Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 (samples)

Listen and Learn… Who are the players on the Government acquisition team? Who are their Industry counterparts? Kevin and Paul discuss different roles on a Government acquisition team and an Industry proposal team. Many roles are similar, but others are unique. Learn what an acquisition consultant does and why a proposal manager is critical to the process. The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… What is an RFI? What is a DRFP? What is an RFP?In this special Encore episode, Kevin and Paul describe RFIs (Request for Information), DRFPs (Draft Request for Proposals) and RFPs (Request for Proposals) and explain why and when they are used. The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in Federal Government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… How does the Government Source Selection Process work? Ever wonder what happens after proposals are submitted? How does the Government go about selecting a winner?Kevin and Paul discuss the FAR Part 15 source selection process from receipt of proposals through evaluation, competitive range determination, to proposal revisions and finally contract award. Learn why it “takes so long” for the Government to pick a winner and why Industry needs to understand process in order to better forecast revenue. The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… What is an Industry Day? What goals should the Government accomplish during the event? How should Industry prepare for an Industry Day? Kevin and Paul describe what an Industry Day can be (and should be) and some common reasons why some Industry Days are less than effective. Learn why the Government should prepare for Industry Days with the end in mind and why Industry should attend for more than the continental breakfast. The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… What is an Unauthorized Commitment? (UA) What makes it Unauthorized? What is a Ratification? Only a Government Contracting Officer can obligate the Government to acquire goods and/or services, but…..sometimes it sure seems like other Government employees are giving direction to Industry and sometimes the goods or services are delivered without proper authorization.Kevin and Paul describe common scenarios where this can happen and why it is important for both Government and Industry to understand the rules. (hint…a UA is not a good career move for either side) Some unauthorized commitments can be authorized after the fact through a ratification. But only if they meet the right criteria. Learn the Government’s process for authorizing those UAs that can be authorized and when the contractor is flat out of luck! The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) has become a very important issue for Government contractors as the Government’s perception of and sensitivity to OCI has changed over the last few years. Agencies have updated their policies regarding contractors who provide both support services and products/development. Kevin and Paul explain OCI and how Government and Industry can avoid conflicts that complicate the acquisition process and subsequent contract performance. Learn what an OCI is (and isn’t) and why it is important to tackle the issue early in the acquisition process. If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… In this Special Holiday ENCORE episode - Kevin and Paul discuss the Contracting Officer Podcast’s 80/20 rule. This is one of the earliest and most popular CO Podcasts, presented again “in case you missed it” because the concept shows up in so many episodes.The 80/20 Rule (of thumb) plays on Pareto’s Law (look it up…) by comparing the relative importance of relationships and processes in the Government market to their importance in commercial industry. If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… Unlike in commercial industry, the Government is required to notify bidders that they’ve lost a bid. Kevin and Paul explain what information the Government can and cannot share in the notification as well as why a more informative notification letter can save both sides time and money by helping to avert protests. Learn why the notification can be so devastating to industry and what the Government can do to help lesson the impact of bad news. If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Cast:052Title:What Kevin and Paul Wish They Knew…Zone:ZonelessListen and Learn… One Year of the Contracting Officer Podcast! In this special episode Kevin and Paul look back at the beginning of the CO Podcast and answer the most common question received from listeners: Why did you guys create the Contracting Officer Podcast? After many episodes of asking guests “What do you wish you had known when you began your career?” or “What do you wish the other side (either Government or Industry) knew about the difficulties encountered on your side?”, Kevin and Paul discuss “what they wish” from their early, mid, and later careers. Our thanks to every listener who provided encouragement, criticism, and topics for futures episodes. And thanks to all who simply listen and learn. One Year! We’re still amazed and grateful for the opportunity to help make Government contracting better, one contract at a time. (in our own little way) If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support

Listen and Learn… How can the Government buy commercial items efficiently? Good question! One streamlined acquisition process has now become an official part of the FAR. (after years as a “test program”) FAR 13.5 describes Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) which allow Contracting Officers to skip or greatly simplify the process for buying commercial items when certain criteria are met.Kevin and Paul describe when and where SAP can be used and why it is important for both Government and Industry to understand and take advantage of this most useful FAR language. If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support