RICHMOND, Va. –
The Defense Logistics Agency is gearing up to host the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Symposium and Exhibition on June 11-12 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, with a significant focus on empowering small businesses within the defense industrial base.
This year’s event, themed “Driving Combat Readiness: Leveraging Partnerships to Strengthen the Defense Industrial Base,” is a collaboration with the National Defense Industrial Association and promises insights from industry leaders, senior defense officials, and general/flag officers.
Daniele Kurze, Executive Director of Small Business Programs at DLA, emphasized the symposium’s dedication to providing small businesses with critical insights and practical tools.
“The symposium is designed to equip small business with critical insight and practical tools to strengthen their role in the defense industrial base,” Kurze said.
Participants can expect strategic updates on current initiatives and opportunities, as well as targeted guidance on expanding partnerships through breakout sessions covering topics such as the SBA’s Made in America Initiative, access to financing, and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Sessions will also address cybersecurity, forecasting and the specific nuances of conducting business with DLA.
Small Business Matchmaking: A Central Focus
A key highlight of the symposium will be the Small Business Matchmaking Session, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, from 9:50-11:25 a.m. The DLA Office of Small Business Programs is hosting this event to not only match small businesses with DLA, but also to bring together large prime contractors and small businesses for brief, face-to-face meetings.
Sign-ups for the matchmaking event open May 27. This valuable opportunity will assist small businesses in making professional connections, exploring potential teaming opportunities, and finding new business partners to better position themselves for future contracts and collaborative growth.
Live Support and Direct Communication
Beyond the matchmaking event, the symposium will feature a live contracting help desk, providing on-site support for businesses with existing contracts. A centralized booth staffed by DLA small business representatives from all supply chains will offer a direct line of communication to explore opportunities, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of how to engage for business across the DLA Enterprise.
Supplier Pathway Program Takes Center Stage
DLA is also promoting its Supplier Pathway Program, launched in January, designed to guide new entrants into the defense industrial base. The program aims to clearly define the essential steps and certifications needed to do business with DLA. Attendees can expect “show and tell” sessions at the DLA booth, where laptops will be available to demonstrate program tools and gather feedback.
According to Kurze, one of the program’s primary goals this year is to increase new entrants and sustain current suppliers, thereby strengthening the defense industrial base.
“We are looking to empower new entrants and existing suppliers through enhanced iterations of DLA’s Supplier Pathway Program and targeted outreach where we need increased capabilities,” she said.
The agency has also revamped its website to provide improved knowledge base material and enhanced development for DLA-specific training for small businesses. Furthermore, DLA is launching a new series of “web shorts” – short episodes addressing specific topics. This initiative, driven by feedback from small businesses, aims to provide easily digestible information for those who lack the time for lengthy webinars or in-person events.
Gathering Feedback for Continuous Improvement
DLA plans to actively solicit feedback from small businesses throughout the symposium. Post-event surveys, session feedback, and informal conversations will all be used to identify areas for improvement in DLA’s small business programs and processes.
As DLA Acquisition Director Matt Beebe said in an article on DLA.mil earlier this year, these efforts are part of a broader initiative to increase industrial base resiliency by increasing access for new entrants to DLA’s supplier base, improving the supplier portal and building tools for employees to identify market sectors that could benefit from new acquisition strategies.
The DLA Supply Chain Alliance Symposium and Exhibition promises to be a valuable event for small businesses seeking to navigate the complexities of working with the agency and contribute to the nation’s defense, said Kurze. With a focus on matchmaking, live support, and program updates, DLA is demonstrating its commitment to fostering strong partnerships and a resilient defense industrial base.