About the Conference

The FREE Access to Success (A2S) Small Business National Virtual Conference is open for any small business looking to grow and expand by working directly with HHS. This virtual interactive conference will feature experts, including HHS Senior Leadership, HHS Heads of Contracting Activity, HHS Small Business Specialists, SBA Regional Offices, Small Business Resource Partners, Large Prime Contractors, and Small Businesses from across the nation.

Each year, HHS awards close to $9.4 billion to small businesses to meet continuous product and service needs to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. HHS’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) works directly with small businesses to help them successfully compete for and win federal contracts. Small businesses will learn precisely what’s needed to work with the government through this dynamic three-day conference of panels, breakout sessions, speeches, and matchmaking. HHS offers a variety of small business contracts across industries, including information and technology, construction, marketing, professional services, research and development, and many others.

If you own a small business and want to grow through government contracts, this conference is for you.

Participating Agencies and Primes: GSA, SBA, Verizon, AT&T, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, SAIC, RTI, and many others.

Visit this page frequently for conference updates on speakers, the agenda, and matchmaking.

Matchmaking registration is closed.

Agenda

Day 1 - May 18th

TIME

PRESENTERS

SESSION TITLE

9:00 AM

Welcome & National Anthem

9:15 AM

Opening Remarks

Andrea Palm
Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

9:30 AM

Government & Industry Plenary Session 1
Shannon Jackson Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	The State of HHS OSDBU

10:00 AM

15 Minute Break

10:15 AM

Government & Industry Plenary Session 2
Bibi Hidalgo Associate Administrator, Office of Government Contracting & Business Development U.S. Small Business Administration	Small Business Policy Updates

10:45 AM

45 Minute Lunch Break and Exhibit Hall

11:30 AM

Government Workshop Track
Speakers Joshua Blow Lauren Peel Martina Williams Lucas Payne	Marketing Strategies to Win (Targeted Audience: Government)
Speakers Mark Branning Brian Horst Janelle Billingslea	Utilizing Technology and Innovation in Government Contracting (Targeted Audience: Government)
Industry Workshop Track
Speakers Dr. Sandra Webb Andrew Dorr	Reaching Federal Grant Success through Experts (Targeted Audience: Industry)
Speakers Schuyler Eldridge Melanie Carter Donna Brockington Joffrey Q. Benford Matt McCord Rodney L. Wallace Steven Green Sandeep Patel	Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Updates (Targeted Audience: Industry)

12:30 PM

15 Minute Break

12:45 PM

Government Workshop Track
Speakers Tiffani Redding Edmund Bender	Risky Business: How to Avoid Suspension & Debarment (Targeted Audience: Government)
Speakers Shelly Thomas	Making the Grade: Exercising Oversight and Controls in Subcontracting (Targeted Audience: Government)
Industry Workshop Track
Moderator Anita Allen Panelists Mandeep Singh Robert Hicks Brad Henry Dmitry Yun Sophia Parker Mark Youman	Partnering with a Large Business for the Win (Targeted Audience: Industry)
Moderator Marcus Brownrigg Speakers Sedika Franklin Trina Bilal Annette Owens-Scarboro Dwight Deneal	Advancing Equity Opportunities for HBCUs (Targeted Audience: Industry)

1:45 PM

15 Minute Break

2:00 PM

Government/Industry Workshop
Moderator David Park Speakers Michael Jordan Melissa Ramos	Category Management (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)
Speakers Robert DuHart Van Tran Alisa Sheard Isabelle James Laura Maas Takeisha Hodge	Small Business Certifications 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)
Government/Industry Workshop
Speakers Matt Verhulst Stephanie Shutt Adam Soderholm	GSA Contract Vehicles Overview GWAC, OASIS, Polaris, SEWP, 8(a) Stars (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)
Moderator Dr. Donna Peebles Speakers Stanley Jones Tracey Ebb-Murphy Candice Miles	Strategies for Teaming Joint Venture Relationships, All Mentor Protege Relationships (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)

3:00 PM

15 Minute Break

3:15 PM

Industry Workshop
Speakers Santiago Almaraz	Indian Health Service Buy Indian Act New Rule (Targeted Audience: Industry)
Government/Industry Workshop
Speakers Robert Vinson	SBIR STTR (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)
Speakers Ricky Clark Glynis Fisher	NITAAC (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)
Speakers Sam Le	SBA Legislative Updates (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)

4:15 PM

Exhibit Hall

5:15 PM

Day 1 Closes

Day 2 - May 19th

TIME

PRESENTERS

SESSION TITLE

9:00 AM

Welcome, Opening Remarks

Shannon Jackson
Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

9:15 AM

Karl Mathias
Chief Information Officer
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

La Monte Yarborough
Acting Chief Information Security Officer
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Government Plenary Session
Impact of Cyber Security on the Industrial Base

9:45 AM

15 Minute Break

10:00 AM

Moderator
Shannon Jackson
Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service
Panelists
Alexandra "Bonnie" Garcia
Health Resources and Services Administration
Diane Frasier
National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management
Santiago Almaraz
Indian Health Service
Leonard Grant
Food & Drug Administration

Heads of Contracting Activity OSDBU Town Hall

11:00 AM

60 Minute Lunch Break and Exhibit Hall

12:00 PM

Government Workshop Track
Moderator Jonathan Ferguson Speakers Venessa Gleich George Williams Mabel Tsosie Mary Walks Over Ice	Identifying Qualified ISBEEs & IEEs "Beyond a Sources Sought Notice" (Targeted Audience: Government)
Moderator Wallace Sermons Panelists Stephanie Lewis Valerie Coleman Carol Hulme	SBA’s Office of Government Contracting – Focusing on Surveillance Reviews, Subcontracting, Certificates of Competency, Size and the Non-Manufacturer Rule (Targeted Audience: Government)
Industry Workshop Track
Moderator Gwendolyn Miles Speakers Hudson Oliveira Patrick Matthew De Leon Aquino Albie Barclay Abeer Bhatia Antonio Bobbitt	Preparing for Success with HHS Large Primes (Targeted Audience: Industry)
Speakers David Hincapie Warren Boyd Michael McWhorter	Access 2 Capital – Be Ready & Stay Ready (Targeted Audience: Industry)

1:00 PM

15 Minute Break

1:15 PM

Government Workshop Track
Speakers Scott Simpson Paula Mensah Dustin Teal	Understanding CPARS (Targeted Audience: Government)
Moderator Doris Gibson Speakers Cynthia Vallina Commander Leo Gumapas Steven Schooner	Sustainable Acquisitions (Targeted Audience: Government)
Industry Workshop Track
Moderator Shivani Dubey Speakers Mara Wells Venessa Gleich Lori Haozous	Getting Access and Now that you Have Access (Targeted Audience: Industry)
Government/Industry Workshop Track
Speakers John Barnicle	GSA Advantage (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)

2:15 PM

15 Minute Break

2:30 PM

Government/Industry Workshop
Moderator Jeffrey Johnston Speakers Morgan Haynes Cory Littlepage Elida Monroe	A Silver Lining During the Pandemic: How Small Businesses and IHS Partner to Catalyze Innovation (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)
Moderator Karisma Horne Speakers Melissa Szasz Scott Jensen Mauricio Vera Lily Milliner Emily Newlan	The Association Connection (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)
Speakers Daniel Barry Meagan Guerzon	Ethics Pertaining to Government Contracting (Targeted Audience: Government/Industry)

3:30 PM

30 Minute Break and Exhibit Hall

4:00 PM

2022 HHS Small Business Excellence Awards

5:00 PM

Day 2 Closes

Day 3 - May 20th

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Matchmaking

About Matchmaking

After registering for the conference, you may be eligible to register for Matchmaking with large-business prime contractors and government buyers. These matchmaking sessions are geared to drive small businesses towards real access to real opportunities.

Checking this box indicates your interest in participating in Matchmaking, which will open during on Monday, May 16th. Details will be sent to you when it opens. Slots are limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.