Washington, Oct 17 -

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett encourages small business representatives to attend the sixth SMART PROC conference being held in conjunction with SMART – Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow  - on Friday, October 31 in Frederick, Maryland from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the FSK Holiday Inn.   Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. with continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.  Lunch is included.  More than 400 individuals have already signed up to attend the free event designed to help small businesses succeed in obtaining contracts with the federal government.  There are currently 62 confirmed speakers and 46 exhibitors and sponsors.  Space is limited.  Register online and obtain additional information at the SMART PROC 08 website: www.smartproc.com.  Congressman Bartlett’s website is www.bartlett.house.gov. Please forward this notice to others you think might be interested in attending.

The SMART Organization consolidated several Mid-Atlantic Science & Technology partnering efforts that began in the mid 1990’s.  SMART fosters collaborative science and technology opportunities to increase market share and research and development funding by public and private sector participants among four states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.  SMART coordinates networking programs and events for academic and business participants with Federal and State officials as well as regional, national and international officials. The SMART Congressional Caucus consists of the eight Senators and 41 House Members. 

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett said, “Over five hundred-twenty five people attended SMART PROC 07.  SMART PROC 08 is bigger and better.  It is designed to be useful to small businesses to identify market and partnership opportunities and to learn how to win federal contracts.  I have worked for sixteen years in Congress to increase opportunities for small businesses to successfully compete for federal contracts.  That’s because small businesses are the engine of America’s economy producing most new jobs and innovations.  The federal government needs these innovations to obtain rapid improvements in America’s homeland security and new capabilities to win the war against terrorism. SMART assists small businesses from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey help our federal and state governments get the best value for our hard-earned tax dollars while strengthening our local and regional economies.  That is SMART.” 

Congressman Bartlett previously organized fifteen procurement conferences involving more than 2,500 businesses, including the first SMART PROC held in 2004 in Frederick.  Congressman Bartlett is the SMART Caucus MD co-leader. 

Scheduled Keynote Speakers at SMART PROC 08 include:

• MG George Weightman, Commander, United States Army Medical Research and Material Command located at Fort Detrick in Frederick (USAMRMC)
• Rear Admiral Sean F. Crean, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, For Acquisition and Logistics Management
• David M. Van Buren, SES, Principal Deputy Assistant of the Air Force, for Acquisition and Management 

Special BRAC Update Panel to include:

• BGen. Mike Hayes USMC (Ret.), Director, DBED Office of Military and Federal Affairs
• COL Judith Robinson, Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Detrick
• COL Daniel Thomas, Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Meade (pending)
• COL David Weissman, Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Aberdeen Proving Ground (pending)