The beginning of Spring is only a few weeks away, which means that the Coalition’s annual Spring Training Conference is on the horizon! We are pleased to announce that registration is officially open (please click here for more details) for the 2023 Spring Training Conference – Procurement Watchwords for Fiscal Year 2023, which will take place on May 2-3 in Falls Church, Virginia. Be on the lookout for the release of the two-day agenda next week, which is filled with sessions that promise to provide attendees with access to the most up-to-date information impacting government contractors.
This year’s Spring Conference focuses on four major procurement “watchword” themes that will serve as driving forces for the acquisition system and government operations throughout the year. These watchword themes include Market Continuity, Cybersecurity, Supply Chain Security, and Sustainability. We look forward to hearing DoD, GSA, the VA, and other agencies share how these watchwords play a key role in shaping their policies and programs in 2023 and beyond.
Market Continuity
During the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to hear updates on governmentwide procurements providing a crucial demand signal evidencing market continuity for both the government customer and industry partners. The agenda features panels focused on the next steps for several IT governmentwide acquisition contracts, including NASA SEWP, OASIS+, and Alliant 3. GSA also will provide the latest information on its Multiple Award Schedule program. During the healthcare-focused day, the VA will discuss its continued efforts of supplying its healthcare facilities through the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor (MSPV) program.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is essential for national security and the operations of the federal government, especially as cyber information sharing between the government and industry continues to grow. In 2023, several policy measures will be focused on strengthening the cybersecurity of the government and federal contractors. Guest speakers will address recent developments for multiple cybersecurity measures during the conference, such as the release of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) DFARs rule and FedRAMP authorization.
Supply Chain Security
In 2023, we will see the implementation of laws and regulations focused on increasing supply chain resiliency. Attendees will learn more about these various regulations and their impact on the procurement system. Focus areas include the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the use of Defense Production Act authorities, and the evolution from Buy American to Buy Allied. More importantly, the conference promotes continued engagement between government and industry that is vital to the success of these implementation efforts.
Sustainability
Sustainability, as both a performance measure and potential discriminator for federal contractors, will impact the procurement system in 2023. The conference will prepare contractors with guidance on upcoming sustainability requirements and standards. Panelists will cover sustainability-related programs and policies, such as the FAR proposed rule regarding disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and climate risk, the EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program, and healthcare-specific regulations.
As always, the Spring Training Conference will serve as a high-quality engagement for all professionals in the government contracting community, and we look forward to sharing more details about the conference in the coming weeks! In the meantime, we encourage you to register now by clicking here.
We would like to thank our current Platinum Sponsors, AvKARE and McKesson; Silver Sponsor, Sheppard Mullin; and Coffee & Networking Sponsor, SAIC, for their support of the Coalition and Spring Training Conference 2023! We urge you to check out our new Sponsorship Prospectus, which highlights a variety of Premier and Auxiliary sponsorship opportunities that are still available for your organization at the conference!