Michigan Print Shop Lands Federal Contract After SBA Expo Pitch
A Kalamazoo family business secured a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission contract after connecting at SBA's Detroit Supplier Matchmaking Expo.
A father-and-son printing company from Kalamazoo, Michigan, walked away from a federal matchmaking event with a government contract after approaching the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's booth at the Small Business Administration's Supplier Matchmaking Expo in Detroit. RJ's Printing will supply event signage, visual displays, and supply chain materials supporting the NRC's external engagement activities.
The award stems from the NRC's need to replace branding materials following a logo redesign and expanding outreach operations that required duplicate supplies for simultaneous events at multiple locations. The purchase covers table throws, runners, display panels spotlighting procurement opportunities and regulatory assistance, QR-coded sticker sets, and design services. Officials indicated the contract could generate follow-on orders as new agency initiatives are developed.
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Anthony Briggs, the NRC's Chief Sourcing Officer for Small Business and Supply Chain Optimization, said the encounter illustrated a recurring blind spot in federal procurement: qualified domestic suppliers that remain unaware of agency opportunities. The owners told Briggs they had never considered the NRC as a potential customer simply because they did not know the agency existed. Their candor, combined with competitive pricing and fast turnaround, distinguished them from the field.
The SBA hosted four Supplier Matchmaking Expos in 2026 — in Charlotte, Detroit, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. — drawing more than 2,600 attendees and facilitating over 1,400 individual matchmaking sessions. The NRC participated as a buyer at the Detroit, Phoenix, and Washington events. Briggs credited the format with compressing what would have been days of vendor identification and vetting into a few focused hours, accelerating a rebranding effort that had been straining agency resources.
SBA designed the Expo series to strengthen domestic supply chains, support small manufacturers, and expand the universe of businesses supplying federal agencies — particularly as demand for qualified manufacturers in sectors like nuclear energy is projected to significantly outpace supply. Continue reading at Small Business Administration.
