Key Dates

Submission Guidelines

IMPORTANT! We suggest you first develop and save your submission proposal in Word then copy and paste the information into the appropriate sections in the online form. The online form does not have spell check so editing your submission in advance ensures greater accuracy.

NOTE: Presentations must offer professionally relevant topics and avoid marketing any product, person, or business service. All sessions are intended to provide professional development and, therefore, attendees receive Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) defines a PDH presentation as a professionally relevant instruction or presentation.  Sessions can be individual presentations, moderated panel discussions, moderated roundtable discussions, or case studies.

Submission Instructions & Important Tips

•  All speakers must accept the Content Speaker Agreement terms and conditions at time of submission.
• The Title should capture the essence of your session in ten (10) words or less.
• A 200–400-word description of the session content – the description should “sell” your session to the reviewers – be concise about the value to the audience.
• A 50-word summary of the session to be used in conference promotional materials – summary should SELL YOUR SESSION!  Make it catchy so people want to attend.  
• Four (4) burning questions the session will answer – solutions your session provides.
• A 100–150-word biography of the presenter or each panelist.
• Presenter(s) qualifications on the subject matter.
• A 1-2 minute video (via link) explaining the basis of your abstract and demonstrating your presentation skills. (Recommended)
• Can we consider your abstract for the Micro Session Theater if not chosen for an education session. Micro Session Theater will be in the Exhibit Hall and features 20-minute presentations.

PLEASE NOTE: Upon acceptance, we may modify the session title and description to fit into our writing style and format for promotional materials, website, and onsite guide.

Please submit no more than two (2) presentation proposals. 

Focus Areas

Educational sessions will be organized into focus areas. Each focus area’s sub-set clearly defines the type of presentation proposals desired. Be sure to indicate your targeted audience (start-up, mid-level, advanced) and be mindful of the topic areas requested.  A session could be a stand-alone topic or grouped together with other topics for a broader session. Session length is one (1) hour to include time for Q&A.

Entering the Federal Marketplace - Possible topics:

• Business Basics – Organization, Operations, Finance
• Funding – Seed, Working Capital
• Capability Statements 
• Insurance / Bonding
• Business Processes 
• Contracts – Subcontracts, Teaming
• Federal Project Delivery 
• Government / Military Transition Assistance to Civilian Life
• Leveraging your Certifications

Marketing and Business Development - Possible topics:

• Proposal Writing
• Pricing Strategies
• Market / Service / Geographic Expansion
• Networking and Teaming Strategies
• Social Media & Web Presence
• Short List Interviews
• BD / Sales Tactics 
• Building Past Performance
• AI in Marketing
• Government Debriefs

Regulations, Rules, and the Government Framework - Possible topics:

• Teaming, Joint Ventures, and Mentor-Protégé
• Supplier Diversity 
• Changes to the FAR and other Regulations
• Construction Clauses 
• EPA and Environmental Regulations
• Understanding the Brooks Act 
• REA Case Legislation 
• Labor Laws
• CPARS

Advanced Business and Procurement Strategies - Possible topics:

• GSA Multiple Award Schedule 
• Graduating from your Certifications
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Managing and Mitigating Risk
• Attracting and Retaining Talent
• Leveraging SBA and DOD Mentor-Protégé Programs
• Tax Implications in the A/E/C Industry
• FAR Compliant Audits

Abstract Evaluations and Notification Process

Abstracts are evaluated using a peer review process. Each abstract will be evaluated by a panel of Small Business COI members and small business professionals from the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), VA, USACE, NAVFAC, and/or USAF using the following criteria: quality of abstract, accuracy, overall quality of writing, references, and relevance of the subject to the focus areas. The review process takes several weeks to complete. Notifications of acceptance for the SAME 2024 Small Business Conference will be sent the week of July 8, 2024.

Conference Information and Questions

The SBC Call for Presentations is being managed and executed by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). For conference details such as the schedule at-a-glance, location, registration fees, exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, and travel and lodging, please refer to the conference website.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at sessions@same.org.