GCMS 2023: Strong Foundation, Endless Opportunities

NCMA will host its final Government Contract Management Symposium and send it off with a flourish this November 6-7th in Bethesda, MD. The GCMS theme, Strong Foundation, Endless Opportunities, honors NCMA’s legacy and continued role as the one-of-a-kind neutral forum where government and industry buyers and sellers connect over the opportunities and challenges that shape our way forward.

What to Expect?
GCMS will focus on front-of-mind topics including small business regulatory changes, CMMC updates, streamlining processes through AI, a shifting workforce culture, and more.

From the mainstage, leaders will share their visions for the future and provide inspiration and perspective to energize us for the road ahead. Expert practitioners will provide skill building sessions around essential topics like pricing, intellectual property, negotiation, risk mitigation, and more.

Immersive workshops will provide hands-on practice on critical skills like strategic problem solving, change management, leadership, using data and metrics and practical how-tos for driving a culture of innovation.

Finally, by popular demand, GCMS will bring back the Unconference – two full session tracks set aside for any in-person attendees to define and lead important discussions.

Virtual Option
If you cannot join us in person, GCMS will also be offered virtually, including all general sessions and 20 livestreamed sessions, also available for replay after the event.

Session Tracks
With so many dynamic sessions this year, it may be difficult to personalize your GCMS agenda. Here is an overview of what to expect based on each session track category:

• Contract Management Skills: Focused on one or more skills required of successful contract management professionals. 

• Innovation Alley: Demonstrations of innovative contract management solutions. 

• Networking: Connect with other GCMS attendees and expand your professional network. 

• Power Skills: Focused on behaviors (communication, leadership, etc.) that enable you to succeed. 

• Updates & Innovation: Contextualized updates, current topics, and innovations affecting contract management and the workforce. 

• Unconference: Informal discussions that any attendee can identify on site and take the lead! Important topics, challenges, and opportunities in contract management that YOU bring forward. Look for the unconference room and sign-up sheet!  

In addition to engaging plenaries and exhibitor demos, we are thrilled to offer you a full agenda of the following session types: 

• Breakouts: One-hour sessions spanning contract management updates, current topics, power skills, and more! 

• Game-Based Learning: Sessions that harness the power of games and competition to drive learning.  

• Innovation Alley: Demonstrations of new innovative technologies, solutions, and success stories in the profession. 

• Immersive Workshops: Facilitated sessions with in-depth, hands-on training and exploration of critical concepts or skills required to be successful in contract management. 

• Networking: One-hour opportunities for organized networking.

Sessions with Continuing Professional Education credits are aligned with competencies from NCMA’s Contract Management Body of Knowledge® and ANSI-Approved Contract Management Standard™. 

The CMS™ domains, competencies, and job tasks are universal and applicable across the contract management profession to all practice areas: industry, federal, state/local, commercial, international, etc.