Skyway Wire
Professional Compensation Plans – Part 1
Here’s something that can trip you when submitting a proposal for providing professional support services for the federal government. Ever heard of a “Professional Compensation Plan?” It’s a...
Why RFIs and DRFPs Matter
Many companies say “I wish the government would communicate better,” or just plain “communicate!” Actually, the government does communicate in a variety of ways, just maybe not in a way you...
Ambiguity Happens!
This blog was written by guest author Charles Hargett. We’ve all seen the comic strip depicting the end result of a government procurement where requirements were delivered strictly in accordance...
Can an Agency Insist on Subcontract With OEM?
Subcontracting occurs in almost all larger dollar contracts. The prime contractor usually has the discretion to determine which subcontractors they will use. Can the government issue a...
Why Proposal Planning is like Hurricane Planning
My last role as a Contracting Officer was at US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, just south of Tampa, FL. When I decided to step out of my CO role officially and start Skyway, I...
Can One Email Lose You a Contract?
A recent protest - Bluehorse Corp., B-414809 (Aug. 18, 2017) - involved an acquisition diesel fuel, which was as part of a highway construction project by the Department of Interior, Bureau of...
Why discussions are awesome!
There are a number of reasons why discussions are awesome, but first and foremost the best thing about them is that your company’s proposal made the competitive range. The other offerors were...
Thoughts on the State of Government Contracting
The other day, at the weekly staff meeting, the Skyway team discussed the state of the current crop of contracting officers, and their effect on government contracting. Before I go any further, let...
Contracting Officers and Protests
If you have read any of my blogs before you can tell from my tone as a contracting officer I wanted to get the job done and as we use to say “keep the Mickey Mouse stuff to a minimum”. I wanted to...
Federal Govt Faces Backlog of 700K Security Clearance Applications
According to a recent Washington Post article, the federal government can’t conduct background checks fast enough on people seeking security clearances. One industry group says there are more than...
Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans
Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans, or QASPs, are vital elements of a service contract. Essentially, they are the tool by which Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) track the contractor’s...
New Bill Seeks Enforcement of Limitations on Subcontracting Rule
Bill H.R. 2749, known as Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2017, was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. If the bill is passed, it would require the VA...
Don’t Forget the Contract Admin
Understanding a contract is much more complex than just knowing how to perform technically. It is not uncommon for a company new to federal acquisition to find themselves in a contract without an...
The CO connection
I have heard lots of questions about how companies should relate to a contracting officer. Should I call him? How do I sell him on my company? I just want to know he cares? LOL. Let’s talk...
You Lost – Now What?
You’ve submitted what you believe is a winning proposal, put your best offer in, followed all the requirements, and thought you had a great chance to beat the competition. But you lost! You’ve...
Early Past Performance Planning
Past performance is evaluated by the government during most competitive federal acquisitions these days, and it often can be the most significant factor that the government evaluates. While getting...