What it is
The American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) describes itself as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization established to improve government through technology. Its stated mission is better government, and it says it does not advocate for industry or any interest other than the public. Activities are designed to be vendor and technology neutral, giving government and industry executives a shared place to meet and learn. Its history traces to 1978, when government IT councils formed a federation that later became the American Council for Technology; the Industry Advisory Council was created in 1989. A board drawn from member companies governs the organization, and a government-led Leadership Council guides its strategy.
What it offers founders
For a startup selling technology to government, ACT-IAC is a way to learn how agencies think about their priorities and to meet both government and industry people working on the same problems. Its main offerings include:
- Communities of Interest in areas such as Acquisition, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technology, Health, IT Management and Modernization, Networks and Telecommunications, Service Delivery and Experience, and a Talent Advisory Network.
- Federal Insights Exchange sessions where agency leaders discuss their priorities and challenges.
- Events such as summits, webinars and the annual Imagine Nation ELC conference.
- Professional development programs, including Partners, Voyagers, Associates, Fellows, the Graduate Associates Program and the ACT-IAC Academy.
- The Small Business Alliance, launched in March 2014, which teaches small firms how to succeed in the government market, links them with government programs and helps small and large businesses form partnerships.
Who it is for
Government membership is open to full-time federal, state and local government employees and is free. Industry membership is open to for-profit and not-for-profit companies with an interest in the government IT marketplace that pay dues and follow the industry code of conduct. Membership is organization-wide, so once a company joins, an unlimited number of its employees can take part. Participation in the Small Business Alliance is limited to ACT-IAC members.
Membership and pricing
Corporate dues are based on a company's annual government revenue. Companies self-certify that revenue when they apply, are given their dues amount at that point, and renew on their membership anniversary. ACT-IAC publishes a dues schedule but its main membership page does not list dollar amounts, and it does not describe a separate startup rate. Details are on the membership page and membership FAQs, or by calling the Membership Department at 703-208-4800.
Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem
Much of the DMV startup market involves selling to federal, state and local government. ACT-IAC, headquartered in Fairfax, is one of the places where agency technology leaders and contractors talk in a non-sales setting, and its events are held around the region, including Reston and Oxon Hill. A founder with little government revenue pays dues based on that revenue, which can make membership a practical first step into the government technology community. Check the events calendar for current sessions.
