Small business event dynet north 2015

4th Annual Dynamic Networking for Small Business

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District will participate with the US Small Business Administration in the 4th Annual Dynamic Networking for Small Business hosted by the Northwest PA Regional Planning and Development Commission.

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2015

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm

Event registration begins at 9:00am

Cost to Attend: FREE!

Location: Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) at Presque Isle, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505

No fee to attend. You may register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2015DyNetRegistration. Registration is still open!

There will be a two-hour networking component to this event from 10:00am to 12:00pm. This is where you can present your capabilities to government agencies and prime contractors. There are no matchmaking sessions - DYNET is a highly energetic networking event designed to put you face-to-face with government and industry for business opportunities. To date, the planners have confirmed the participation of the following:

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

National Energy Technology Laboratory (www.netl.doe.gov)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh and Buffalo (www.usace.army.mil)
U.S. Forest Service (www.fs.usda.gov/allegheny)
U.S. Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov)

PRIME CONTRACTORS

84 Lumber Company (www.84governmentsales.com)
dck worldwide LLC (www.dckww.com)
Ellwood National Forge (www.ellwoodgroup.com)
Layne Christensen Construction(www.layne.com)
Lord Corporation (www.lord.com)
Mascaro Construction Company, L.P. (www.mascaroconstruction.com)
PerkinElmer Genetics, Inc. (www.perkinelmergenetics.com)

The networking component will be followed by lunch on your own. You may visit the Sunset Café at TREC or nearby restaurant choices in the Presque Isle area.

Following the networking, four educational workshop sessions will close the event. Attendees may select one of two workshop options during each session.

Strategic Toolbox: Growing Your Business with Teaming/Joint Ventures/Mentor-Protégé Relationships - Part 1 - 2:00 to 3:00 PM - This session explores the strategies available for small businesses in the federal government contracting arena. Advantages and a "BE SURE TO..." checklist discussed for teaming, joint ventures and mentor/protégé arrangements. Presented by Melissa Loder, U.S. Small Business Administration, in Room 108

Strategic Toolbox: Growing Your Business with Teaming/Joint Ventures/Mentor-Protégé Relationships - Part 2 - 3:00 to 4:00 PM - This session discusses recent regulatory developments, including SBA's ongoing size standards changes, SBA's proposed rule on the changed limitations on subcontracting requirements and SBA's new "Safe Harbor" rule allowing for SBDC/PTAC Advisory Size Opinions The Workshop also will discuss opportunities provided by recent legislation, including the new authorization of WOSB sole source set-asides, as well as SBA's proposed rule on a new universal mentor-protégé program and important changes to the current joint venture and affiliation rules. Presented by: Hopewell Darneille, Jackson Kelly PLLC, in Room 108

Responsible and Responsive Bidding - 2:00 to 3:00 PM - Learn the Key Elements in Putting Together a Comprehensive Bid: Definitions and terms used in proposals and bidding, Key steps to take before you do your estimate and compile the bid, Bid/no-bid decision points, How to review and break down the information in the bid request, Packaging the bid, and Review of forms that make estimating and bidding easier. Presented by Elizabeth Bowers, dck worldwide LLC, in Room 110

Be a Solicitation Winner! Top 10 Mistakes of Proposal Preparation - 3:00 to 4:00 PM
What is the Agency looking for? How can you put together a good offer & make sure it will be considered "responsive"? Do you really need to dot all those I's & cross all those T's? The workshop covers the top mistakes made by small businesses when preparing & submitting their offer to the Government. Presented by Sherrie Plonski, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Room 110

You may direct questions to the Northwest PA Regional Planning and Development Commission and Government Contracting Manager Cris Pierce at (814) 677-4800, ext. 102 or crisp@northwestpa.org. Information is also available online at http://www.dynetworking.com/ a website dedicated to the DyNet events held in Fairmont, WV and Erie, PA.