Advancing Partnerships: Navigating VA Acquisition

Get the inside scoop on teaming up with the VA and making your acquisition process way smoother.

This event delivers a comprehensive, mission-focused overview of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquisition landscape, aligned to Mission 2026 priorities. Designed for industry partners, small businesses, and veteran-owned firms, the program provides direct insight into VA’s enterprise acquisition strategy, modernization roadmap, and near- and mid-term procurement opportunities.

The event opens with welcome remarks and a strategic fireside chat featuring Phillip Christy, the VA Chief Acquisition Officer, highlighting enterprise vision, budget drivers, major programs, contracting strategy, and small business and supplier diversity priorities. This sets the context for a series of targeted panels focused on how industry can effectively engage across VA acquisition organizations.

Three in-depth panels follow, covering:

• Understanding VA Acquisition Organization and Mission 2026
• VA OSDBU 2026 & Beyond: Expanding Small Business Impact in Federal Procurement
• Understanding the Implementation and Impacts of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) on VA Acquisition

Each panel includes structured overviews, practical guidance on working with acquisition teams, and live Q&A to enable direct interaction with VA leaders.

The afternoon features three rounds of interactive breakout sessions, allowing participants to move freely among rooms and engage directly with acquisition offices, program teams, and major program initiatives. These sessions are designed to support deeper conversations, relationship-building, and targeted alignment between VA needs and industry capabilities.

This online event is specifically designed for federal contractors, small business leaders, teaming partners, capture professionals, BD, and program leaders working with or pursuing VA.

AGENDA

11:30 AM – 11:45 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Fireside Chat - Strategic Priorities Across VA Acquisition sponsored by Sales Native, LLC

• Phillip Christy, Principal Executive Director, Office of Acquisition Logistics and Construction (OALC), VA
• Moderated by Scott Semple, Managing Partner, Sales Native, LLC

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM: Panel 1 - Understanding VA Acquisition Organization and Mission 2026 sponsored by Sprezzatura

• Carolyn Carbone, Director of Procurement Service, VA
• Zebulon Fox, Associate Executive Director, Construction Facilities Management, OALC
• Joseph Maletta, Acting Senior Procurement Executive, OALC
• Joy Smith, Acting Associate Executive Director, Strategic Acquisition Center and National Acquisition Center, VA
• Moderated by Bill Porter, Director of Platform and Business Administration, Sprezzatura

1:15 PM – 1:20 PM: BREAK

1:20 PM – 1:50 PM: Panel 2 - VA OSDBU 2026 & Beyond: Expanding Small Business Impact in Federal Procurement sponsored by Coforma

• Chanel Bankston-Carter, Executive Director, Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization, VA
• Dr. Ernest Reed, Director, Category Management Support Office, Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics
• Moderated by Imogen Thomas, Head of Solutions, Coforma

1:50 PM – 1:55 PM: BREAK

1:55 PM – 2:25 PM: Panel 3 - Understanding the Implementation and Impacts of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) on VA Acquisition sponsored by Procurement Sciences AI

• Adam Spacht, Director, Compliance (EPO), VA
• Moderated by Bruce Feldman, AI Platform Strategist, Procurement Sciences AI

2:25 PM - 2:35 PM: BREAK/TRANSITION LOGISTICS

Breakout Rooms

2:35 PM - 3:20 PM: ROUND 1

Room 1: Major Initiatives include Integrated Healthcare Transformation (IHT) 2.0 and other contract vehicles sponsored by The Baldwin Group

• Allen Smith, Contracting Officer, Integrated Healthcare Transformation (IHT) 2.0, VA
• Moderated by Ryan Reiskin, Advisor, Employee Benefits, GovCon Center of Excellence, The Baldwin Group

Room 2: Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor (PPV) Program

• Ron Jenkins, Chief, Prime Vendor Program, National Acquisition Center (NAC), VA
• Star Yeo, Supervisory Contract Specialist/ Division Chief, Pharmaceuticals National Contract Services/ National Acquisition Center (NAC), VA*

Room 3: Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

• Tara Flores, Director of Contracts, Medical Disability Exams/Transition Assistance Program, VA
• Moderated by Imogen Thomas, Head of Solutions, Coforma

3:20 PM – 3:25 PM: BREAK

3:25 PM - 4:10 PM: ROUND 2

Room 4: Medical Disability Exams (MDE) Services

• Tara Flores, Director of Contracts, Medical Disability Exams/Transition Assistance Program, VA

Room 5: Technology Acquistion Center: Overview of Acquisition Opportunities sponsored by Adaptive Stack

• Kari Cozzens, Procurement Service Director, VA
• Rick Wortman, Contract Specialist, VA
• Moderated by Craig Potter, Vice President of Growth T4NG2, Adaptive Stack

Room 6: High-Tech Medical Equipment

• John Lewandowski, Chief, Post Awards Division; Acting Chief, PACS/Laundry Division, High Tech Medical Equipment (HTME), VA
• Marissa Wright, Chief, Contracts Division High Tech Medical Equipment Contract (HTME), VA

4:10 PM – 4:15 PM: BREAK

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM: ROUND 3

Room 7: Digital Health sponsored by Red Hat

• Will Milline, Contracting Officer and acting Director of an Acquisition Service, VA
• Moderated by Matt Ilalio, Enterprise Account Executive, Red Hat

Room 8: Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS)

• Andrea Lay, Director of the Commodities and Services Acquisition Service (CSAS) at the National Acquisition Center
• Kevin Quitmeyer, Director, NAC Denver Logistics Center, VA

Room 9: Community Care Network

• Laura Scott, Director of Contracts, Digital Health, VA

Room 10: Federal Supply Schedule sponsored by The Baldwin Group

• Sharon Chang, Director, VA Federal Supply Schedules, VA
• Moderated by Tyler Stewart, Partner - Retirement Plan Advisor, The Baldwin Group

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM: Closing Remarks

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Sponsorships are available, please contact Amanda Schrauben at amanda.schrauben@orangeslices.ai

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Government is always free to attend events. Want to attend? Please contact Amanda Schrauben at amanda.schrauben@orangeslices.ai

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