Heartland OSDBU connects small businesses through virtual capability briefings

Heartland Small Business Technical Advisor Bill Strobel collected slide presentations from participants and facilitated 10-minute capability briefings from several small disadvantaged businesses and prime contractors in the construction trades May 6.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A handful of Heartland Region small and disadvantaged businesses in the construction trades spent some time during the usual National Small Business Week to join GSA contracting personnel and prime contractors for a virtual capability briefing May 6.

“We appreciate this opportunity,” a presenter from a small disadvantaged, 8(a), and women-owned construction business out of the Kansas City, Kansas metro said. “We consider GSA a great customer and always appreciate the opportunity to participate in an event like this and support GSA’s mission.”

GSA’s Heartland Small Business Technical Advisor Bill Strobel arranged the virtual event, which involved six SDBs taking 10 minutes to present their capabilities and answering questions, followed by prime contractors presenting upcoming opportunities and background information.

“We would not be where we are today without (small business programs),” a presenter from a small disadvantaged construction business out of St. Louis said. “We’re still looking for an SBA mentor-protege relationship.”

Strobel collected contact information from the participants to follow up with them on future opportunities for matchmaking of small business subcontractors and prime contractors.

“America’s small businesses need support more than ever right now,” Strobel said. “While it was unfortunate we couldn’t celebrate National Small Business Week as we typically do the first week of May, we look forward to making it up when the time is right.”

For more information about GSA’s Heartland Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, contact Strobel at william.strobel@gsa.gov or 816-308-6299.