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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322 – What is a Down Select?
Kevin and Paul discuss an acquisition strategy that can provide extra confidence in a contractor’s ability to deliver – the down-select. Learn how a down-select acquisition strategy helps the...

321 – What is NSN? w/ Steve Lucianetti
Listen and learn as Paul and Steve explain what NSNs are, who manages them, and why they are important to the acquisition and maintenance of Government systems.

320 – The Requirements Zone
Kevin and Paul describe the first of the four Acquisition Time Zones. (Episode 317 provides an overview of all the Acquisition Time Zones). Listen and learn why requirements definition sets the...

319 – What is an IDIQ Contract? (REFRESHER)
What does Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) mean for my contract? Did I really win any work? Or for the Government, how much can I buy and for how long? Kevin and Paul discuss the...

318 – Gas Gauge
We all progress through stages as we make a decision to purchase a product or service. If the buyer and seller aren’t in sync we end up missing a sale or potentially making a poor decision about...

317 – Acquisition and Execution Time Zones
Kevin and Paul revisit the fundamentals of the podcast: the Acquisition and Execution Time Zones. If you’re a long time listener this overview is a quick refresher on the beginning and end points of...

316 – What is Certified Cost or Pricing Data?
Kevin and Paul explain the differences between cost and pricing data and the all-important “Certified Cost or Pricing Data” This has been a hot topic lately as the threshold that triggers the...

315 – RFP Questions with Wendy Frieman
Given the complexity of most Government Requests for Proposals (RFPs) questions are inevitable. Paul discusses the sensitive nature of RFP questions with proposal expert (and Skyway team member)...

314 – Contract Types – Fixed Price Vs. Cost Type
Kevin and Paul discuss the differences between Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts and Cost Reimbursable contract types, with a little Time and Materials (T&M) thrown in for good measure.

313 – What is Accurate Complete and Current?
Certified Cost or Pricing Data must be accurate, complete, and current. We covered certified cost or pricing data way back in Episode 62. Today Kevin and Paul get into the meaning of accurate,...

312 – Pre-Award Clearance and the National Pre-Award Registry (with Shelley Hall)
Paul welcomes Contracting Officer and Skyway Acquisition team member Shelley Hall to the podcast to discuss Pre-Award Clearance. This is one of the last hoops that a Contracting Officer has to jump...

311 – What is a BAA?
Kevin and Paul answer your question: What is a Broad Agency Announcement? (BAA) Listen and learn when and how BAAs are used, what types of work are solicited and acquired through a BAA, and how both...

310 – SDVOSB Set-Asides
Some government contract awards are available only to small businesses who have certain characteristics, such as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business. (SDVOSB) Kevin and Paul dive into...

309 – What is a Proposal Outline? (Step 4 of 4) w/Vicki Strycharske
Kevin welcomes back Vicki Strycharske to discuss best practices for proposal writing – this time focusing on the Proposal Outline. Vicki is a regular guest, proposal manager, and Skyway Acquisition...

308 – Why Do Unrealistically Low Prices Win?
All other things being equal, awarding to the low price is the default. Kevin and Paul discuss how price evaluation impacts FAR Part 15 type acquisitions. (as opposed to micro purchases, simplified...

307 – Fall Out Money (Encore)
Kevin and Paul respond to a Skyway Community member’s question about fall out money. What is “end of year money” or “fall out money”? Why does it happen? How do I get it? Listen and learn the...