NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS DAY
October 28th sets aside National First Responders Day to honor the men and women who act quickly when an emergency is at hand. #NationalFirstRespondersDay
NATIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE DAY | October 28
National Internal Medicine Day recognizes the impact of approximately 300,000 Internal Medicine Physicians on October 28. Let’s take time to acknowledge a group of individuals who provide patients specialized care. #NationalInternalMedicineDay
Federal agencies spend billions each year on IT services. A growing share of that money moves through Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), which are pre-competed vehicles that let any agency place task orders quickly with a vetted pool of contractors. For small IT firms, getting onto a GWAC, or partnering with a company that has, can be the difference between chasing one-off opportunities and having a steady pipeline.
This course looks at Polaris, GSA’s small business GWAC for customized IT services and IT services-based solutions. Polaris is GSA’s successor to the cancelled Alliant 2 Small Business contract. It is built around four socioeconomic pools: Small Business (SB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), HUBZone, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Each pool lets agencies set aside task orders for that category of firm.
The course gives particular attention to the WOSB pool, which received its first awards in 2026 and is one of the newest set-aside vehicles in federal IT. Participants will learn how Polaris works and who holds positions in each pool. They will also learn where the vehicle stands legally after a September 2026 court ruling, and how WOSBs and other small IT firms can benefit, whether or not they hold a Polaris contract.
Who Should Attend
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Women-owned, HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, and other small businesses that provide IT services
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Firms considering a future GWAC on-ramp or a teaming or subcontracting role with current awardees
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WOSB and EDWOSB-certified firms that want to put their certification to work in the federal IT market
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Business development staff, capture managers, and owners new to GWACs
No prior GWAC experience is needed.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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Explain what a GWAC is and how it differs from a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract and from agency-specific IDIQs
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Describe the structure of Polaris, including its four pools, its 10-year term (five-year base plus five one-year options), and its IT services-only scope
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Identify the current status of each pool: who has been awarded, how many firms, and what remains pending
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Understand how the September 2026 Court of Federal Claims ruling affects new Polaris awards
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Recognize the main NAICS code (541512, Computer Systems Design Services) and the size standard that applies
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Find Polaris awardees and use that list for teaming, subcontracting, and market research
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Judge whether pursuing a future Polaris on-ramp makes sense for their firm.
Date & Time
Web Conference Meeting: Wednesday, October 28, 2026; 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Registration
Fees
Registration fees are based on membership level. Members and non-members are welcome.
Fees for this meeting are as follows:
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Complimentary: Supplier Members
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$15: Business Members
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$35:Advocate Members, Individual, and Non-Members
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Complimentary: Government Agency and Large Prime Contractor Representatives (as approved by USWCC)
If you are not currently a Supplier or Business Member, consider joining here and then returning to this page to purchase your discounted registration.
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Join us at the Don Harrington Discovery Center every Wednesday at 10:30 am for a special storytime ~ featuring a very special trunk of wonders! Our weekly storytime will be located in a new and exciting spot in the Discovery Center for your littles to discover during your visit. Start your morning with a story and spend the rest of the day exploring our amazing exhibits! This program is included with admission or a Discovery Center Collective membership.
FREE WEBINAR: Selling to Texas government agencies and institutions could mean BIG opportunities for your small business!
TITLE: Doing Business with the State of Texas
DATE: Wednesday, October 28th, 2026
TIME: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
OTHER: Online | Teams
Explore the advantages of registering with Texas’s Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) to receive potential bid invitations. Get an introduction of the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) where you can search for state opportunities for FREE. Our speaker, Mariah Thompson-Carter, Outreach Marketing Coordinator with the Texas Comptroller’s office, will also discuss the Vendor Performance Tracking System (VPTS).
Registration is required to receive the webinar link to join.
Please SIGN UP at https://nwtapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/1040.
A long-awaited vision to honor the Texas Panhandle’s fallen first responders will become a reality on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial is officially dedicated during a special ceremony beginning at 4 p.m.
As one of the generous people who made the Memorial possible, we want to invite you to join us for this milestone occasion. If you aren’t able to make it in person, you can watch the dedication broadcast live on KAMR Local 4, KAMR Plus, and MyHighPlains.com.
The dedication ceremony will feature a combined Honor Guard comprised of first responders from agencies across the region, coming together in a powerful display of unity, respect, and remembrance. The ceremony will also include a bagpiper performing “Taps” and “Amazing Grace,” a 21-gun salute, and the traditional firefighter’s Last Alarm, known as the 5-5-5.
One of the most meaningful moments will be the ceremonial calling of the names of all 110 fallen heroes, ensuring that each individual is recognized, honored, and remembered.
Thank you again for helping make this Memorial possible. We hope you’ll be able to join us or watch live at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28.
3:00 p.m.
5900 McCormick Road
New Office Grand Opening (3pm-5pm)
More Information: Stephen, (806) 414-5983
3:15 p.m.
5900 McCormick Road
New Office Grand Opening (3pm-5pm)
More Information: Haley, (806) 231-1065