Skyway Wire
Meeting of the Minds: Post-Award Conference Tips
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...
Cost-Share Contracts Accelerate Technology Innovation in Government R&D
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...
The Ground Truth: Differing Site Conditions for Contracting Officers (CO) and Contractors
The Ground Truth: Differing Site Conditions for Contracting Officers (CO) and Contractors Differing Site Conditions, How We Get There Simply put, the term “differing site conditions” in construction...
52.232-39, Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations: The Counter-EULA Clause
End User License Agreements/Terms of Service, Part of Everyday and Professional Life If you’ve used a piece of new computer software or a new electronic device, there’s a good chance you have been...
September 2025 Update
Well, September was a busy month indeed. I managed to not get the final version of the Skyway Wire done in time #fail. I suppose I can take some relational solace in the fact that Congress could not...
The Growing Role of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) in Government Contracting
In recent years, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) has emerged as a powerful acquisition tool for U.S. federal agencies, particularly the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and the Department of...
Growing as a Contracting Officer
Being a USG contracting officer is a tremendous responsibility. Becoming a warranted contracting officer entails the responsibility of obligating the government to purchase products and services....
Navigating the SOW Process: A Guide to Collaboration Between Program and Contracting Offices
The Statement of Work (SOW) serves as the cornerstone of acquisition success. It is, in essence, the Government’s detailed guide to contractors on how to fulfill the required services....
Targeting Federal RFPs? Don’t fish with a net.
Fishing with a cast net here in Florida is fun. In the right place, at the right time of day (and tide), the net is full of surprises: bait fish, a crab or two, a stingray, or even a mullet....
What the US Government Buys – Part 3
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...
What the US Government Buys – Part 2
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...
What the US Government Buys – Part 1
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...
Don’t Drop the Pre-Holiday RFP
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,...
Contracting Officer Communication – What the FAR Now Allows
As a young contracting officer, it was drilled into my head that conversations with contractors were very dangerous. The reason was that any conversation with one contractor could lead to other...
What?! That’s in my contract?
“What?! That’s in my contract?” That is not a phrase any contractor wants to say. However, that’s exactly what a small business owner realized after I reviewed his contract a few weeks ago. I...
Elevate your Results with Functional GovCon Fitness©
What is Functional Physical Fitness Functional Physical Fitness is the ability to safely perform daily physical activities. The idea is to have enough general fitness that we can do more and get...