BES Hosts 18th Annual Vendor Industry Day

The Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Directorate hosted its 18^th annual Vendor Industry Day (VID) on May 20, 2026, at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre in downtown Montgomery, Ala.

VID is an annual, no-cost event that brings together government, military and contractor personnel to share updates on BES mission direction, upcoming acquisition opportunities and program challenges while fostering collaboration and networking between industry and BES leadership.

Drawing in over 200 attendees, this year’s event featured a government-industry crosstalk titled “Sharing Perspectives Across the Acquisition Lifecycle,” moderated by Yolanda McCain, director of Small Business Programs. The panel included four government representatives from BES and four industry representatives who discussed early engagement, constraints to acquisition speed, innovation and execution, and the need for greater flexibility in execution.

The session provided an opportunity to broaden understanding of shared challenges and opportunities as government and industry partners work to strengthen collaboration, leverage technology and expertise, and deliver capabilities to the warfighter.

Events like VID reinforce this value by bringing BES and industry partners together in a collaborative environment. These engagements enhance awareness of emerging capabilities, strengthen relationships, and help accelerate innovative, cost-effective solutions that support the warfighter.