Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 Episodes
As former Federal Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry’s shoes, Kevin and Paul share their expertise and perspectives in support of the podcast’s mission: Make government contracting better, one contract at a time.
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394 – Three sides of the GovCon Triangle
We spend a lot of time on the podcast talking about the Acquisition Time Zones and the Execution Time Zones. Today Kevin and Paul discuss the infrastructure that supports all the activities that...
393 – Contracting for Innovation with Alan Apple
Kevin and special guest Alan Apple (applelaw.us) discuss why the government uses Small Business Innovative Research (SBIRs) and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs). (hint: to find innovation in the...
392 – Thresholds and Objectives
Kevin and Paul talk government source selection evaluation criteria. Listen and learn how using threshold requirements and objective requirements can give both government and industry the...
391 – RFP Questions – Timing Matters!
Questions about the solicitation are a fact of life for most acquisitions. Kevin and Paul discuss how early engagement with industry can lower the quantity of questions and lead to better mission...
390 – What is an Amendment?
Kevin and Paul describe the process of amending a government solicitation. Listen and learn why (as always) early and open communication reduces the need for amendments which results in faster and...
389 – Responsive vs Responsible
Kevin and Paul discuss two hurdles a small business must leap in order to receive a government proposal. Submitting a winning proposal that complies with all solicitation requirements is the first....
388 – It is your decision
Kevin and Paul discuss the not-very-black-and-white nature of decision making and how not making a decision is a decision in itself. Listen and learn about why government contracting officers and...
387 – Contracting Officer Direction w/Angela Jacobs
Kevin and special guest (and former Contracting Officer) Angela Jacobs discuss the differences between official contractual direction, business conversations, and basic communication. Listen and...
386 – What is commercial in the government’s eyes?
The FAR has long defined commercial items, though the very term “commercial item” has created confusion for both government and industry acquisition and sales teams. Kevin and Paul discuss the “new...
385 – What is a Tech Eval?
Only a contracting officer can sign a contract on behalf of the government, but as the acquisitions expert, how are they to understand the details of a complex hardware or services buy? Kevin and...
384 – What is the Economy Act?
It may be surprising to learn that the federal government sometimes duplicates effort and misses out on economies of scale when buying. (that’s a joke…) Kevin and Paul explain the Economy Act, which...
383 – The Process to Relationship Ratio (80-20 Rule Revisited)
Kevin and Paul return to the balance between process and relationships in the GovCon world. Every government acquisition follows a published process and also requires some type of relationship...
382 – A different view of the Acquisition Time Zones (with Brian Burns)
Kevin discusses the Acquisition Time Zones with Brian Burns, podcaster (https://www.b2brevenue.com/about) and government sales guru. Listen and learn how knowledge of the acquisition time zones can...
381 – Where do RFPs Come From?
When an RFP is released, there has been some activity, maybe a LOT of activity, by both government and industry that resulted in what you see. Kevin and Paul take a peek behind the scenes at the...
380 – What is an OTA?
Kevin and Paul discuss OTAs – Other Transaction Authority, a non FAR/DFARS based, legally binding instrument – a much requested topic with a confusing name. Listen and learn what an OTA is and what...
379 – Flexible Workspace Contracts
Kevin and Paul discuss the government’s move into the world of flexible workspace, tapping market trends and exploiting the changes that have occurred in how and where people work.