Army Hosts 14th Small Business Matchmaking Event
The Army Office of Small Business Programs held its annual seminar during the AUSA meeting, with $25.1 billion in prime contracts awarded to small firms this fiscal year.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Military Jobs
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The Army Office of Small Business Programs hosted its 14th Annual Small Business Seminar and Matchmaking Event on October 13-14, 2026, during the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. The Army has awarded $25.1 billion in prime contracts to small businesses across 730 NAICS codes.
Why it matters
The event connects small businesses directly with federal agencies and industry partners seeking to fulfill Army procurement needs. Small firms gain access to contracting opportunities and compliance guidance that can help them compete for federal work.
The Army has awarded $25.1 billion in prime contracts to small businesses across 730 NAICS codes in fiscal year 2026, with 36 buyers meeting more than 400 small businesses in 10-minute matchmaking appointments. The source does not indicate how this total compares with earlier fiscal years or how many appointments led to awards.
The players
Pamela Callicutt
Pamela Callicutt is the Acting Director of the Army Office of Small Business Programs, which oversees the Army's efforts to expand contracting opportunities for small businesses.
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a federal agency that supports small business growth through loans, counseling, and government contracting assistance.
Defense Contract Audit Agency
The Defense Contract Audit Agency is a Department of Defense agency responsible for auditing contractor costs and pricing on defense contracts.
The details
Small businesses met one-on-one with federal agencies and industry partners during the matchmaking event, with a standby list available to fill open appointments. Free compliance assistance is available through Project Spectrum, and representatives from the Small Business Administration and the Defense Contract Audit Agency presented at the seminar.
Timeline
October 13-14, 2026: Seminar and matchmaking event held during the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition
October 2026: Army reported $25.1 billion in small business prime contract awards
Market Landscape
The Army's small business outreach reflects the federal contracting goals set under the Small Business Act of 1953, which direct agencies to award a share of procurement dollars to small firms. The $25.1 billion awarded this fiscal year shows how those goals translate into concrete prime contract volume across hundreds of industry codes.
Small business owners seeking Army contracts can use the matchmaking format and free Project Spectrum compliance assistance to prepare for future procurement opportunities. Owners should review NAICS code coverage to identify where their products or services align with Army demand.
The takeaway
Small firms that prepare their compliance records and identify relevant NAICS codes before matchmaking events are better positioned to secure Army meetings. Early preparation can turn a 10-minute appointment into a lasting contracting relationship.
Further reading
Explore more on Military Jobs within the broader federal contracting landscape.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Army.
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