Vendor Outreach Sessions
If you are unfamiliar with the SBIR program and are a small U.S based company interested in pursuing innovative R&D efforts with DHS, you can schedule a one-on-one with us during a monthly VOS. The VOS is hosted by the DHS Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) and is held on the third or last Thursday of every month, from 9:00am – 4:00pm. The VOS offers ten sessions of 15-minute pre-scheduled virtual meetings designed to connect small businesses with valuable contracting opportunities. Four of the sessions during the year, are exclusively reserved for women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, small disadvantaged (including 8(a)), and HUBZone small businesses.
Through the VOS registration and scheduling system, small businesses create their profile and are strategically matched with DHS components and large business counselors based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes and core capabilities versus the “first come first serve” approach. Small businesses can then request a meeting once the request period opens two weeks prior to the session, More details on the process and requesting a meeting are here: https://www.dhs.gov/osdbu/small-business-vendor-outreach-sessions.
If you are planning on participating in these sessions, make sure to know what you want from the meeting, research the potential areas of opportunity in advance, listen to the representative, be receptive to the guidance/feedback provided by the government. A more detailed discussion of this can be found in our SBIR One-on-Ones: Do’s and Don’ts video.
The next VOS will be held on Thursday, May 22 and is reserved for HUBZone companies only. You can find the full calendar for FY25 sessions here https://www.dhs.gov/publication/osdbu/small-business-resources. We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming VOS session!
Upcoming Events
We are planning to participate in the 34th Annual Government Procurement Conference in Washington, DC this April. We are continually looking to find other opportunities to connect with you at events and anticipate seeing many of you in the near future! In the meantime, we encourage you to check our News and Events Page regularly and be on the lookout for SBIR mailing list emails, regular website updates, and DHS S&T social media posts, as we add more opportunities to engage with small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.
April 16: 34th Government Annual Procurement Conference: Washington, DC
What Else?
Tech Tuesday – Every Tuesday from 2:00 pm -5:00 pm ET, SOFWERX provides a platform for Industry and Academia to showcase their innovative capabilities. Participants have the opportunity to present their solutions in 30-minute time slots to USSOCOM and other interested government partners, fostering collaboration and potential partnerships. Don’t miss this chance to share your expertise and connect with key decision-makers! Sign up here- SOFWERX Submission Manager – Tech Tuesday
FedTech Startup Studio – Seeking Aspiring and Experienced Entrepreneurs
FedTech Startup Studio connects breakthrough technologies from federal and university labs with driven entrepreneurs ready to bring them to market. Through an immersive, months-long program, participants are guided through the lean startup model while navigating the unique challenges of commercializing federally funded innovations. Registration information here – Startup Studios | FedTech Startup Studio
