Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 (samples)

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

Kevin and Paul discuss FAR Part 18, Emergency Acquisitions.  Learn how the flexibilities within the FAR (not just in Part 18) enable rapid acquisitions to support crises like current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Both Government and Industry professionals can streamline the acquisition (and therefore, the crisis recovery process) through a better understanding of how the FAR supports, not hinders, acquisition in time of crisis.    

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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
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Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.   

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

Kevin and Paul provide guidance on how the FAR handles situations like the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Learn how your contract may be impacted, why the FAR's contract termination clauses come into play, and what other options are preferable where possible.  As always, open communication between Government and Industry is the most important factor in limiting negative outcomes for all.  

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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
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Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts. 

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

The 8(a) Business Development Program is a Federal government program designed to give a lift to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Paul welcomes special guest Shelley Hall (retired Contracting Officer and Skyway team member) to discuss the phases of the 8(a) program and, most importantly, graduation from the program.  

Listen and learn why 8(a) certified companies must understand the changes through each phase and be prepared to thrive after graduation.
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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

Personal memberships start at just $20/month. 

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
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Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts. 

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

The Small Business Administration issued a final rule that includes significant changes that impact small businesses overall and also large businesses who are required to commit to small business subcontracting goals.  

Listen and learn as Kevin and Paul discuss a subset of changes and why both Government and industry can benefit.  

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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

Personal memberships start at just $20/month. 

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
___________

Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

Kevin and Paul discuss another one of those "only in GovCon" situations - you have a contract in hand, but you're not allowed to work because there isn't any money allocated to it.

Listen and learn how FAR Part 32 and a couple clauses - FAR 52.232-18, "Availability of Funds" and FAR 52.232-19, "Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year" - give the Contracting Officer the flexibility to award a contract that crosses fiscal years with one-year money.  (If all that sounds super confusing, give it a listen.  We break it all down for you)

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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
___________

Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

In Part 1 of our past performance series (Episode 267) we covered the factors the government uses in evaluating past performance and what they mean in context. 

This week Kevin and Paul review why a Government solicitation must explain how past performance will be evaluated as well as how the evaluation process works.  

Learn why clear definition of what is important and what is relevant helps the Government reduce their workload and helps industry target the competitions they are most likely to win. 

Past performance always matters, regardless of acquisition strategy. (well, almost always matters anyway) Learn how both Government and industry can tap the power of past performance for better acquisition outcomes - otherwise known as "making Government contracts better, one contract at a time!".

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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
___________

Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.   

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

The Government's choice of evaluation criteria are the critical element in any source selection.  The evaluation criteria define how the Government selects a winner...and how industry writes a proposal to win.  If the criteria are well written and well understood, we all win.  The Government gets the best contractor to successfully deliver on the contract requirements and industry not only understands which solicitations they are most likely to win, but also how to win. 

We welcome special guest Charles Hargett (former contracting officer and also a Skyway team member) to the podcast to talk through this important topic with Kevin.   

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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
___________

Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts. 

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

Kevin and Paul discuss the concept of perfect competition - where the competition has commoditized the product or service so that price is all that is left to compare. 

Learn how this situation can stifle innovation and result in fewer opportunities for new entrants or alternative approaches - and how focusing on differentiators can lead you to a better solution.   
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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
___________

Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts. 

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

Sometimes it is difficult for the Government acquisition machine to operate as efficiently as the commercial world's.  (Understatement of the year...it is difficult almost all the time)

Kevin and Paul discuss an acquisition that started well, with the Air Force creating an acquisition strategy that would allow them to select the best combination of proposals that satisfied all their requirements - and ended with a GAO protest decision to deny the Air Force "leeway" to conduct tradeoffs on paired proposals.  

We applaud both the Air Force, for putting together a plan to get the best possible result for the mission, and the protester, for raising their hand in a timely manner when the RFP didn't clearly explain how an offeror could present a winning offer.  It's unfortunate that this had to end up with a GAO protest.  We hope this story will help both Government and industry become more sensitive to the need for open communication to resolve conflicts early without having to resort to the GAO.  
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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
___________

Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.  

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

This week we welcome special guest Michael Derrios, currently the Senior Procurement Executive and Head of Contracting Activity for the United States Coast Guard.  Mr. Derrios shares his insight on the challenges that Contracting Officers face due to their unique power to obligate the Government, as well as the scrutiny that power brings from both internal and external entities.

Listen and learn as Paul and Michael discuss the differences between personal and positional power and share their perspectives on the skills and qualities that are required to succeed as a Contracting Officer.  

For more on this topic, check out his blog here: https://www.michaelderrios.com/post/the-power-of-the-pen.  
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If you enjoy our podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.

Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.

With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.

Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us out at skywaymember.com. 
___________

Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission:  Make government contracts better, one contract at a time. 

Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting.  It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession.  Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.