Training & Events
The North Dakota APEX offers many webinars and workshops designed to help you understand and navigate the government procurement process.
Training is critical to keep businesses informed of the latest procurement practices and opportunities.
Upcoming Tri-State Procurement Webinars
The following series of webinars are hosted in partnership with Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota APEX Accelerators and SBA District Offices.
Webinars typically take place on the first Tuesday of every month from 9 -10 a.m. Central Time.
April 21
Introduction to SAM.gov
This training is designed to provide a foundational overview of the System for Award Management which is often referred to as SAM.gov. This is the official e-procurement website of the federal government. SAM.gov provides data on government contract opportunities and history, contractors, and more. Businesses (vendors) rely on SAM.gov to register in order to do business with the federal government or contractors with prime government contracts. You don’t want to miss this fundamental training!
April 28-April 30
Meet the Buyers 2026 Virtual Conference
This virtual conference connects businesses directly with government buyers at the federal, state, and local levels, along with agency representatives, experienced primes, and resource providers. Whether you're new to Government contracting or looking to expand existing relationships, Meet the Buyers Conference offers practical insight, meaningful connections, and real conversations that move opportunities forward.
June 30-July 2
2026 Encountering Innovation Tech Showcase
The 10th Annual Encountering Innovation Conference is a multi-state, in-person event bringing together technology innovators and Department of Defense stakeholders from across 10+ states. Hosted at the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kansas (Groover Labs) in Wichita, this exclusive event is designed for advanced technology companies ready to showcase their innovations to DoD Science and Technology Advisors
This limited engagement opportunity will accept only 30 innovators. Selected participants must have a working prototype by the conference date and will have the opportunity to:
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Present advanced technology solutions directly to DoD Science and Technology Advisors
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Engage in 1:1 meetings with Combatant Commands
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Explore collaboration and partnership opportunities
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Receive support through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
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Access SME and SBDC advising support
Applications are accepted until mid-March or until capacity is reached.
If your company is developing innovative technologies with defense applications, this is a unique opportunity to gain visibility, build strategic relationships, and accelerate your path to DoD engagement.
Apply early. Space is limited.
Upcoming DoW Small Business Webinars
The following series of webinars are hosted by the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and APEX Accelerators. These sessions are designed to inform and empower small business owners, acquisition professionals, and government contracting stakeholders.
Project Spectrum
April 23
Project Spectrum is a DoD OSBP initiative that helps small and medium-sized businesses strengthen cybersecurity to meet federal contracting requirements. This program offers training, tools, and resources to increase awareness of cyber threats, protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and understand regulations like Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).
In this webinar, Kareem Sykes, Project Spectrum Industry & Engagement Director (CTR), explains how businesses can improve their cyber readiness, meet compliance requirements, and access support tools.
Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI)
May 14
Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) happens when a foreign entity has the power to direct or influence the management or operations of a company. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information and potentially compromise national security. FOCI can involve legal means like joint ventures and acquisitions or illegal methods like cyber espionage.
In this webinar, Dr. Bryson Reynolds will teach you how to identify FOCI, why it's important, and the steps you can take to protect your business.
Mission and Installation Contracting Command – Virtual Industry Day
May 18-22
The Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) is hosting its sixth Annual command-wide virtual Advance Planning Briefing for Industry (APBI). This multi-day event is designed to educate industry partners on the MICC and its mission partners while providing an overview of projected requirements and upcoming contracting opportunities.
The event will include a live virtual briefing broadcast on Microsoft Teams, featuring planned presentations and a live Q&A session, with all questions and answers posted to SAM.gov. In addition, MICC will offer virtual one-on-one sessions with acquisition staff, giving businesses the opportunity to engage directly with contracting professionals. Registration is required for both the live event and one-on-one sessions, and interested businesses should monitor the SAM.gov posting for updates and additional information.
DoD Mentor-Protégé Program
July 14
The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) strengthens and modernizes the defense industrial base by connecting businesses new to government contracting with more experienced government contractors to provide broader and deeper capabilities to the military supply chain. Through this collaboration, protégés gain critical knowledge, technical expertise, and business development acumen which increases their capabilities to perform as subcontractors and suppliers under DoD contracts, other federal government and commercial contracts. Mentors gain valuable and qualified subcontracting partners to provide technological capabilities to rebuild our military and advance other government priorities.
In this webinar, Jerry Smith, Program Analyst (CTR), DoD Mentor-Protégé Program, will explain how the MPP works, the benefits to mentors and proteges, and how to participate.
Small Business Training Series
Project Spectrum Training
April 2
Intro to APEX Accelerators
April 14
U.S. Air Force Office of Small Business Programs Upcoming Events
Stay informed about the latest opportunities to engage with the U.S. Air Force Office of Small Business Programs. Our Upcoming Events page highlights conferences, workshops, webinars, and networking sessions designed to help small businesses succeed in the government contracting space. Join us to connect, learn, and explore ways to collaborate with the U.S. Air Force.
U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs Learning & Events
Discover valuable resources, training opportunities, and upcoming events hosted by the U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs. Designed to empower small business owners, this platform provides educational materials, networking events, and guidance to help businesses successfully navigate government contracting. Explore webinars, workshops, and conferences tailored to support your journey in partnering with the U.S. Army.
Defense Logistics Agency Events and Webinars
Find upcoming opportunities to work with DLA through DLA's Small Business Outreach Calendar. Discover matchmaking events, attend classes or connect with other small businesses in similar industries. View the calendar to see details for each DLA event.
DLA Energy Worldwide: Strategic Energy for Global Advantage
April 21-23
This premier event provides a unique opportunity for small businesses to connect directly with energy-related providers, industry leaders, and key stakeholders who support DLA Energy and, ultimately, the Warfighter. It is an excellent venue for networking, learning about upcoming opportunities, and gaining insight into the evolving needs of defense energy logistics.
U.S. Navy Office of Small Business Programs Upcoming Events
The mission of OSBP is to promote acquisition opportunities where small business can best support the needs of our Sailors and Marines. We owe it to these men and women to provide them with the systems, innovation, products and tools necessary to enable them to accomplish their mission and return home safely. We also owe it to the taxpayer to acquire these products and services at affordable and responsible prices. It is our hope that through this website you will gain information that will assist you in competing for those opportunities. You will find links to all of the DON's major buying activities and it is there that you will get to know the business of the Navy and Marine Corps.
Upcoming Govology Webinars
As an ND APEX client, you have access to a variety of additional webinars through Govology at no cost. Review the upcoming dates, times, and topics, and check the event flyer for full details. When you’re ready, contact our team to receive the access code and register. If you need help with registration, reach out to us at ndapex@und.edu or 701-777-6571.
[GOVCON ROUNDUP LIVE] Teaming, Joint Ventures, and the Hidden Edge in Federal Contracting
In this GovCon Roundup Live session, Carroll Bernard and Steven Koprince explore one of the most powerful yet often misunderstood strategies in federal contracting: teaming. Many small businesses have the capability to compete for government work but face barriers when opportunities are too large to pursue alone. Teaming allows businesses to combine strengths, share resources, and pursue contracts they might not win independently. This interactive session will explain how teaming works in the federal marketplace, highlight common structures like prime and subcontractor partnerships and joint ventures, and discuss how strategies such as the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program can open doors to larger opportunities. Attendees will also have the chance to ask questions and gain practical insights to help them navigate partnerships and grow in the federal marketplace.
Maximize Your Potential with the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program (2026 Update)
Join us for an insightful webinar on the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, originally introduced in 2016 as the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program and often described as a game changer for government contractors. Govology Legal Analyst Steven Koprince will provide an in-depth overview of how the program works and how it can support business growth and success in the government marketplace, while sharing practical insights and real-world examples to help you maximize its benefits.
Who Buys What You Sell? A Step-by-Step Process (2026 Update)
Successful government contractors rely on more than opportunity searches. They rely on data driven competitive intelligence. This course will show you how to use federal procurement data to better understand your market and evaluate whether your pricing is competitive. Through a step-by-step, real world example, you will learn how to analyze government purchasing data using multiple federal systems, including SAM.gov’s Data Bank, and connect information across government databases to uncover valuable market insights.
In this course, you will learn how to:
- Identify which agencies and military commands purchase what you sell
- Determine how often agencies buy and how much they typically spend
- Use SAM.gov’s Data Bank to research historical procurement activity
- Identify competitors and analyze past contract awards
- Locate potential teaming partners for future opportunities
- Use Excel pivot tables to analyze large procurement datasets
MySBA Certification Training Events
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Training Events
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR and STTR enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated, and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.Click the links below to access the on-demand training, which is available at no cost to ND APEX Accelerator clients, access customized resources to meet your specific needs, and sign up for the SBA SBIR/STTR Newsletter to stay updated on the latest in government contracting.
SBA SBIR/STTR Newsletter signup
FLC Upcoming Events
The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is the formally chartered, nationwide network of over 300 federal laboratories and research centers, that fosters commercialization, best practice strategies and opportunities for accelerating federal technologies out of the labs and into the marketplace.Through American taxpayers’ investment in our federal laboratories’ research and development (R&D) efforts, scientific and technological breakthroughs can take place and return dividends to our economy. New industries, businesses, and jobs that can be created, when a new technology is brought to market, are just a few of the successes that take effect through technology transfer (T2), and the FLC is here to promote, facilitate, and educate labs and industry about that process.
DoD Office of Small Business Programs - Cybersecurity Resources
Cybersecurity is vital for small businesses to protect against cyberattacks that can lead to identity theft, business interruptions, reputational damage, and costly legal fees. To work with federal agencies like the DoD, businesses must meet cybersecurity standards such as NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC 2.0.
Project Spectrum Events
Check out the full calendar of upcoming events and opportunities.
Registration
To directly register for ND APEX sponsored events visit our calendar.