Wisconsin Procurement Institute

What Wisconsin Procurement Institute does

Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) is a Wisconsin-based private non-profit organization founded in 1989, operating as the designated Wisconsin APEX Accelerator (formerly a Procurement Technical Assistance Center, or PTAC). WPI delivers free technical assistance to Wisconsin businesses seeking to compete in federal, state, and local government contracting markets. Its services span individual counseling, bid matching, small business certification assistance (federal 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, VOSB; state MBE, WBE, DVB, DBE), Mentor Protégé Program support, GSA Schedule preparation, SBIR/STTR guidance, CMMC cybersecurity compliance, ITAR registration, and SAM.gov/PIEE/WAWF systems training. The organization has served 1,300+ active clients annually, added 900+ new clients in the past year, and assisted clients in securing over $1.9 billion in contract awards cumulatively.

WPI's operations are funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), which underwrites the APEX Accelerator program, supplemented by operational support and funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) as a Key Strategic Partner. The organization is not technology-product oriented: it does not offer proprietary software, APIs, or AI-driven platforms. Instead, its delivery infrastructure comprises eight satellite office locations across Wisconsin (Milwaukee headquarters plus Madison, Fond du Lac, Eau Claire, Manitowoc, Green Bay, and Camp Douglas), over 100 annual webinars, workshops, and conferences (including the Acquisition Hour series, Cyber Thursday sessions, and the Government Opportunities Business Conference), and a client dashboard portal hosting the Federal Market Insights podcast and resource library. All core services are provided at no charge to Wisconsin businesses.

WPI is governed by a Board of Directors and Advisory Board with representation from major Wisconsin defense and industrial firms including Oshkosh Corporation, Fincantieri Marine Group, Leonardo DRS - Naval Power Systems, and W.S. Darley & Company. Day-to-day operations are led by President and Executive Director Aina Vilumsons, supported by a Director of Federal Market Strategies, a Manager of Small Business Programs, Government Contract Specialists, and events staff. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees. The organization serves exclusively Wisconsin-based businesses, with a geographic restriction that is structural to its state-funded mission, and has been in continuous operation for 37 years.

Name

Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Legal name

Wisconsin Procurement Institute, Inc.

Website

https://wispro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Contracting Consulting

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Help Supply Services (7363), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Compliance, Risk & Supplier Due Diligence (KYC/ESG/Sanctions) (BPAAAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Procurement Systems Administration (ERP/P2P Tools Support) (BPAAAJAO), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM), Systems Administration & Infrastructure (Windows/Linux) (EDAOAIAE)

Keywords

• Government contracting assistance
• Procurement technical assistance
• Apex accelerator services
• Small business certification
• Bid matching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Funding - Department of Defense: WPI operates under a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD), Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). This federal funding supports the APEX Accelerator program providing procurement technical assistance to Wisconsin businesses.
2. State Funding - WEDC: WPI receives operational support and funding as a Key Strategic Partner of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Wisconsin's lead economic development organization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wisconsin Procurement Institute operates as the Wisconsin APEX Accelerator, providing free technical assistance to Wisconsin businesses seeking federal, state, and local government contracts. Its core offerings include one-on-one counseling, bid matching, small business certification support (8a, WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, VOSB, MBE, WBE, DVB, DBE), CMMC and cybersecurity compliance guidance, SBIR/STTR and innovation program support, GSA Schedule and ITAR registration assistance, and recurring training programs delivered through webinars, conferences, and satellite office hours across Wisconsin's 72 counties.

Product overview

Wisconsin Procurement Institute operates as Wisconsin APEX Accelerator, a service-based organization providing comprehensive government contracting assistance to Wisconsin businesses. Rather than a unified software platform, the organization offers a portfolio of advisory services including technical assistance and counseling, bid matching, small business certification support, cybersecurity compliance guidance (including CMMC), and training programs. The core offerings include the Government Contracting Technical Assistance, Bid Matching Services, Certification Assistance, and Training & Events programs. These services are delivered through in-person counseling, webinars (Acquisition Hour, Cyber Thursday), satellite office locations across Wisconsin, and a client dashboard portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Government Contracting Technical Assistance Free consulting and technical assistance services helping Wisconsin businesses compete for government contracts at federal, state, and local levels. Services include market strategy development, bid matching, proposal assistance, and regulatory compliance guidance.
• Bid Matching Services Free service that matches businesses with relevant government contracting opportunities based on their capabilities, NAICS codes, and past performance. Helps identify DOD, federal, state, and local procurement opportunities.
• Small Business Certification Assistance Comprehensive support for federal small business certifications including 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, VOSB, and SDVOSB. Also handles state and local certifications such as Wisconsin MBE, WBE, DVB, and DBE.
• Mentor Protégé Program Support Assistance with Department of Defense Mentor Protégé Program and SBA Mentor Protégé Program, helping small businesses gain mentorship from established contractors and primes.
• GSA Schedule Services Preparation and administration support for GSA Schedule contracts, helping businesses navigate the federal supply schedule process.
• Innovation Programs (SBIR/STTR) Guidance on navigating SBIR, STTR, and other Government Innovation Programs for small businesses seeking research and development contracts.
• Cybersecurity & CMMC Compliance Cybersecurity compliance support including CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) guidance, FAR 52.204-21 requirements, and DOD cybersecurity directives for contractors.
• Government Systems Training Training on government websites and tools including SAM.gov registration, PIEE, and WAWF systems for contract management and invoicing.
• ITAR Registration Support Support for ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) registration and export control compliance for defense-related businesses.
• Training & Events Educational webinars and events covering government contracting topics including Acquisition Hour series, Cyber Thursday sessions, and satellite office hours across Wisconsin.
• WPI Client Dashboard Client portal providing access to Federal Market Insights (FMI) Podcast, publications, presentations, and current contracting opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.9 billion in contract awards for clients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, moderate and core.

• Aeroforce LogisticsminorOthersListed as partner and supporter of Wisconsin Procurement Institute
• AFF ResearchminorOthersListed as partner and supporter of Wisconsin Procurement Institute
• American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AICCW)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting diverse business development and government contracting opportunities for American Indian-owned businesses in Wisconsin
• Chippewa Valley Technical CollegemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college partner providing educational resources and support for workforce development and business training
• Leonardo DRS - Naval Power SystemsmoderateOthersDefense contractor partner with representation on WPI Advisory Board
• Madison Area Technical College (MATC)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner hosting satellite office location for WPI services at Goodman South Campus
• Oshkosh CorporationmoderateOthersMajor Wisconsin defense contractor with representation on WPI Board of Directors as Chairman
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing small business programs, mentorship, and certification support for Wisconsin businesses
• Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner providing small business development resources and support services
• National Contract Management Association (NCMA)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional membership organization for contract management professionals; WPI co-presents Acquisition Hour webinars with NCMA Wisconsin Chapter
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerDefense industry association supporting WPI events and networking opportunities for contractors
• Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional organization for military engineers; membership partner supporting WPI mission
• National APEX Accelerator Alliance (NAPEX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association connecting APEX Accelerators across the country for shared resources and best practices

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Govini: Data and analytics platform serving the defense industrial base, including suppliers pursuing DoD contracts. Comparable to WPI in serving the small business defense supplier community but delivers value through paid SaaS vs. free consulting.
• HigherGov: Government contracting intelligence and opportunity-matching platform for federal, state, and local procurement. Targets small and mid-sized government contractors with technology-enabled bid discovery — overlapping directly with WPI's bid matching and market intelligence services.
• Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Wisconsin's statewide SBDC network, which is already a strategic partner of WPI. Provides adjacent small business advising services and refers clients to WPI for procurement-specific needs; represents a partial-overlap peer within the same small business support ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Deltek (GovWin IQ): Commercial market intelligence platform providing government contracting opportunity data, bid notifications, and analytics to businesses pursuing government contracts. Serves a similar target market (government contractors) with a paid, technology-driven model that competes for the same intelligence value WPI provides free.

Direct peers

• California APEX Accelerator (Cal Poly PTAC): California's designated APEX Accelerator providing free government contracting technical assistance to California businesses. Operates under the same federal cooperative agreement model as WPI and serves as a direct functional equivalent in a much larger state market.
• Florida APEX Accelerator (University of West Florida): Florida's APEX Accelerator housed at the University of West Florida, providing procurement technical assistance, bid matching, and training services. Closely comparable to WPI in service portfolio, target audience (SMBs), and DOD cooperative agreement funding model.
• New York APEX Accelerator (PTAC at SUNY): New York State's APEX Accelerator delivering free government contracting assistance across multiple regions. Comparable to WPI in mission, services (bid matching, certification, training), and DOD OSBP funding relationship.
• National APEX Accelerator Alliance (NAPEX): National association representing the network of APEX Accelerators across the U.S. WPI is a member and operates under the same cooperative agreement framework. NAPEX sets program standards and shares best practices, making it the closest structural peer for WPI's mandate and funding model.

Others

• National Contract Management Association (NCMA): Professional membership organization for contract management professionals. NCMA Wisconsin Chapter co-presents Acquisition Hour webinars with WPI, making it an adjacent ecosystem peer in government contracting education and credentialing.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC): Wisconsin's lead economic development organization and a Key Strategic Partner/funding source for WPI. While not a direct competitor, WEDC operates adjacent business development programs that overlap with WPI's broader economic development mission in Wisconsin.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wis_pro
• Facebookfacebook.com/WisconsinProcurement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-procurement-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Procurement Institute