Hanscom participates in groundbreaking small business forum

  • Published
  • By Chuck Paone
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
BURLINGTON, Mass. --  Hanscom AFB officials participated in a small business forum here Dec. 11, discussing ways to pursue business opportunities with the Air Force and with Hanscom specifically.

The Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force hosted the forum. Former U.S. Senator and Mass. Military Task Force Co-Chair William "Mo" Cowan, Marty Jones of MassDevelopment, Michael Hunter of the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, and numerous U.S. Air Force officials addressed the more than 150 attendees who packed the ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Organizers placed particular emphasis on system development and product support requirements that Hanscom's Battle Management Directorate expects to fill via competitive procurements in the near future.

"This is the first time we've gone directly to small businesses with a specific list of opportunities they can bid on," said Steve Wert, the Air Force's program executive officer for Battle Management.

During his presentation and during a vigorous question-and-answer session that followed, Wert noted why this type of outreach is important.

"Innovation and cost-effectiveness are not the exclusive domains of a limited number of large defense contractors," he said in statement released by the Governor's Office following the event. "We know there are small businesses that can contribute to our mission in valued-added ways. And increasing small business participation requires us to compete more of our program content, which in turn requires us to operate with more sophisticated acquisition strategies that are inherently more cost-effective in the long run."

In Massachusetts, small businesses represent 85 percent of all companies and employ more than one-fourth of the workforce, according to the press statement released by the Governor's Office. This forum, the statement noted, served as another example of the Commonwealth's work to enhance partnerships between small businesses, industry in general and the military, specifically at Hanscom Air Force Base.

"Hanscom Air Force Base is able to take advantage of a high-quality workforce, world-class educational institutions, and advanced technological companies in Massachusetts," said Cowan. "As a Co-Chair of the Military Task Force, I am pleased to be part of the effort the Patrick Administration has in partnership with Hanscom as they expand their community outreach and strengthen their communication with small businesses."

At the forum, Bill Donaldson, Hanscom's director of Small Business Programs, talked about "How to Do Business with the Air Force" and discussed ways for businesses to more easily gain information about upcoming solicitations. He also pointed out multiple avenues where small businesses can turn to seek assistance.

David Sikora from the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research program also presented and fielded questions, discussing his office's goals to stimulate technology research by small businesses while providing the government with cost-effective technical and scientific solutions to challenging problems.

The Military Task Force and MassDevelopment partnered with associations and organizations to put on the event. They include: the Defense Technology Initiative (DTI); Smaller Business Association of New England (SBANE); Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA); the New England Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA); Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM); Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network's Procurement Technical Assistance Center; and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.