Each request for proposals has a due date. The government posts a request for bids, quotes, etc and expects (i.e. requires) interested parties to reply by that date. Simple enough. In GovCon, the rules are...
The point of a government contract is not to award a contract. The point of a government contract is to meet a need for a government customer. The official term for that “need” is the...
There is much agreement on the benefits of government and industry communicating better. However, knowing we are supposed to communicate “better” is not the same thing as knowing how to communicate “better”. Back in episode...
The government buys a lot of different things. Price is a key factor in every purchase of those things. Sometimes the price of a product or service is easy to figure out, like when it’s...
When an organization develops, designs, builds, pays for, and/or managing the production of something…they “own” some of the data behind it. But what if the government funds part of it, or funds the development of...
Government acquisition teams sometimes (or often?) uses Key Personnel as an evaluation factor in competing and awarding contracts. Like the key stone at the top of an arch, the Key Personnel can hold the project,...
In a few recent episodes (including episodes 459 and 462), Kevin and the Skyway team covered some of the elements of the Service Contract Labor Standards Act (SCLSA) (the law previously known as the Service...
In a few recent episodes (including episodes 459 and 462), Kevin and the Skyway team covered some of the elements of the Service Contract Labor Standards Act (SCLSA) (the law previously known as the Service...
Here’s a Simplified Buying Process. Step 1. Identify the problem Step 2. Decide to buy something to solve the problem Step 3. Decide how to differentiate between options (choose a Basis for Award) Step 4....
In this episode of the CO Podcast 2.0, Kevin and Paul outline the concept of Evaluation Criteria and Evaluation Factors in government contracts. Evaluation Criteria is a key element in any purchase decision among more...
There are lots of ways for the government to buy things from industry. There is rarely “the way” to buy something…it’s usually “a way” among many options. As a result, the government acquisition team may...
There are some unique words in GovCon – one of our favorites is “de-obligated” (not be confused with “not obligated”). While it’s easy to make fun of these words, communication can go sideways when we...
The government awards contracts for lots of different services. One of the many variables in awarding and MANAGING these service contracts is clearly understanding where the work will be performed. In FAR speak – that’s...
There is much agreement on the benefits of government and industry communicating better. However, knowing we are supposed to communicate “better” is not the same thing as knowing how to communicate “better”. Back in episode...
The federal government buys LOTS of services. Billions and billions of dollars worth. Seriously. The government buys some of (maybe most of?) those service as “commercial” services. But what is so different about the government...
What is the minimum wage? Well, it depends. There is a federal minimum wage, but the states can also set their own minimum. Therefore, the answer to “What is the minimum wage?” depends on where...
There are some unique words in GovCon – my favorite is still “de-obligated” (not be confused with “not obligated”), but there are also words like “small business” – that in some cases can include businesses...
GovCon has unique words, like “de-obligated” (not be confused with “not obligated”) – or “colors of money” (not to be confused with regular money that’s well, green here in the US). While unique GovCon words...
In this episode, Kevin is once again joined by Troy Francis. Troy knows the nuances of both Federal and Local contracting because he’s been both a Federal Contracting Officer and now he is a Chief...
Not every contract has the same payment terms. Sometimes we pay in full up front. Sometimes we pay upon completion. Sometimes we pay in parts along the way. Those same payment terms can apply to...