Here’s a little secret that isn’t so secret to anyone who has ever done business with the government: across the Federal government, agencies have a difficult time communicating with each other and within their own organizations. So what? How is this widely known “secret” that sounds like it came from Captain Obvious pertain to Federal procurement? As many are well aware, every year new regulations are promulgated from new statutes passed by Congress or, on occasion, policy mandates from the White House. While they are mandates on how the government conducts its business, really the only way to effectively implement a change is to make sure contracting officers are aware what’s changed and the expectations as to how that change is to be implemented. And therein lies the rub.
While there is a pretty stout top-down push of communications when it comes to major changes in business rules or process, the more nuanced changes easily get lost in the cracks. One of the big reasons for this is that not all contracting offices operate the same. Things that apply to services may not apply to products. New rules that may apply to offices operating in support of major weapons systems may not have anything to do with offices whose mission is to support an Air Force base. To exacerbate things, contracting officers are like any other profession in that individuals can be mobile in their career paths. This means that a contracting officer will incur a learning curve whenever they move from one office to another. The more different the office is from their last assignment, the steeper the learning curve can be.
All this adds up to inconsistent application of statute and agency policy. Make no mistake, it is enormously difficult for contracting officers to keep up with the unending churn of requirements that come across their desk and at the same time keep abreast of constantly changing rules and regulations. It is in this space a vendor can really be their own best advocate. Don’t let Federal procurement be a mystery while you are working to secure business with the government. There are ample resources out there, such as Skyway’s free podcast and other content available only through membership. This is an endeavor that never ends though. There is so much to learn that one length of a career is not nearly enough. However, the more you learn, the easier it becomes to find answers to questions you don’t already know.
At no point should anyone automatically assume the government contracting officer understands all the rules and regulations they are bound to follow. Armed with knowledge and experience, vendors should seek a collaborative relationship with contracting officers. In my government contracting officer experience, I have come across some very savvy contractors who taught me things I had not previously known. As a contracting officer, I always welcomed input from all sides. It was enormously helpful for me to gain the viewpoint of industry when I had to make decisions about how a contract would be structured. While not all contracting officers are as inviting, I am quite sure they all can use a different perspective sometimes whether they are willing to accept it or not.
The bottom line is, do not depend solely on the contracting officer for information as it pertains to Federal government procurement. Teach yourself to fish so you never go hungry for knowledge…and don’t be afraid to share that knowledge with others.