Sally Walton | PCR, SBA Area 5 (Albuquerque)

Small Business Success Tips Podcast (episode 13)

Summary: Sally Walton offers powerful small business contracting strategies, clarifies the scope of agencies, and demystifies important regulations and limitations of sub-contracting for small business set asides.

Guest Bio: Sally Walton is Procurement Center Representative for the SBA's Area 5 based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has a very focused geographical area of responsibility and her scope includes the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Corps of Engineers, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation (AFOTEC), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) and 377th MSG. The annual local economic impact of Kirtland AFB on Albuquerque averages more than $7.6 billion including an annual payroll of $2.1 billion and local impact of $3.8 billion.

Having worked on the private side, the civilian sector and served in the military, Sally is very familiar with the challenges for small businesses. She brings a breadth of experience in both small and large businesses.  

In this episode, Sally Walton discusses: 

• New Mexico's 4 DOE management and operating facilities and national laboratories, comprising over $4 billion annual federal spending
• the purchasing process by the 377th MSG (mission support group) for the 100 different tenant agencies located at Kirtland Air Force base
• small business specialists assigned to that specific agency
• how PCRs can direct small businesses to the correct contacts
• the importance of subcontracting among different agencies and teaming partnerships
• building relationships with other contractors to promote responses to sources sought
• how businesses can help contracting officers navigate the set-aside rules
• SBA’s SBIR program (small business innovative research), one of the best kept secrets
• regulations and limitations of sub-contracting for small business set asides and the power of ‘similarly situated entities’
• OSBDBU (office of small business and disadvantaged business utilization)
• the broad geographic purchasing scope of national laboratory facilities
• Sandia National Labs to explain nationwide small business subcontracting

Host:  Neil McDonnell is an experienced small business owner and seasoned entrepreneur. An Army veteran and the founder HUBZone Chamber of Commerce, Neil is a government contracting subject expert and HUBZone advocate for media and conferences.

His podcast series offers key information and tips to help small businesses gain insight into government agencies and large prime contractors and develop strategies to effectively present services.