Contracting Officer Insight Archives - Page 3 of 5

Meeting of the Minds: Post-Award Conference Tips

by Charlie Beauchamp | Nov 23, 2025 | Contracting Officer Insight

FAR 42.5, Post-Award Orientation gives the option to use either a letter or a conference, but conferences are considered the “industry standard” by most Contracting Officers (including myself). It states that the purpose of one is to “… (1) achieve a clear and mutual...

Cost-Share Contracts Accelerate Technology Innovation in Government R&D

by Charlie Beauchamp | Nov 20, 2025 | Contracting Officer Insight

The government needs technological innovation at the speed of relevance—or, in my community, at the Speed of SOF (Special Operations Forces)—yet the acquisition system still funds research at the speed of appropriation. That mismatch often traps promising technologies...

What the US Government Buys – Part 3

by Charlie Beauchamp | Jul 21, 2025 | Contracting Officer Insight

Buying Services The Government buys many types of services. Examples of services include facility support services (e.g., janitorial or food service), administrative support, engineering, and program support. The Government is now embracing the concept of...

What the US Government Buys – Part 2

by Charlie Beauchamp | Jul 14, 2025 | Contracting Officer Insight

Previously, I discussed the four basic things the government purchases: Research and Development (R&D), Services, Hardware, and Construction. Purchasing products, from pencils to nuclear weapons, falls under the Hardware category. The contract type and...

What the US Government Buys – Part 1

by Charlie Beauchamp | Jul 7, 2025 | Contracting Officer Insight

While the Federal Government spends billions annually through contracts with industry, many products and services are purchased, from pencils to spaceships. Most people don’t understand that the basic principles of contracting don’t change when buying...

Don’t Drop the Pre-Holiday RFP

by Charlie Beauchamp | Jun 30, 2025 | Contracting Officer Insight

As a contracting officer, I remember dropping RFPs on my way out the door for lots of holidays: 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and yes, gulp, even before the Christmas Holiday. In my defense, I was doing what made sense to me (wrap up the work before I leave)....

Meeting of the Minds: Post-Award Conference Tips

Cost-Share Contracts Accelerate Technology Innovation in Government R&D

What the US Government Buys – Part 3

What the US Government Buys – Part 2

What the US Government Buys – Part 1

Don’t Drop the Pre-Holiday RFP

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