On October 9th, the FAA Small Business Program Office (AAP-20) and representatives from seven Aeronautical Center Program and Tenant organizations participated in the 2024 Indian Country Business Summit (ICBS). This Matchmaking Event was hosted by the Oklahoma APEX Accelerator (OkAPEX), Oklahoma’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). OkAPEX Centers are in local Technology Centers located across the state, providing technical assistance to businesses interested in selling their products or services to federal, state, and local government agencies. The ICBS is a Native American and Tribal Owned Business Outreach Event. This year’s event attracted nearly 200 small businesses, both Native and Tribally-owned businesses from across the U.S.
Each year, the ICBS offers informational sessions featuring experts in government procurement and a one-day business matchmaking event, helping to introduce business offerings to government decision-makers. The event is tailored to government agency buyers, policy leaders, prime contractors, and tribal procurement representatives.
The FAA’s Aeronautical Center has actively supported this Native American, Tribal and Small Business Outreach activity since its inception in 2006, by providing program managers, and procurement officials to participate in a one-on-one matchmaking session.
This year, the Aeronautical Center was well represented once again with 14 participants from seven different program offices. Organizations participating include FAA Academy (AMA), Aeronautical Center Acquisition Services Division (AAQ-700), FAA Logistics Center (AJW-L), Enterprise Services Center (AMK), Office of Facility Management (AMP), Flight Standards (AFB), and the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (AAM). Gerald Lewis, Sr., the FAA Small Business Advocate (AAP-20) for the Aeronautical Center also participated in an Oklahoma federal government procurement panel earlier in the day, along with fellow Federal Small Business Program Managers, and advocates from Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Altus AFB, Ft. Sill, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Comments and feedback from the event have been outstanding. Small business outreach events like this provide our Program Managers and Procurement Officials with a one-stop industry engagement opportunity to make contact and meet with prospective contractors in a neutral setting.
Furthermore, the outstanding support for this small business outreach event demonstrates our commitment to the Native American and Tribally Owned Business Community with the potential to increase our vital supplier base. This event topped off another successful year of Small Business Outreach at the Aeronautical Center, where we have met or exceeded all of our Small Business Procurement Goals for FY-2024. Thanks to everyone who supported this year’s outreach to the Native and Tribal community.
Special thanks to the following Aeronautical Center employees who helped to represent the Aeronautical Center and their respective program organizations at this year’s Indian Country Business Summit (ICBS).
More information about the FAA’s Small Business Office
