In 2011, the Coalition was formed to provide small companies working in homeland and national security a “voice” in the Federal procurement and acquisition process. Since then, the organization has grown to over 130 companies representing small, mid-tier and large companies interested in bringing the best companies to the mission of homeland and national security.

Since GTSC’s inception they have launched numerous programs and initiatives aimed at ACTION. Not more words or platitudes, but tangible efforts to improve how our government finds and engages the innovation represented by GTSC members.

“It is exciting to see the tremendous amount of innovation being applied today within the homeland security sector,” said Michael Chertoff, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of The Chertoff Group. “It is through innovative technology developments, creative thinking and new approaches – exactly what GTSC members represent – that we are able to bring forward “best-in-class” solutions to help the federal government better protect our homeland and the safety of our citizens.”

Read the report here.

Learn more about Babs Doherty here.

 Join us

Babs Doherty CEO Eagle Ray, Inc.

The Government Technology & Services Coalition and Government Contracting Weekly partnered to recognize exceptional mentors in the government contracting community.

 The awards program recognizes and salutes government contractors for their leadership and concrete actions in assisting small government contracting firms through mentoring, training, inspiration, teaming and cooperation.  The awards recognize that mentoring is critical to the contracting community.  Large firms that mentor small companies play a critical role in saving their Federal clients money and time, commit to putting action behind the mantra of bringing “innovation and creativity” to the Federal mission and bring a higher level of professionalism to the contracting community.

Honoring our Federal Small Business Titans:  

Frank Barros 

Program Analyst, Science & Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Sandra Broadnax 

Elissa Sobolewski 

Federal Small Business Titan of the YEAR: 

Kevin Boshears
 Director, Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED FOR MATCHMAKING SESSION

Les Rose is the Corporate Vice President & President of L3 National Security Solutions group. He also serves as the co-chair of the GTSC Mentor Forum. L-3 NSS’ six operating units deliver full-spectrum cyber operations, enterprise and mission information technology, intelligence operations support and operational infrastructure solutions. Mr. Rose’s career has spanned over 40 years of management and engineering. Upon completing a successful 20-year career as an officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as an Army pilot, Mr. Rose joined Delta Research Corporation, an L-3 legacy company in 1990. He was promoted to president of Delta Research, and through a series of acquisitions and promotions became president of L-3 STRATIS one of the largest division of the global defense leader. Today Mr. Rose serves as president of both L-3 STRATIS and L-3 NSS. Mr. Rose holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Are you a small business interested in teaming partners?  Do you work on:

• information technology
• identity management
• configuration management
• help desk.call center support
• warfighter support services
• C4ISR experience
• Maritime/Port security operations services
• Wireless Network technical support
• Health IT
• information security/information assurance
• IA support for validation testing
• logistics support
• networks services
• modeling and simulation
• training courseware capabilities
• Intelligence Community IT services
• or other services?

Join us for an afternoon of new contacts, teaming and insight into new market areas.

TENTATIVE AGENDA – GTSC Small Business Mega-Matchmaking & The Mentor Awards

1:00 pm  Introduction

1:15 – 4:00 pm  Matchmaking with GTSC Mentors and other large companies

4:30 pm  Small Business Government Panel

5:30 pm  The Mentor Awards program and reception

Download the Brochure.

]]> https://gt.gtscoalition.com/425-members-only-business-development-exchange/ Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:35:10 +0000 https://www.gtscoalition.com/?p=5617 Randy Lange, Chief Growth Officer at Eagle Ray, Inc. will Chair GTSC’s Business Development Exchange.

The 2013 GTSC Holiday Awards honors:

Federal Small Business Champions of the Year Award: John Morton, former Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement & Jonathan Porter, Chief of Staff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Federal Small Business Champion of the Year is awarded annually to the Federal official(s) who show a distinct commitment and tangible results toward improving the environment and success for small businesses in the Federal homeland and national security market.

Market Maven of the Year Award: Chad C. Sweet, Co-Founder & CEO, The Chertoff Group

Normally presented at the GTSC Anniversary, 2013 year’s Market Maven of the Year Award will be presented at the holiday party. It is presented to an exceptional individual who contributes in a concrete and tangible way to the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of the homeland and national security market. Proven as a thought leader with a belief in increasing individual opportunity, the power of free enterprise and the nurture of innovation to advance and support the homeland and national security mission.

Strategic Partner of the Year Award: Brian E. Finch, Partner, Global Security Practice, Dickstein Shapiro LLP

The Strategic Partner of the Year is awarded annually to the Strategic Partner that demonstrates a clear commitment to GTSC, contributes significantly to the content and substance of the organization and provides GTSC members with counsel, insight and resources to perform exceptionally on behalf of the homeland and national security mission.

Strategic Advisor of the Year Award: Bill Carroll, Senior Partner, Strike Force Consulting

The Strategic Advisor of the Year is awarded annually to the Strategic Advisor who works on behalf of GTSC to increase our capacity, membership and opportunities to bring the innovation, creativity and solutions of small and mid-sized companies to the homeland and national security mission.

Small Business Member of the Year Award: PReSafe Technologies LLC

The award is presented annually to the GTSC Member that exemplifies exceptional quality and ethics for the Federal government, a commitment to GTSC’s small business members and advocacy on behalf of our community.

Mentor of the Year Award: TASC & Mike Kelly, Vice President, Business Development, Civil and Infrastructure Security Group, TASC

Mentor of the Year is awarded annually to the GTSC Mentor who has worked to increase members’ understanding of the homeland and national security market, increased business opportunities for small companies through formal and informal mentoring and engages with GTSC to promote an innovative, robust, fair market for all.

About the Border Patrol Foundation

The Border Patrol Foundation provides resources to the families of the fallen and creates awareness of the escalating risk of those who keep America’s borders safe. These services create a financial bridge through the turbulent time following a family’s loss. The Foundation supports programs improving awareness of United States border security and recognizes community leaders supporting the families of the U.S. Border Patrol. The Foundation’s volunteers have served with the U.S. Border Patrol or are professionals, friends and family committed to the importance of securing America’s borders and dedicate their lives to the same.

Thank You to our Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Thank you to Old Dominion Strategies!

Support and sponsorships of our holiday event are welcome  — please contact us to help make this our best event ever!

Parking & Public Transportation

Parking: There is some on-site and two-hour metered street parking. Parking is also available at GMU.

Metrorail: The Arlington Arts Center is one block south of the Virginia Square-GMU metro station on the Orange line.

Metrobus: Line 24P and ART Line 41 stop directly in front of the AAC.

GTSC: What is your first piece of advice for a company entering the Federal homeland and national security market right now? 

Babs Doherty: Prepare for a long road.  The acquisition cycle is over 2 years now due to sequestration and other budget cuts.  A small company cannot keep a bench of qualified candidates on hand for 2 years so you will need to plan ahead and keep your candidates up to date on the progress of any new business you are going after.  If you have an 8(a) status, then you may be able to move things along faster than 2 years but even those contracts are seeing delays longer than before.  So have a plan on how to grow your business over the long haul and be patient and persistent.  The work will come.   Also do not hesitate to team with solid primes.  Pay particular attention to any work share opportunities or areas that you are considered a subject matter expert to get the attention from the primes.  Most important, execute on any current work you have flawlessly.  You’ll need good, solid references to win additional work.

GTSC: What is one thing you “learned the hard way” and could help mentor another company?

Babs Doherty: When you are getting started in the business, you usually are a subcontractor before a prime.  Many times the primes provide you with “target” rates in order to be on their team.  Be careful to analyze EVERY rate carefully and do not bid on labor categories that are not your sweet spot, even though it is tempting.  Once you have provided your rates to the prime, they can, and do, bid any mix of those labor categories to win the work.  If you are not prepared to deliver a qualified person at that labor category price, you will be in trouble.  Check every labor category in a realistic way to ensure you can deliver a qualified candidate before you provide that rate to the prime.  Be prepared to negotiate but also be prepared to walk away if the prime cannot give you the rates under which you can deliver successfully

GTSC: The environment is very competitive.  How are you staying ahead of the curve/or afloat?

Babs Doherty: I am paying attention to my competition and the bidding trends.  The bidding trends are changing as the budget environment dictates tighter and tighter profit rates and escalation.  The government is desiring a true partnership from industry and wants to see that reflected in your bid (lower escalation, lower profit margins, creative bidding) to save money.  We are always looking at ways to deliver our services better than our competition and analyze other projects to see what works and what doesn’t.  We also want to show a strong bench or the ability to obtain highly qualified staff in a creative way.  Everyone says they have a data base of candidates.  It’s important to show other ways beyond a data base to maintain a qualified staff.  Lastly, be quick to respond to requests from your customers.  They will find other means to get what they want if it takes too long to get to an agreement or get the requirement fulfilled.

Babs Doherty     CEO                 Eagle Ray, Inc.

Eagle Ray, Inc. is a Lion’s Den member of the Government Technology & Services Coalition. Eagle Ray, Inc. takes a pragmatic, common-sense approach to organizational transformation, tailoring our  proven, systematized processes to meet your unique requirements. Our transformational approach is based first and foremost on common sense. Learn more about Eagle Ray, Inc. here.