About this Event
DC Government Contracting Lab: Get Ready to Bid
Join us in person at the National Union Building - 2nd Floor North - Proposed Workshop Space for an informative session designed to prepare you for government contracting opportunities in Washington, DC.
The event will take place on October 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time).
YOUR NEXT CUSTOMER COULD BE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
Government contracting can open an entirely different sales channel for a small business - but SAM registration, NAICS codes, capability statements, solicitations and procurement terminology can make getting started unnecessarily confusing.
DC Government Contracting Lab is a practical working session designed to help small-business owners understand the contracting landscape and determine what they actually need before pursuing opportunities.
Instead of spending the morning listening to broad presentations, you'll work through your Contract Readiness Checklist, identify the types of opportunities relevant to your business, examine the structure of a solicitation and begin building a concise capability statement.
You'll leave with a clearer understanding of where to look, what buyers expect and what your next steps should be. This is an educational workshop, not a promise of government contracts or awards.
What Makes This Workshop Practical
- Contract Readiness Check: Identify gaps in registrations, documentation and business information before you start bidding.
- Opportunity Mapping: Learn how to narrow opportunities by agency, industry and business capability instead of searching blindly.
- Capability Statement Builder: Start drafting the one-page document commonly used to introduce your business to government buyers and prime contractors.
- Bid / No-Bid Exercise: Review a sample opportunity and practice deciding whether it's actually worth pursuing.
This is an independent educational event. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any federal, state, or local government agency. Attendance does not guarantee contract eligibility, bid acceptance, or contract awards.
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM
Check-In & Contract Readiness Check
🕑: 10:20 AM
How Government Buying Works
🕑: 10:45 PM
Finding the Right Opportunities
🕑: 11:15 AM
Short Break
🕑: 11:25 AM
Capability Statement Lab
🕑: 11:55 AM
Bid / No-Bid Challenge
🕑: 12:20 PM
30-Day Contract Action Plan
Event venue & nearby stays
National Union Building - 2nd Floor North - Proposed Workshop Space, 918 F Street Northwest, Washington, United States
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