Matchmaking will take place on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 from 1:15pm-4:45pm. ​ Buyers (Government Agencies and Large Primes) will host 15-minutes one-on-one meetings with Suppliers (Small Businesses). All matchmaking meetings are pre-assigned appointments. ​ Matchmaking will be facilitated by the National 8(a) Association. All matchmaking communications will be sent from matchmaking@national8aassociation.org so please add to your contact list to avoid emails going to junk folder. ​ Any questions related to matchmaking can be sent to matchmaking@national8aassociation.org. For inquiries on-site, please visit the Matchmaking Information Desk.

When completing your conference registration you will be asked, "Will you be participating in Business-to-Business Matchmaking?" To indicate you're interested in participating in matchmaking, select "Yes" and complete the additional prompted questions for matchmaking. Select "Buyer" if you are a federal agency or large prime and "Supplier" if you are a small business. ​ If you previously submitted your registration and would like to change your matchmaking interest status or any of your matchmaking information, please email matchmaking@national8aassociation.org. ​ Suppliers registering for the conference after May 24, 2024 can email matchmaking@national8aassociation.org prior to the conference or visit the Matchmaking Info Desk while at the conference to check if there are any available appointments.

Buyers & Suppliers will be pre-matched and assigned meetings based on the information provided for your matchmaking profile. ​ If your company's capabilities align with any of the Buyers and there is an available appointment, a copy of your company's meeting schedule will be emailed the week prior to the conference. ​ Please add matchmaking@national8aassociation.org to your contact list to ensure you receive our emails. ​ Buyers, additional meetings may be added to your schedule throughout the conference to accommodate Suppliers who signed up for Matchmaking on or after May 24, 2024.

Plan to arrive to the matchmaking room about 15 minutes prior to your meeting's scheduled start time. ​ Each Buyer will be assigned a table number and will be provided their matchmaking schedule with Supplier information. ​ Matchmaking Coordinators will make announcements in front of the matchmaking room at each meeting start time to allow Suppliers with appointments to proceed to their Buyer's table. ​ Each meeting is only 15 minutes and will have 5-minute breaks between each appointment. 13 minutes into the meeting a 2-minute end of meeting warning will be announced. At the 15 minute mark an end of meeting announcement will be made.

Be sure to bring a copy of your matchmaking meeting appointments. ​ There is no need to check in for your meetings at the Matchmaking Info Desk unless you have any schedule changes/cancellations. ​ Plan to arrive to the matchmaking room about 5 minutes prior to your meeting's scheduled start time to line up in the "appointments" queue. Take this time to identify the table number the Buyer you are meeting with is seated at (a table listing will be provided). Matchmaking coordinators will make announcements in front of the matchmaking room at each meeting start time to allow Suppliers with appointments to proceed to their Buyer's table. ​ Each meeting is 15 minutes, please plan accordingly. 13 minutes into the meeting a 2-minutes end of meeting warning will be announced. At the 15 minutes mark an end of meeting announcement will be made and you will be asked to exit the room. If you have back to back meetings, you will still need to exit the matchmaking room and line up in the "appointments" queue again.