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South Sound Defense Manufacturing & Innovation Summit

On October 1 at Clover Park Technical College, experts in the defense marketplace joined with manufacturers in the south sound region for the South Sound Defense Manufacturing and Innovation Summit. Highlights of the event that was sponsored in part by Pierce County Economic Development included a kickoff speech by Jessica Pruss Aerix Advisors who focused on “The Convergence – The Biggest Defense & Manufacturing Surge in 75 Years and What is Means for South Sound.” Her talk reminded the business community and economic developers in the room about the previous convergence in our region in 1941 when American manufacturers responded to The Arsenal of Democracy by building 300,000 aircraft in 4 years. That surge is happening again, but this time with a requested $1.5 trillion Defense budget.

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Welcome to the Pacific NW, Conti Federal

Thurston EDC’s Washington APEX team recently had a chance to welcome a new prime contractor to town, Conti Federal. Conti Federal, headquartered in Florida, won the $169.1 Million FORGE Project at JBLM. They are also breaking ground on a $55.4 million project with US Army Corps of Engineers for a Special Tactics Complex for Oregon Air National Guard in Portland, Oregon. 

Businesses in the region interested in learning more about doing business with Conti are encouraged to register in their portal linked here and attend an in-person event on November 5 hosted by Washington APEX Accelerator linked here.

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Photo caption: Conti Federal’s Trade Partner Integration Manager, Gina Ceribelli, introduces Scott Olson, Project Executive, to Grady Smith, Thurston EDC’s lead APEX Accelerator Advisor at an outreach event held in Olympia on September 10.

• Public comment period extended on SBA Proposal to Redesignate Large Businesses as “Small”. See Proposed Rules: Size Standards and Methodology. Unsure how or if the proposed changes will impact your competitive landscape, talk with your APEX Accelerator Advisor.
• LYNX for Industry 10/22/2026: Discover how LYNX helps businesses enter and compete in defense markets.
• Registration is open for the last CMMC Level 1 (Department of War Cybersecurity) Readiness Workshop Series for 2026. Series starts 10/30

All businesses contracting with the Department of War – whether a prime, subcontractor or supplier* need to meet new CMMC Level 1 cybersecurity requirements included in DoW contracts this year. This will not only help secure your business from general cyber-attack; it will also ensure that your business complies with base level requirements to compete on federal defense contracts. *some exceptions apply

Meet the Contractors

10/8/2026 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Vancouver

Network with primes, subs, and DBEs, focused on the upcoming Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and other general public works projects. Connect with key resource organizations like Washington APEX Accelerator, the IBR, WSDOT, SWCA and NAMC, and many more!

2026 North Puget Sound Contracting Conference

10/28/2026 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Lynnwood

Showcase your organization at the largest business-to-government conference in the North Puget Sound Region. Access panel discussions, industry forecasts, networking opportunities, and matchmaking!

News from the Washington APEX SBIR Program

Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) funding is available to small businesses working on cutting edge technology. Your Washington APEX Accelerator SBIR Program can provide assistance with DOD, DOT, NASA and Department of Homeland Security. 

Events and Other Announcements for Innovators

Q&A With Grady

Question: Should a new high-growth tech startup pursue SBIR or STTR?

Answer: For most new businesses, SBIR is the better default. A new company usually needs maximum control of the research and IP path, and SBIR lets the small business do that work itself. STTR requires a formal research partnership with a university or nonprofit research institution, and a prescribed share of the work must stay with that partner.

Click here to see the rest of Grady's answer.

SBIR Coffee Hour 

10/28/2026 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 

Lacey Maker Space, Lacey, WA - Hybrid 

Get clear, practical answers in plain English at our monthly event. Fast-track your federal funding journey. 

Headlines

• DoW FY26 Release 6 is open
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency opened its 2026 SBIR Phase I solicitation
• DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office has two Disruption Opportunities open
• ERDCWERX and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center are seeking stakeholder input on a proposed physical model testing facility in Vicksburg for dredged-material placement, beneficial use, and related technologies
• The Department of Veterans Affairs posted a sources sought for Memorial Data Analysis & Visualization
• The Federal Laboratory Consortium is accepting session and workshop topics for the 2027 National Meeting
• Click Here for the stories behind the headlines

Other Important Links 

• Office for Small Business Innovation Department of War SBIR-STTR 
• DSIP Topics
• America's Seed Fund SBIR.gov
• Washington Small Business Innovation Ecosystem 

Events

In Person

Lakewood

10/1/2026 South Sound Defense Manufacturing & Innovation Summit

Auburn

10/7/2026 2026 Regional Contracting Forum

Vancouver

10/8/2026 Meet the Contractors - Vancouver

Shoreline

10/13/2026 WSDOT Construction & Design Open House

Seattle

10/14/2026 AGC CONTRACTOR EXCHANGE

Lynnwood

10/28/2026 2026 North Puget Sound Contracting Conference

Lacey

10/28/2026 SBIR Coffee Hour - Hybrid

Poulsbo

10/28/2026 Wednesday with the Deputy for Small Business - NUWC Keyport - Hybrid

In Person Coming Soon

Airway Heights

11/19/2026 Meet the BIGS! Doing Business with the Government 2026

Seattle

12/15/2026 Celebration of Small Business! - Advanced PortGen Virtual 2026

Online

10/2/2026 APEX & SBDC First Friday Follow-Up

10/2/2026 COMO HACER NEGOCIOS CON LA CIUDAD DE SEATTLE

10/2/2026 First Fridays: Doing Business with the City of Seattle

10/7/2026 Wage Determination - Service Contract Act or Davis Bacon Act

10/7/2026 Getting to “Yes”: Building Better REAs and Navigating Navy Funding

10/7/2026 Networking Know How

10/7/2026 Contracting Coffee Hour

10/8/2026 Small Dollar Buys: Your Way In - Advanced PortGen 2026

10/13/2026 Local Government Purchasing & MRSC Rosters

10/14/2026 APEX: Prime Connect

10/15/2026 State Contracting Opportunities & Open House – DES

10/15/2026 Cybersecurity Roundtable for Defense Contractors

10/15/2026 Doing Business with Job Order Contract (JOC) holders & Prime Contractors - Advanced PortGen 2026

10/22/2026 Introduction to LYNX for Industry

10/22/2026 Oportunidades en Contratación Estatal y Casa Abierta- Reunión Mensual

10/22/2026 Costs of Doing Business - Advanced PortGen 2026

10/28/2026 Civilian Reserve Manufacturing Network Virtual Industry Day

10/28/2026 Steps Leading to a FEDERAL Contract

Washington APEX Accelerator Recorded webinars available

Govology classes, live and on demand, are Free for Washington APEX Accelerator clients – contact your Washington APEX Accelerator advisor for access.

Click here for more

Live Govology Classes this month

10/8/2026 A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for SBA’s Federal Small Business Certifications

10/13/2026 Breaking Down Government Solicitations

10/20/2026 DIBBS System Overview – Searching for and Bidding on Opportunities

10/22/2026 Navigating Federal Procurement Regulations in the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Era

10/27/2026 Capacity to Compete: Right-Sizing Your Federal Pursuit Engine

10/29/2026 Cost/Price Realism and Pricing Strategy in Government Contracting

Receive federal, state, and local solicitations in your e-mail every day!

Learn more about Bid Match here

Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington

Become a WA Cares provider! Contracting Opportunities Available Due Date: 12/31/2026

King County

Harborview Construction and Infrastructure Projects

Forecasted projects

University of Washington

UWB Husky Hall Replacement – Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Progressive Design-Build Due Date: 10/13/2026

UWMC ML 4NN/4EE – Acute Care Expansion – Request For Proposals (RFP) for GC/CM Due Date: 10/09/2026

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (Enterprise Services) 

13825 Lamps, Ballasts, Retrofit Kits, and Lamps Recycling Containers Due Date: 10/16/2026

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 

WSDOT – WSF-MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE Due Date: 10/09/2026

Hensel Phelps Construction Company

SEA S Concourse Evolution (SCE) – Bid Package 02.1 Due Date: 10/15/2026

SEA S Concourse Evolution (SCE) – Bid Package 03 Due Date: 10/14/2026

Prospect Construction, Inc.

College Place WWTP Phase 1B Due Date: 10/20/2026

Washington APEX Accelerator provides technical assistance to help Washington businesses successfully compete in the government marketplace. This APEX Accelerator is funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.

A program of the Thurston Economic Development Council, in partnership with the following subcenters:

Washington APEX Accelerator