Adventures in Contracting

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we are talking about the complicated 287(g)agreements. We cover: -What they are -What authorizes them -How public funds are used -What states get for using them Maryland Senate Bill 245 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0245?ys=2026RS Maryland House Bill 444 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0444?ys=2026RS Execu...

Send us Fan Mail In this video, we talk about: -The 9/30/25 DOT MBE Memo -How we got here -What this means for small and minority businesses -The silver lining in it for small businesses Link to MBE Memo https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2025-09/DBE%20IFR%20Guidance.9-30-2025.pdf?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8ys8V57AC2n5M5HcJ-hiP498UhrxSl3cTVoNYqESZz4b9oPiH0KsW3io5zqA_H849C...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we talk about : -The USAID 8a Fraud Case -The Rule of 2 -8a Audits We are discussing the case facts, the ridiculous settlement and what this cased is being used to do with the rule of 2. Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc359

Send us Fan Mail This episode we talk about: -the funding freeze - who it affects -what the law says -what I think the outcome will be EO's affected by Memo Executive Order 13990-Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis Executive Order 13992 -Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation Executive Order 14008-Tackli...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we talk about Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and his conflicts of interest involving his family, his company and state money. *Raspy voice courtesy of chaotic fall weather! Maryland COMAR  Board of Public Works  https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/23.01.01.00.aspx MD State Procurement Regulations https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/21.01.01.00.aspx htt...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss how the Michigan Department of Transportation handled a company that falsely claimed minority-owned and disadvantaged status, and the overreach of an FBI agent who ultimately proved to be in the wrong. Case Filings chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-mied-1_23-cr-20676/pdf/USCOURTS-mied-1_23-c...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this episode as we unravel the story behind the Chevron ruling—how it came to be and where it might lead. We'll also take a deep dive into the controversy surrounding the alleged bribery charges in Ward 8, featuring Councilmember Trayon White. Don't miss this insightful discussion on two pivotal issues shaping our community and beyond. Source Documents Trayon...

Send us Fan Mail This episode focuses on the MBDA Injunction and what that means for the Wisconsin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Orlando MBDA race conscious programming. If the Minority Business Development Agency can't focus on race, what happens next? Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc359

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year! In this episode we talk about how the District of Columbia's Department of Transportation wants DC residents to foot the bill for 20 Luxury Trucks for the department. OCP Waiver Justification WR-5112 https://dcdslbd.my.site.com/waivers/s/ Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc359

Send us Fan Mail Todays episode is focused on the 13 contracts that DCPS pushed through without council approval and how DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferrebee dropped the ball. Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc359

Send us Fan Mail Today we are covering the PG County PLA Bill.  Some say PG is pushing minority contractors out, but are they? We are discussing: -What it is -What the bill says -The argument for and against -My take on the arguments presented Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc359

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we dive into the North Carolina School System and how an unexperienced company was awarded a $1.5m contract that no one knew anything about. How did this happen? Who approved it? Can it be corrected? Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc359

Send us Fan Mail Join me as I talk about the current situation with HUD and the District of Columbia Housing Authority. We'll talk about the effects and what happens now. This episode is all about:  the fed takeover drama at the District of Columbia Housing Authority how contracts were affected what was violated and where we go from here Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or su...

Send us Fan Mail This episode we are talking about what went wrong with Mississippi TANF and Brett Favre. Strap in for a wild ride into conflicts of interests and surprisingly what the state of Mississippi is doing right. If you don't know me, I’m Leona Charles, owner of SPC Business Consulting LLC, where we do all things government contracts.   So let’s dive right in. This month we’re talkin...

Send us Fan Mail This episode we are talking about when government contracts gone wrong over at WSSC. Strap in for a wild ride into conflicts of interests and the ethics of a contract manager. If you don't know me, I’m Leona Charles, owner of SPC Business Consulting LLC, where we do all things government contracts.   So let’s dive right in. This month we’re talking about: The facts of the cas...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a new season! We have a new format! This episode we talk about the new past performance expansion for small business by the SBA and a case of bad money and fraud by a government contractor in Columbia, MD. SBA Expansion Rule: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/07/22/2022-15622/past-performance-ratings-for-small-business-joint-venture-members-and-small-busine...

Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 13 – Oct 28, 2021: Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) final rule went into effect in December of 2020.It requires that contractors have an active security plan and actually implement it. The biggest change from NIST is that a 3 rd party will verify and certify your security level. Leona covers this and more in this very interesting and informative...

Send us Fan Mail Oct 8, 2021 : Season 2, Episode 12 — The Executive Order issued on 9/9/21 brings big changes for federal contractors. Section requires contractors to provide adequate COVID-19 safeguards to workers performing on  or in connection with a federal government contract or contract-like instrument. Adequate means it meets the definitions of the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce guidelin...

Send us Fan Mail Sept 16, 2021 : Season 2, Episode 11 — Leona Charles discusses the DUNS number and how it differs from the EIN (Federal Tax ID).  Also discussed are the changes that are coming in early April of 2022 regarding the "Unique Entity ID". This is a "do not miss" conversation and is very important to government contracting eligibility starting in early 2022. Approxim...

Send us Fan Mail August 5, 2021 – Season 2, Episode 10: JEDI (Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure) Contract. The JEDI Contract revisited and what it means regarding the potential involvement of small businesses. Run Time Approximately 20 minutes.  ©2021 SPC Business Consulting Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc3...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Leona and Vivica discuss the challenges of small business and category managements. Category management is the business practice of buying common goods and services as an enterprise to eliminate redundancies and increase efficiency and deliver more savings. Approximate Run-Time 25 minutes.  ©2021 SPC Consulting, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Let us know your thoughts!...

Send us Fan Mail July 1, 2021: Season 2, Episode 8 — Continued discussion about Women Owned Businesses (WOB) and Government regulations. Importance of staying in compliance, the benefits of running your business appropriately, and the risks and consequences of not doing so. Approximate Running Time: 32 minutes Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube chan...

Send us Fan Mail June 11, 2021 – Season 2, Episode 7: In this episode we'll be discussing  the Women Owned Small Business Certification - specifically the control component of the business - working full-time in the business. Leona Charles and Vivica Brooks offer up suggestions to make sure the certification criteria is met, including how much time and effort is attributed specifically to wom...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Leona and Vivica take a high level look at the Infrastructure Bill currently being discussed in the news and government. They discuss how this positively effects government contractors on several different levels and what portions of the bill are important in which to pay attention. Also, part of the conversation discusses how critical could be the set-asides spec...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Leona and Vivica continue their conversation on how to develop worth and value and translating that into a satisfactory contract rate for the services and/or products offered. Runtime approximately 30 minutes. Let us know your thoughts! info@spcconsulting.org or subscribe and like our youtube channel @spcbusinessconsultingllc359