AFTC hosts Air Force small business event: Bringing the warfighter’s needs to small business partners Published Nov. 4, 2014 By William Mallory SBIR Program Manager ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- Mark your calendars - the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) Small Business Industry Day will be held Nov. 18-20 at the Huntsville Marriott in Huntsville, Ala. The Air Force is pioneering a new type of Industry Day - Air Force Small Business Industry Day (SBID) - that focuses on small business product capabilities, contract opportunities and technology development prospects by matching stakeholders from Centers/ Program Executive Officers, large business and small business communities. Air Force SBID events are designed to increase small business participation and awareness in the Air Force supply chain. The SBID provides benefit to the Air Force by creating partnerships and increasing small business participation. This opportunity is a forum which emphasizes small business capabilities and new concepts, highlights existing small business products and promotes collaboration and integration of small businesses' services, products, and technologies into the Air Force's normal way of doing business. The Air Force is using these events to identify and increase small business presence in the acquisition supply chain and to simultaneously incorporate new technologies by blending Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program developed technologies into the Air Force Programs of Record. Hosted by the Air Force Test Center, the SBID is a three-day event with keynote speakers, briefings on Air Force business opportunities and technology needs, educational briefings and three unique small business tracks. Each track maximizes opportunities between the Air Force and small businesses, by matching current Air Force needs with small business abilities and products. Expected SBID benefits include: · Establishment of new small business suppliers · Transition acceleration of SBIR developed technologies · AFTC business opportunities that focus on small businesses · Excellent venue for small and large businesses to collaborate The AFTC SBID includes opportunities created through the following structured conference activities. There will be general session presentations by senior Air Force keynote speakers Maj. Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., the Commander of the Air Force Test Center; Mark Teskey, the director of the U.S. Air Force Small Business Programs; and Richard Lombardi, the Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Integration. These Air Force subject matter experts will provide information on the latest Test Center requirements and technology-based needs. Sessions also include discussions on Test Center needs and requirements, contracting, business development, and transition/commercialization opportunities. Small businesses will benefit from one-on-one sessions with Air Force and major defense contractor subject matter experts, and the sessions are by invitation only. Exhibit booths will provide government and business attendees the opportunity to collaborate and discuss their products, technologies and services. For more information call 931-454-7081 or visit the following link: https://conference.brtrc.com/AFSBID/2014TestCenter.