VIB 10th Annual National Conference Recap

The California Rainbow Chamber spent November 2-3 in Palm Springs at the Veterans in Business (VIB) Network's 10th Annual National Conference, because intersectionality shows up in every room of procurement.

Why we were there

VIB Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects veteran-owned businesses with corporate and government buyers. Its national conference puts small businesses in front of procurement professionals for two days of panels and meetings. We know that intersectionality impacts every room of procurement, and we went to:

Identify potential veteran LGBTQ business enterprises (LGBTBEs).

Connect with buyers and prime contractors, and deepen the relationships we already have.

Support a partner organization we often align and strategize with.

Learn, because every procurement conference is an opportunity to.

The conference by the numbers

The 2026 conference drew 453 attendees, and corporations and government agencies together made up more than a third of the room. VIB reports the mix was 48% veteran businesses, 28% corporations, 10% small and diverse businesses, 8% government agencies and 6% resource groups.

One-on-one business matchmaking: 55 buyers and 102 suppliers held 313 meetings.

There were 54 Opportunity Expo exhibitors and 30 Veteran Business Marketplace exhibitors.

23 tactical networking tables brought together 225 participants.

What we heard

Be ready before the call. Corporate supplier diversity leaders on the reporting panel urged small businesses to keep certifications, insurance and financial documents current, and to position themselves as problem-solvers for the prime contractor rather than one more vendor.

Reporting is getting more granular. Expect more tracking of diverse spend down through the subcontractor tiers, so strong record-keeping is an advantage.

SBA is revisiting size standards. The agency has proposed changes to its small business size standards and the way it sets them. Comments are open until November 20, and the size of a business decides which set-asides it can compete for.

The federal veteran contracting goal is doubling. On November 9, the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, SBA announced FY2027 goals that raise the agency-level veteran prime and subcontracting goal from 5% to 10%, according to VIB Network. That news came a few days after the conference.

What this means for LGBTQ-owned businesses

Supplier diversity programs are built around categories and certifications, and the suppliers who win walk in with current paperwork and a clear pitch. Whether or not you own a veteran business, the lessons from Palm Springs apply: keep your documents up to date, learn who the prime contractors are in your industry, and be ready to say what problem you solve. If you are both a veteran and an LGBTQ business owner, the larger federal goal is worth a close look. Our job is to keep carrying the LGBTQ business perspective into rooms like this one, so LGBTQ business enterprises are part of the conversation as these programs grow.

Next steps

By November 20: comment on the SBA size standards proposal.

November 18, 11 AM PT: join VIB's free procurement webinar with the Port of San Diego, SANDAG and San Diego International Airport. Register here.

Worth reading: VIB's From The Nest breakdown of the GAO decision upholding the Army's roughly $50 billion MAPS professional services procurement. About 125 of the 350 expected awards are reserved for small businesses, and the piece explains how past-performance rules and cybersecurity credentials can affect who competes.

Sources

VIB Network, 10th Annual National Conference recap flyer (emailed to attendees November 10, 2026).

VIB Network: SBA doubles federal contracting goal for veteran-owned small businesses

VIB Network, From The Nest: 11/2026 Government Contracting (November 9, 2026)

Federal Register: Small Business Size Standards, August 20, 2026