UNDERSTANDING FCLs & CLEARED CONTRACTING READINESS
Featuring Andy Hall, Founder & CEO of HLM Associates
Empower your day with coffee, connections, and contracting insights! Join us for Coffee & Contracting, a GovCon 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 Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce in our conference room.
Following the 14th annual NOVA B2G Matchmaking Conference & Small Business Expo, many small businesses are exploring opportunities within the Department of Defense and broader national security sector — but often encounter barriers surrounding security clearance requirements and classified contracting environments.
Join Andy Hall, Founder & CEO of HLM Associates, for a practical and informative discussion designed to help government contractors better understand the transition from an uncleared to a cleared facility. Drawing from decades of experience supporting the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and National Industrial Security Program (NISP), Andy will walk attendees through the Facility Clearance (FCL) process, sponsorship requirements, security program expectations, classified information safeguarding considerations, and the infrastructure needed to pursue cleared government contracting opportunities.
Whether your organization is beginning to explore defense contracting opportunities or preparing for future cleared work, this session will provide valuable insight into the operational, compliance and strategic considerations required to compete in the cleared contracting space.
Connect & Cultivate Knowledge
- What a Facility Clearance (FCL) is and why it matters
- Who can sponsor a Facility Clearance
- Steps involved in the FCL process & eligibility requirements
- Security program and compliance expectations under NISP
- Considerations for safeguarding classified information
- Common challenges businesses face when pursuing cleared work
- How to begin preparing organization for defense-related opportunities
Meet our Keynote Speaker
Andy Hall, Founder & CEO of HLM Associates, possesses extensive experience in Department of Defense, Special Access Programs (SAP), Intelligence Community Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (SCI), U.S. Government Civilian Agency, and private sector National Industrial Security Program (NISP) security operations management, site assessments, and risk management, and is recognized as a Subject Matter Expert in physical security design and construction. He presently services on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Physical and Technical Security Expert Working Group (PTSEWG), and has been instrumental in the development of the Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 705 Technical Standards.
Mr. Hall serves on the Board of Directors of the Contractor Special Security Working Group (CSSWG) and is a member of ASIS International and NCMS. He also holds a B.S., Business and Management from the University of Maryland.
Prior to the formation of HLM Associates, LLC, Mr. Hall was President of Applied Security Through Risk Management, LLC. Over the course of his career, Andy held numerous positions with SAIC including: Assistant Vice President and Program Manager for Physical and Technical Security; Program Manager Security Support to Missile Defense Agency SIS; and Security Supervisor and Facility Security Officer (FSO). He also served as a Physical Security Administrator with Booz Allen Hamilton. Mr. Hall is a distinguished United States Marine Corps Veteran.
Date and Time
Tuesday Jul 14, 2026
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM EDT
Location
MillerMusmar, CPAs - Conference Room
2100 Reston Pkwy Suite 400, Reston, VA 20191
Fees/Admission
Online Registration
Chamber Member - $25
Non-Member - $35
Contact Information
Torrie Turner || Operations Manager
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