GRCC GovCon Council - Coffee & Contracting Series

Start your morning with coffee, connections, and contracting insights! Join us for Coffee & Contracting, a morning networking series designed to bring small businesses face-to-face with government and industry leaders shaping the acquisition landscape. This session will be hosted at Carahsoft Technology Corporation in their Café space, curating a welcoming environment for meaningful conversations and relationship-building.

This session dives beyond the buzzwords to deliver honest, practical guidance from inside the Air Force acquisition system. Hear directly from those in the know about what procurement decision-makers are really looking for, where small businesses can bring the most value, and how to prioritize your time and resources for the greatest impact.

Whether you're just starting out or refining your federal strategy, this is your opportunity to gain clarity, credibility, and connections—over coffee.

 Connect & Cultivate Knowledge

• Why most capability briefings are forgettable — and what makes one memorable
• The two or three core things small businesses should always include (and what to leave out)
• How to build a relationship without being a pest

• Why chasing prime contracts may not be realistic initially — and why that’s okay
• How subcontracting and niche teaming can be powerful entry points
• When to walk away from a bad-fit opportunity (and how to identify it early)

• How to prioritize the right certifications and registrations — and avoid "checkbox" thinking
• Free (or low-cost) resources that actually deliver value for small businesses
• What realistic “early wins” look like — and how long it really takes to gain traction

• How to connect with the right people in the Air Force ecosystem (even if you don’t have a Rolodex)
• What contracting officers and subcontracting program managers actually read or respond to
• How to be known for something specific — and why that’s your competitive advantage