Southeast Region Federal Construction, Infrastructure & Environmental Summit

SESSION SUMMARIES

Selling to the Federal Government & Tools for Success in the Federal Marketplace. Representatives from the Small Business Administration, Small Business Center Network, Government Contracting Assistance Program and NC Military Business Center session will focus on infrastructure-related steps to enter the federal marketplace and resources available for support. 

Program and Procurement Dialogue Sessions
Note: Check the agenda for date/time/location for specific government and military organization session.

Representatives will present and engage in interactive discussion with businesses about their programs, projects related issues for FY2025 and beyond.  Representatives will address acquisition and execution processes for projects in the program of work. Audience participation throughout the session is strongly encouraged.

Topics to be addressed include:

Sessions:

Building the Future: Workforce Development for Federal Energy and Construction. During this session, panelists will explore the evolving demands of the energy and construction sectors, focusing on how the federal government, academia, and industry can collaborate to build a skilled workforce. The panel will highlight current trends, challenges, and opportunities for workforce development in these critical areas. Discussion will include:

Speakers:

Responding to Emergency and Natural Disasters as a Contractor. In the past decade, the United States and North Carolina experienced several major hurricanes: Hurricane Florence affecting Eastern NC and Hurricane Helen affected Western NC).  This session will discuss the processes for responding to a natural disaster and/or emergency effort as a contractor.  Speakers will explain the role of the State ranging from statewide efforts to federal programs and how businesses can assist within those processes. 

Government & Industry Perspective Challenges Dialogue and Networking with Government Officials. Join this open dialogue between industry and the government on issues affecting industry and federal agencies.  Topics will address supply chain resiliency, inflation, labor workforce issues and what efforts are being made to streamline the acquisition process, rules and regulations affecting industry and the potential cost impact to industry and to the government. Participants will hear lessons learned from the implementation of Project Labor Agreements (PLA), how the government and contractors are meeting small business goals under a PLA, and impact of the newly passed regulations concerning CMMC and Davis Bacon Wage increases. 

Speakers:

Emerging Technology and Building Systems Opportunities. During this session, senior government experts and industry innovators will explore current and future government innovations and programs to modernize and enhance the strategic readiness of our military installations. Discussions will focus on cutting-edge advancements, including the defense innovation ecosystem in the Southeast, next-generation DoD asset management tools, and the transformative impact of modern and digital construction bidding. The panel will also delve into integrating artificial intelligence in construction processes, fostering efficiency and adaptability, and highlighting pioneering new energy initiatives aimed at sustainability and resilience. This session will provide actionable insights into how these innovations drive smarter, greener, and more connected military installations.

Speakers:

Department of Defense Small Business Specialist Panel. This session will provide a brief overview of the Small Business Specialist roles within several government agencies – including when capability reviews are scheduled and with whom, specific agency client support, small business goal attainment and specific products and services the agency procures.

Speakers:

Policy and Regulatory Updates for Small Business. The Small Business Administration and Smith Anderson Law Firm will provide an overview on recent small business rules and regulations affecting small businesses and an overview of the recent legislative changes and how they impact federal contracting and all contractors.

Factors Driving Facility Programs at North Carolina Installations. The purpose of this session is to discuss factors driving infrastructure for North Carolina installation programs. This session will not cover workload but a higher view of what is taking place within each of the military bases.

CMMC Certification for Infrastructure Contractors. Join this session for an in-depth exploration of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) tailored specifically for infrastructure contractors. This session will cover essential aspects of CMMC compliance, focusing on how contractors in the infrastructure sector can meet the certification requirements effectively. Key topics include understanding the levels of certification, navigating compliance challenges, and practical strategies for achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance.