Southwest Virginia Community College

Subcontracting as a Marketing Strategy
2026-02-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Join the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) and the SW Virginia Apex Accelerator as they team to present an overview of subcontracting with prime businesses as a way to get involved in federal contracting.
Learn about the GSA subcontracting program and how to target GSA prime vendors, market to them, as well as understand the advantages of initiating your Government contracting experience through subcontracting and teaming arrangements.
Presenter: Claudia Hadley, Small Business Specialist
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. General Services Administration

RFIs, RFPs, RFQs: Understanding the Difference
2026-03-04 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar will help you learn how to develop effective responses to Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Quotes (RFQs). During this training, we will explain the differences in these requests and provide small businesses with the most effective strategies for creating effective responses.
What you’ll learn:
Understanding the power of responding to RFIs and Sources Sought Notices
Tips on creating effective responses
Insights from Federal contracting officers
Common mistakes to avoid.
Presenter: Mrs. Claudia Hadley, Small Business Specialist
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. General Services Administration

Foreign Ownership, Control and Influence (FOCI)
2026-03-10 13:00 - 14:00
This class will train you on Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence, or FOCI. In an increasingly global economy, for those companies interested in doing classified work for the U.S. Government it is vitally important to understand what constitutes FOCI and how such concerns can be mitigated.
In this 1 hour webinar, you will learn about the facility clearance (FCL) process, what is FOCI, when a U.S. entity is considered to be under FOCI, and potential FOCI mitigation measures, among other important related topics.
Speakers
Richard Arnholt, Member at Bass, Berry & Sims, a law firm in Washington, DC, advises companies on the complex rules applicable to contracting with federal and state governments. His practice includes litigating bid and size protests, counseling clients on unique regulations impacting their business, as well as responding to government allegations of procurement fraud or misconduct. In addition, he assists clients who are responding to suspension or debarment notices before various government agencies, including the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy; Defense Logistics Agency; EPA; GSA; and the Department of Homeland Security.
Adam Briscoe, Associate at Bass Berry & Sims PLC, advises companies as they navigate the contracting process with federal, state, and local governments. He counsels and represents clients on bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, contract claims and disputes, teaming and subcontracting issues, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, data rights and intellectual property issues, and compliance with cybersecurity and Small Business Administration regulations

Utilizing GSA e-Tools
2026-03-18 13:00 - 14:00
GSA offers a suite of integrated e-tools to make the acquisition process more efficient for small businesses. These complimentary e-tools — GSA Advantage!®, GSA eBuy, GSA eLibrary, Acquisition Gateway, and others — help you quickly and easily perform market research, respond to requests for quotes, and more.
Join GSA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for an introduction to GSA’s e-tools and methods for your business to gain an advantage in achieving acquisition efficiency.
Learning Objectives:
Learn how to successfully access and navigate GSA’s e-tools
Understand and review GSA e-Buy
Overview of GSA’s Forecast Tool
Gain knowledge about accessing subcontract opportunities

Presenter: Claudia Hadley, Small Business Specialist
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. General Services Administration

Simple Access to SBA Surety Bonds
2026-03-31 13:00 - 14:00
Surety bonding is often seen as a technical hurdle, but for many small businesses, it can be the key to unlocking significant procurement opportunities. The “Simple Access to SBA Surety Bonds” presentation will help you discover how surety bonds can be a game-changer for your business growth. Mr. Gibbs will share proven strategies to improve your bonding capacity, break through common barriers, and gain a competitive edge in both public and private sector contracting. With bonding often being the missing link between readiness and revenue, this session will empower participants to turn a perceived barrier into a business growth tool.
Objectives of the Presentation cover:
Why bonds are important
SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program
How to obtain a surety bond
Underwriting an account
Reasons Why Small Business get denied bonding
Benefits of working with an SBA surety expert
Top 10 tips for contractors/small businesses
What You’ll Learn:
How surety bonds guaranteed by SBA work and why they’re essential for businesses seeking contracts in industries such as construction, government contracting, and more.
Guidance on how to access SBA surety bonds with less hassle.
Tips for overcoming common barriers small businesses face when securing surety bonds.
Strategies to increase your eligibility and win more business by leveraging SBA support.
Leave with actionable insights to assess your current bonding status, identify areas for improvement, and build stronger relationships with bonding partners and procurement stakeholders.
Target Audience:
Small business owners and contractors looking to grow their business and win larger projects.
Startups in need of financing and bond support to scale.
Entrepreneurs interested in understanding how SBA programs can help with bonding challenges.
Presenter: Mr. Peter Gibbs, President
Foundation Surety & Insurance Solutions

Federal Contracting 101
2026-04-07 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for Federal Contracting 101, a comprehensive training session designed to help businesses navigate the world of government contracting. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand into the federal marketplace, this session will walk you through the essentials — from registering in the System for Award Management (SAM), to understanding socio-economic certifications (such as 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB), to developing strategies for effectively marketing your products or services to government agencies. Learn how to position your business for success and tap into the billions of dollars in federal contracting opportunities available each year.

Presenter: Judy Sayers, Procurement Specialist – Southwest Virginia Community College APEX Accelerator

Marketing to Procurement Professionals
2026-04-15 13:00 - 14:00
How you introduce your business matters. In this session, learn how to prepare your elevator pitch, identify your differentiators, and market your services to procurement officials effectively. This training will help you build confidence, create stronger networking conversations, and make a lasting impression at the upcoming event and beyond.
Whether you’re new to contracting or looking to sharpen your skills this workshop for you.
Presenter: Brandon McCall, Procurement Specialist
Southwest Virginia Community College APEX Accelerator

Capability Statements: A Must-Have for Government Contracting
2026-04-22 13:00 - 14:00
Your capability statement is a key marketing tool when connecting with procurement officers. In this interactive session, learn how to craft a compelling, professional capability statement that communicates your core competencies, past performance, and differentiators. We’ll walk through examples, templates, and tips to help you stand out. Whether you’re just exploring government contracting or you’re already an experienced vendor looking to sharpen your approach, this virtual workshop is for you.
Whether you’re new to contracting or looking to sharpen your skills this workshop for you.
Presenter: Jessica Dotson, Program Manager
Southwest Virginia Community College APEX Accelerator

Intro to Selling to Virginia
2026-04-29 10:00 - 11:30
This session will provide a high-level overview of the Commonwealth’s purchasing process, including purchasing policies that affect how buyers use the eVA system to “shop” and the eVA tools used by our buying community. You’ll also get a guided tour of the eVA website as we discuss the publicly accessible tools & resources every business should know about if they’re interested in selling to Virginia. And if you’re not already an eVA registered supplier, you’ll learn how to get signed-up, as well as where to go for help at any time!
Presenter: Kim Pritchett, eVA Marketing & Outreach Manager
Virginia Department of General Services

Generate Leads Using eVA
2026-05-06 10:00 - 12:00
This advanced workshop is the 2nd in our series & focuses on lead generation. This hands-on session explores the public transparency tools available on the eVA website, including the Report & Resource Center and the new “power” search. You’ll learn how to identify buyers who are buying what you sell, determine prices being paid for goods/services, identify who’s getting business (is it you or your competition). We’ll also walk through the Virginia Business Opportunities public posting page – featuring collaboration tools like B2B Connect & VIBE – as we discuss how & when eVA builds a lead list for you and why rating your leads is important.
Presenter: Kim Pritchett, eVA Marketing & Outreach Manager
Virginia Department of General Services

SWaM Certification
2026-05-14 13:00 - 14:00
Are you a small, women-owned, minority-owned, micro, veteran, service-disabled veteran business looking to expand your opportunities? The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) invites you to a virtual informational session on the SWaM Certification process.
Why Get SWaM Certified?
Each year, the Commonwealth of Virginia spends over $8 billion on goods and services. Becoming SWaM certified can open doors to new business opportunities and increase your visibility among an additional set of potential customers.
SWaM certification is a powerful tool that can help your business secure contracts with:
State Agencies
Public Colleges & Universities
Local Municipalities
Private Sector Companies utilizing the SWaM database
What You’ll Learn in This Workshop:
Overview of the SWaM Program
Eligibility requirements for certification (including Small, Woman-owned, Minority-owned, Micro, ESO, Veteran, and Service-Disabled Veteran designations)
Step-by-step guidance on how to apply
Don’t miss this chance to learn how SWaM Certification can help grow your business!
Presented by: Kathy Deacon, SBSD Business Services Manager, Southwest Virginia Region
