participation in federal contracting opportunities.