Govcon Giants

In this episode of the GovCon Giants Podcast, we have Astrelain Josue, the managing partner of Astral Appraisal Management, to discuss his inspiring journey from running a traditional real estate appraisal business to becoming a powerhouse in the federal contracting world.

Astrelain shares how he secured 15 federal contracts with the USDA Rural Housing Division and his involvement in a billion-dollar IDIQ contract, all without any federal certifications when starting out. This episode dives deep into the strategies, relationships, and mindset that fueled his success.

Whether you're just starting in the federal contracting space or looking to take your business to the next level, Astrelain's journey offers actionable insights and inspiration. Stay tuned for his practical tips on how you can position yourself for success in this competitive market.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrelain-josue-34227b32/

Website: https://www.astroamc.com/

Contact: https://www.astroamc.com/contact

Email: [email protected]

In this podcast, we talk about life lessons and success in business. We share the things and strategies that we do, for example, The "stick and stay," which means staying in the same place but getting increased opportunities. In real life situation, it is starting with a two-day training class and then moving up to a two-year contract, a three-year contract, a five-year contract, and other contracts in between. The second thing is moving from one level to the next. The third thing is making deposits, or reaching out and helping someone else.

We also discuss the importance of looking back and helping other people. There's nothing greater than being able to help someone else. My guest shared the analogy of looking at a flower garden across the street and feeling joy from seeing the beauty, even though she didn't plant it. In all industries, and in government contracting, giving is better than receiving. Taking care of employees and delivering excellence to clients are the two things our guest focused on in starting her company. Want to learn more wisdom on how you can succeed in this arena? Listen now!

In this podcast episode, we talk about when shoud small businesses need to start doing cost accounting. Small businesses engaged with the federal government, either as a subcontractor or a prime, should understand how to do cost accounting or have someone do it for them so they can have a good conversation with contracting officers and others about their real costs. They should also have a good estimating system as this is how they price. Cost accounting and estimating systems should mirror each other, and that the SF 1408 is the compliance checklist for cost accounting system.

The way a company estimates its price for the federal government and does its cost proposals should mirror how its cost accounting system is set up. The indirect pools and the way indirect rates are applied should also mirror the exact same way the proposal was made to the federal government. If a company engages in a lot of subcontract activity where the general and administrative (G&A) cost is a lot more than what the government is willing to pay, it might need to tack on a sub material and handling cost. This changes the company's cost goals and how they account for costs. If you want to learn more about managing your cost accounting, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of having knowledge of federal agency needs and market demands when selling to the government. First off, you need to know how the government was organized, the location of military installations, and which markets to satisfy.

We also stress the importance of knowing what products or services to sell and how to deliver them. My guest shares her international organization that supports US-based companies that work internationally and while most of their clients are Italian companies, they also support foreign companies from Iraq and elsewhere in Italy. Want to know how you can do it as well? listen now!

In this podcast episode, our guest speaker, Lynn from Avanti Corporation, describes her company's work providing science and engineering studies for federal regulatory agencies. The company helps regulators, such as the EPA, to develop rules and regulations in an environmentally responsible way.

Lynn mentions that the company's main competitors are large firms like TetraTech, Aecom, and HDR. She also gives two examples of studies that Avanti is currently working on. The first is an outreach program and distribution of test kits for people in the Virgin Islands who use cisterns for drinking water. The second project involves developing a programmatic environmental impact statement for offshore wind projects in the New York area. Lynn explains that the programmatic review will look at the overall impact of multiple wind projects and streamline the process for implementing them. Want to learn more about Lynn and her expertise? Tune in now!

In this episode, we talk about the different business opportunities available on Sam.gov. I discuss opportunities related to facility support, maintenance, repair, flooring services, aircraft fire trainer, veterinary consultant services, network infrastructure support systems, engineering and technical assistance, roof building repair, restoration of real property, interpreter services, real estate broker support, laboratory refrigerators and freezers, pest control, and more.

I personally like trades work because it is easy and often overlooked by others. So I encourage anyone interested in the opportunities I talk about in this episode to follow up and submit their information accordingly. Listen now!

In this episode, we talk about the difference between pre-solicitation and source sought. Source sought is the government's market research phase to determine if they should make the requirement a small business or one of the socioeconomic categories. At this stage, the government can determine if they should negotiate directly with small businesses or make it a veteran-owned set-aside program.

Pre-solicitation, on the other hand, is a notice given about a month before the solicitation is released, giving contractors time to prepare for the opportunity. The majority of set-asides are now going into IDIQ contracts and are not seen on the open market as much. If you also want to know how to search for set-asides for SDVOSB, tune in now.

In this episode of the GovCon Giants Podcast, we welcome a visionary entrepreneur Delali Dzirasa, founder and CEO of Fearless, a company that creates software designed to make meaningful social impact. Delali shares his inspiring journey of building Fearless from a small two-person operation into a nationally recognized leader in government technology solutions. The discussion dives into the company's mission to create "software with soul" and its focus on innovative projects that address social justice and empower underserved communities.

Delali opens up about the challenges he faced as a minority entrepreneur in the world of government contracting, often finding himself as the only person of color in the room. Instead of letting these obstacles deter him, he leaned into his mission, breaking barriers and paving the way for others in the industry.

The episode is packed with valuable insights on leadership, scaling through acquisitions, and leveraging focus as a powerful tool for business growth. For anyone interested in making an impact in government contracting or building a purpose-driven business, this conversation is a must-listen. Tune in for inspiration and practical advice from Delali's trailblazing experience that will leave you motivated to pursue your goals.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delalid/

Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fearlessbmore/

Website: https://fearless.tech/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearlessbmore/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fearlessbmore

Email: [email protected]

Today, we're diving into a mind-blowing conversation with Kevie Hendricks, a 20-year veteran in the government contracting world and founder of National Materials Supply Company. Known as the DLA Guru, Kevie has secured thousands of contracts for both federal and commercial customers. He'll reveal how his journey from working at Anheuser Busch and Boeing on multimillion-dollar foreign military sales led him to become a key supplier for the U.S. Military through the Defense Logistics Agency.

Whether you're new to contracting or a seasoned pro, this episode will open your eyes to the opportunities and challenges in today's post-pandemic contracting landscape.

In this episode, Kevie shares the strategies that helped him build his empire, insights into how the federal supply chain has evolved, and the biggest mistakes contractors make when starting out. From managing warehouses in St. Louis to navigating lucrative DLA contracts, Kevie's story is a blueprint for success.

Grab your notebook, sit back, and get ready for an episode packed with actionable advice and insider tips that could land you your next big contract.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevie-hendrix-mba/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thedlaguru

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_dla_guru

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NmsHec

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedlaguru/

Twitter X: https://twitter.com/theDLAguru

In today's episode, we reconnect with a guest who left a lasting impression back in 2019 — Mr. Jon Tellier, founder and president of JetCo Solutions, a trailblazer in the federal contracting space.

If you've been with us for a while, you'll remember Jon's incredible story of building JetCo Solutions from scratch. With nothing more than a small nest egg, a leap of faith, and a lot of grit, he and his wife, Sue, took on the highs and lows of government contracting — one proposal, one client at a time. Fast forward to 2023, and JetCo has earned the prestigious title of Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

But here's the kicker: a lot has changed since we last spoke. In this episode, we dive into the next chapter of Jon's journey. From growing his team to navigating the most significant shifts in the government contracting world — like the rise of AI, new cybersecurity requirements, and staying competitive in an evolving market — Jon shares his hard-earned insights.

You'll hear how JetCo adapted their strategies, won even bigger contracts, and maintained their scrappy, success-driven mindset. Plus, stick around for Jon's exclusive tips for businesses just starting in government contracting and the one question he wishes he had asked at the beginning of his journey.

And that's not all! We'll also get into his thoughts on the future of government contracting, including a game-changing emerging trend no one is talking about — yet.

This episode is packed with inspiration, actionable advice, and strategies to help you level up your business. So grab your notebook, tune in, and learn from a true giant in the industry. Let's jump right in with Mr. Jon Tellier!

Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jetco-solutions/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-tellier-419007a/

Website: https://www.jetcosolutions.com/

Episode 38: https://govcongiants.org/038-jon-tellier