Conference Sessions

Federal contracting has shifted under the RFO, new policy, and the arrival of AI, and it is easy to feel like the ground moved while you were mid-proposal. This workshop cuts through the noise. A former government contracting and source selection authority joins proposal and capture experts who have kept winning through every one of these changes, and together they separate what actually changed from what still wins the way it always has. You will look behind the curtain at how evaluators think and score, learn how to position earlier and more deliberately as opportunities move to new formats and vehicles, and sharpen the fundamentals that decide most awards. AI has a seat at the table without taking over the room.

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DOD and federal agencies are accelerating microreactor and small modular reactor deployment to enhance installation energy resilience and mission assurance. This session explores licensing pathways, technology down-selection criteria, and innovative ownership and delivery models—equipping attendees to navigate regulatory, technical, and commercial barriers to nuclear deployment.

This session breaks down how AI actually works, showing attendees the right tools for the right tasks and providing a practical, risk-aware framework for deploying AI in their A/E/C firms today. No hype; just tools that work.

AI is making federal pursuit teams faster, but not always better. Explore how firms are using AI to improve go/no-go decisions, strengthen SF330 and proposal quality, support compliance, and coordinate more effectively across teams and partners while avoiding the generic outputs and missteps that can undermine results.

Stop chasing opportunities and start building a repeatable federal growth engine. Discover how successful firms connect market intelligence, capture, proposal development, award transition, and delivery into a scalable system for growth. Learn practical frameworks, assess your organization's maturity, and identify actionable steps to improve alignment, accountability, and performance.

Discover how knowledge graphs transform messy, siloed folders into interconnected, AI-ready intelligence. Attendees will grasp the strategic shift needed to modernize knowledge management, giving your organization the operational agility to dramatically accelerate proposal development, leverage past project lessons, and rapidly mobilize internal expertise to execute work faster.

No single delivery method fits every DOD project. Success depends on aligning contracting strategy, governance structure, and delivery approach with mission requirements, risk tolerance, and organizational capacity. Certified construction management provides the professional framework to strengthen oversight, ensure accountability, and drive consistent outcomes across defense capital programs.

Learn how a federal small business is using AI to cut through opportunity noise, identify better-fit work, streamline operations, and accelerate internal decision-making and workflows. Attendees will see practical examples, lessons learned, and implementation guardrails for applying AI as a force multiplier, without sacrificing quality, security, or client trust.

CMMC Phase II is suspended, but DFARS 252.204-7012 and NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment obligations remain fully enforceable. This session cuts through the confusion by helping small businesses understand what's current requirements, accurately assess their compliance posture, and engage in the reform process that will shape the the path forward.

When a small business is awarded a contract, it actually needs to perform under it. Too often, though, small businesses pass the work to other companies. Attendees will learn about the restrictions on subcontracting and how to use them to their advantage in this session.

If your competitors’ AI knows more about your performance than your team does, you’re already behind. This session shows how to turn AI into an account-growth advantage so your leadership and business development walk into meetings better informed, more relevant, and more trusted than anyone else at the table.

Did you know that during FY25 large businesses provided over $86.4 billion in federal subcontracting to small business and that large business often must subcontract a certain percentage of their contract to small business? Hear from large businesses on how to leverage these requirements to grow your small business.

Attendees will gain a clear map of the reorganized Public Buildings Service and what it means for A/E/C opportunities, a repeatable method for repositioning with a function-based buyer, insight into FY27 priorities straight from GSA, and concrete steps to act on during the pre-acquisition window before competitors do.

Without C3PAO assessments, the burden of proof shifts entirely to you. This session tackles day-to-day operational hygiene, continuous monitoring, POA&M management, personnel turnover and prepares A/E/C firms for government-led spot checks that can arrive unannounced.

Learn firsthand how NAVFAC is moving industrialized construction (IC) from concept to implementation. Attendees will learn how process, product definition, digital tools, procurement, vendor readiness, logistics, and pilot projects come together to make IC executable for federal facility delivery.

Winning federal work starts long before your first proposal. Learn how to turn certifications, relationships, financial readiness, and compliance into a growth strategy that helps your business move from curious newcomer to trusted federal contractor.

This session will share a practical understanding of personal and business financial statements, the key financial ratios lenders and surety carriers evaluate during underwriting, and actionable guidance for attendees on building an accounting relationship that supports and properly documents the growth of a federal small business.

In this session, learn a practical cradle-to-grave framework for forming, managing, and maintaining compliant mentor-protégé agreements and joint ventures while avoiding common compliance mistakes that can jeopardize contract awards.

What does a government client actually mean by “partner”? Which behaviors build trust, and which ones quietly erode it? This session will answer those questions, explain the difference between a contracting officer and a contracting officer's represenative, and share what to do differently on your next contract.

This session will discuss a repeatable people-policy-performance framework for adopting AI in federal contracting—one that keeps you fully inside the guardrails while turning hours saved into mission impact, measurable ROI, and stronger client trust.

The Department of Defense is in the process of implementing new acquisition strategies and reforms, with a particular focus on the use of other transactions. This session will provide critical updates on DOD procurement processes and provide insights on how small businesses can prepare for future success.

Cut through the hype and discover whether OTAs are the right opportunity for your business. Learn how OTAs differ from traditional contracting, where they create competitive advantages, and how to evaluate the risks, rewards, and strategic fit before investing your limited business development resources.

Prevailing wage and fringe benefit requirements are an open book test. Don't fail it! Learn what you need to know of Davis-Bacon Act and Service Contract Act requirements to ensure proper labor categories are used, certified payrolls are correct, and that everyone on your federal construction project gets paid properly.

Designed for executives, project managers, business development professionals, and in-house counsel, this session will provide actionable guidance for contractors seeking to remain competitive, compliant, and resilient in today’s federal construction environment.

Selecting the appropriate project delivery method is one of the most critical decisions in MILCON execution. This presentation provides a practical, decision-oriented framework comparing different delivery methods. Focusing on trade-offs in cost, schedule, risk, and collaboration, it highlights where each method performs best, supported by real-world MILCON examples.

Walk away with practical, experience-based strategies to build Mentor-Protégé JVs that deliver results. Learn how to evaluate partner fit, align structure to opportunity, and navigate early challenges. Gain insights from managing two distinct JVs to improve proposals, reduce risk, and strengthen collaboration across the full project lifecycle.

This session will provide a clear understanding of how progressive design-build accelerates infrastructure delivery; how it differs from DB, CM/GC, and CMAR; and how to manage risk through collaborative practices like GMP and open-book pricing—all aligned with federal shifts toward faster, qualifications-driven contracting.

Discover why collaborative delivery succeeds or fails based on culture—not contract language—and leave with practical strategies to build trust, share accountability, and thrive as government and industry roles continue to evolve.

On a federal construction project, the document that looks like the problem usually isn’t. The schedule, submittal register, quality control, and pay application are connected, and most project problems come from treating them as if they’re not. Join this interactive, game-style session to learn how they actually work together.

Between a massive overhaul of the regulations, technological advancements, and overall changes in the zeitgeist, subcontracting isn’t what it was. Old templates and mindsets simply won’t address today’s most critical subcontracting considerations. Get inducted to the new school and learn to successfully subcontract in today’s dynamic environment in this session.

Unlock DOD's fastest-growing contract vehicle. Hear from accomplished delivery partners, including two major A/E firms and a veteran-owned small business,  about what owner's advisor and program delivery partnership look like in practice. Walk away with a clear roadmap to position your firm for FY26–27 opportunities and beyond.