Columbia VAHCS Hosts Industry Days

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The VA Small Business Industry Days events are held annually in different cities across the country. The events are typically attended by VA procurement officials, small business specialists, and other VA personnel who provide insight into how small businesses can navigate the federal contracting process. Attendees can also meet with representatives from prime contractors, learn about upcoming VA procurements, and get tips on how to do business with the VA.

“We service between 50-70 VA medical centers, select DoD medical centers, and Indian Health Services as well,” said Government Expo Director of Operations, Ann Johnson. “[VA Small Business Industry Days] provide an opportunity for contracted suppliers to meet with clinicians physicians and procurement staff to demonstrate their products and provide education.  It’s also a great opportunity for a facility to do market research for any current or future needs.”

VA Small Business Industry Days provides an opportunity for clinicians, physicians, and other health care professionals to review a variety of medical and non-medical supplies, services, and equipment from an assortment of small businesses. This year’s event played host to 29 small businesses.  

“All of the vendors here are either service-disabled, Veteran, or woman-owned,” said Johnson. “Today there are vendors with services ranging from wound care, safe-patient handling, infection preventions, surgical products, physical medicine and rehab, IT services, and outsourcing home-based primary care specific to the geriatric population.”

Small businesses play a vital role in the American economy - employing half of our country's workforce, creating nearly two out of every three new American jobs, and often being the source of the next great American innovation. NAVFAC Southeast strives to meet its goals and build on its successes by providing contract opportunities to these businesses.

“These events are a great way to support small businesses while also providing an opportunity for the VA to ensure that we have the latest products and services for our Veterans,” said Columbia VAHCS Director/CEO, Dr. David Omura.

This is the first times since March of 2020 that the VA Small Businesses Industry Days has been hosted at the Columbia VAHCS, representing the end to a three-year hiatus of this event, which was held virtually last year.

“We are happy to be back in person and provide these vendors with an opportunity to talk with staff and promote and demonstrate their products,” said Johnson.

VA Small Business Industry Days events provide a valuable resource for both the VA, and small businesses interested in working with the VA. Aside from networking, access to vendors and VA procurement officials, these events provide the VA with the opportunity to ensure they are using the most up-to-date technology and equipment to provide the best care for Veterans.

“Technology changes quite often and this is a way to see what is new in the market to provide care,” said Columbia VAHCS Chief Supply Chain Officer, Lynette Guice. “If we are not keeping up with the latest or [best] products on the market, how can we be a world class health care system? Industry days helps to bridge that gap and we get to see and test the products which could be introduced to the VA to provide the best care possible.

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Wyatt Anthony, Public Affairs Specialist

wyatt.anthony@va.gov