FAA showcases contracting opportunities for small businesses

James H. Washington, the agency’s chief acquisitions officer, who oversees contracting, discussed those opportunities Tuesday during the three-day trade show and conference on “Small Business Procurement Opportunities” at the Trump Taj Mahal Conference Center, in Atlantic City.

“Billions of dollars in contracts will be awarded in the next 12 months to two years,” Washington said. “Some of them are set aside for small businesses, while others are teaming opportunities, and a combination of IT and service contracting opportunities.”

Washington said small businesses could contract directly with FAA or through subcontracting opportunities, “and help us modernize the national airspace system.”

The event attracted more than 700 attendees, including vendors of equipment, supplies and services, according to Holly Baker, a spokeswoman at FAA’s William Hughes Technical Center, in Atlantic City. The trade show had about 95 companies, including Harris Corp., Northrop Grumman and Serco, she added.

The largest FAA contract relates to its NextGen air traffic control system and its engineering and research components; it is likely to be awarded sometime in 2010, said Washington, who is based in the agency’s headquarters in the nation’s capital. He said the latest conference and trade show is the 13th annual event, and that FAA rotates it across different locations nationally. FAA and the federal Department of Transportation are the event’s joint hosts.

Earlier in the day, John Wiley, FAA’s manager of technical strategies and integration, welcomed participants on behalf of Wilson Felder, the director of the Hughes center. He said the technical center offers a variety of contracting opportunities, including engineering support services, construction, and operation and maintenance functions.

Email Shankar P. at shankar_p@njbiz.com