- March 14, 2023 -

3/15/23

DOD Supply Chain: Cyber Workshop – Manitowoc

In-Person

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3/21/23

DOD Supply Chain: Cyber Workshop – Oshkosh

In-Person

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3/23/23

Sales Opportunities with Local Government Agencies – In Person (Madison, WI)

In-Person

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3/24/23

Cyber Friday: Protecting the Data – Virtual

Webinar

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SBA Administrator Guzman Announces National Small Business Week 2023

SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s over 33 million small businesses, announced National Small Business Week (NSBW) will take place April 30-May 6, 2023. This annual tradition, led by the SBA for more than 60 years, is co-hosted by SCORE, mentors to America’s small businesses. During NSBW, the SBA recognizes the hard work, ingenuity, and dedication of America’s small businesses, and celebrates their contributions to the economy.

“National Small Business Week celebrates the resilience, innovation, and economic power of America’s small businesses and innovative startups,” said Administrator Guzman. “Amidst a record-breaking 10.5 million people applying to start a new business under the Biden-Harris Administration, I’m thrilled to showcase our highly-impactful entrepreneurs who build prosperity in their communities while strengthening our nation’s global competitiveness.”   

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA played a critical role in saving our small businesses, helping Main Street recover, driving market innovation, and powering a historic 10.5 million small business applications. But the work is not done and long-standing challenges still persist for many small business owners. That is why the SBA will double down on our efforts to ensure we are meeting small businesses and startups everywhere they are, including helping entrepreneurs navigate the evolving marketplace so that they can start, grow and sustain their businesses. 

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President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024

On March 9, the Biden-Harris Administration released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024. The Budget enables the Department of Defense to continue building a Joint Force that is the most lethal, resilient, survivable, agile, and responsive in the world and is guided by our three priorities of defending the nation, taking care of our people, and succeeding through teamwork. 

• Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

• Read the BUDGET

• From Bloomberg Law - Record US Defense Budget Is Emerging Immune From Congress Cuts

• Biden’s $842B Pentagon Budget Proposal Would Boost New Weapons - The spending plan also proposes industrial-base investments

SBA New HUBZone Map Update Expands Small Business Program Participation and Federal Contract Eligibility

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the launch of a new Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) preview map, which shows that hundreds of firms in newly released designated underserved areas will become eligible to apply for HUBZone certification, enabling them to compete for billions of dollars in federal contracts set aside for HUBZone-certified firms, to create jobs, and to improve the economy in their communities.

“By channeling a record $14 billion in federal purchases to HUBZone-certified small firms last year, the Biden-Harris Administration gave a critical financial boost to hundreds of entrepreneurs in economically disadvantaged rural and urban areas,” said Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The HUBZone Program is an essential component of President Biden’s commitment to expanding federal contracting opportunities for small businesses across the country.”  

The HUBZone preview map shows changes that are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023, reflecting updates from the 2020 U.S. Census. HUBZones are designated based on economic and population data from the Census Bureau and other federal agencies, using a formula established by Congress. The map update highlights growth opportunities for small businesses in more than 20,000 HUBZone areas across the United States and Territories, including 3,732 newly qualified communities.

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DBE Reporter Winter 2023 Newsletter

Quarterly updates and information on contracting issues and projects

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WI Supplier Diversity Program Director Tondra Davis is Moving On

From Tondra Davis, Director for the Office of Business Opportunities and Equity Compliance: "It is with a heavy heart and hopeful attitude that I share the news I will resign my position as Director of the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) effective March 11, 2023. I am passionate about the work I’ve done to continuously improve the Supplier Diversity Program. As I join the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as its Director for the Office of Business Opportunities and Equity Compliance, I am hopeful this new role will allow me to continue this passion helping diverse suppliers in a greater way."

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FEATURED EVENTS

DOD Supply Chain: Cyber Workshop

Wisconsin manufacturers are facing a significant challenge in meeting cyber and security compliance requirements that are being included in their Defense, Federal and commercial contracts and subcontracts.

Join us at one of the following in person sessions to learn from a veteran of the IT Industry as he provides insights and guidance on what manufacturers can do to improve their security position in a rapidly shifting digital landscape while positioning themselves to meet both existing and upcoming supply chain requirement (such as NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, ITAR).

All session are scheduled for 10 am - Noon

Click date for more information

March 15

Progress Lakeshore

202 N 8th St Ste 101

Manitowoc, WI 54220

March 21

Greater Oshkosh EDC

100 N Main St Ste 104

Oshkosh, WI 54901

Upcoming Webinar Series

Acquisition Hour

The Acquisition Hour webinar series is presented by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Wisconsin Chapter and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute.

• April 5 – Overview of Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)
• April 19 – No-Cost Federal Market Research Tools: SAM.gov, DSBS, and USA Spending
• May 9 – Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE)–Wide Area Workflow (WAWF)
• June 6 – Government Furnished Property

Cyber Friday

For Department of Defense Contractors and Subcontractors: Join Marc Violante, WPI’s Director, Federal Market Strategies for the Cyber Friday series starting at 11:00am – a series of one-hour webinars focusing on critical topics in cyber security, data security, and CMMC.

• March 24 – Protecting the Data
• April 14 – The Forensic Record
• April 28 – Culture of Security

March 30

9:00-11:00 am

Zoofari Conference Center

9715 West Bluemound Rd.

Milwaukee, WI 53226

Learn about sub contracting opportunities and meet the prime contractors and Milwaukee County stakeholders.

May 2-5

Virtual

May 5

Statewide In-Person

The conference will provide entrepreneurs and startups with opportunities to learn from and connect with business leaders and technical and financial resource providers and to identify the tools they need to start and grow their businesses.