The U.S. Department of Energy Matchmaking Forum will be offered as a value added opportunity for small business attendees of the DOE’s 8th Annual Small Business Conference in Washington, D.C. Hilton*. The program matches small company “sellers” with participating “buyers”, represented by DOE prime contractors, subcontractors (who are large/medium size businesses) as well as other government agencies. The small business sellers and the buyers will meet during a series of face-to-face meetings scheduled on June 28 during the DOE’s Annual Small Business Conference.
The Matchmaking Forum has limited space available and is therefore a first come, first serve event. Please, register early for this event to guarantee your company a position in Matchmaking.
How Does the Matchmaking Forum Work?
“Buyers” (prime contractors and sub contractors who are large/medium size
businesses) and “Sellers” (small business owners and managers) are matched for
face-to-face appointments through the Matchmaking System, a process conducted
entirely online in advance of the event that provides precise appointment
setting based on keywords and coding to ensure sellers are matched only with
buyers who have expressed interest in specific products and services.
Please note, the Matchmaking Forum has limited space for participants and all applicants must meet the qualifications listed in the answer below.
How do you match buyers and sellers?
Utilizing the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC®),
small businesses are able to highlight their products and services. By entering
keywords into our system, you will be provided matching UNSPSC codes. The
Matchmaking system then uses the codes as the basis of determining the buying
organizations these small businesses appropriately match with in order to set
appointments. It is up to each registered small business to enter their keywords
and codes order to set their appointment schedule before attending the event on
June 28.
How Long Are the Matchmaking Appointments?
Appointments are in 15-minute increments with a five-minute break in between
each appointment. There are three appointments per hour and the first
appointment on June 28 begins at 8:40 a.m. The last appointment of the day will
occur at 4:40 p.m. There will be a break for lunch 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
How many appointments will I receive?
The number of appointments a small business receives will be based on how well
your firm matches up to the product and service needs of the participating
buyers. An initial appointment limit is set to allow everyone the greatest
opportunity to schedule meetings. This number is then increased as we approach
the event.
Keep in mind: the more complete your seller profile, the higher the likelihood of making good matches.
What if I don’t match with participating buyers?
To help ensure meaningful appointments, small businesses will be unable to
schedule meetings with buyers who don't match the firm’s products or services.
Many of the buyers’ schedules will fill up early in the scheduling process. For
this reason, we cannot guarantee matches and appointments. Our Matchmaking
Support Team will do everything possible to assist you with securing
appointments. If you are not able to secure an appointment you will be eligible
for a $100 refund of your Matchmaking Forum registration fee.
Will registrations be accepted onsite during the conference?
Due to the preparation that will go into the individual attendance and
participation in the program, onsite registrations will not be accepted.
Who are the buyers that are expected to attend?
The DOE’s prime contractors, sub contractors as well as select Federal, state
and local agencies are expected to attend.
Will small businesses be awarded contracts during the
DOE Matchmaking Forum?
The DOE Matchmaking Forum provides unique opportunities for small businesses to
meet with buyers who are motivated to award contracts and sub-contracts to
smaller firms. While the program doesn't guarantee contracts, simply because of
the nature of the normal bidding process between buyers and suppliers, it does
create opportunities for small businesses to hold personal, one-on-one meetings
with potential clients that would have taken weeks or months—if ever—to research
and schedule on their own.