Govcon Giants

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. Pr...

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 compa...

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 sa...

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 h...

The Department of Veterans Affairs has stopped accepting applications for the certification or re-verification of veteran-owned small businesses, effective October 24, 2022. Starting on January 1, 2023, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will take over all verification processes. Firms that are already verified do not need to take any action except for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Bus...

In this episode, we discuss certifications and programs that can be valuable for minority-owned businesses. Kevin joins us as shares how he was able to win a contract with Wells Fargo by leveraging his NMSDC certification. National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) certifies minority-owned businesses, while Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is a certification issued by a different org...

In this episode of the GovCon Giants podcast, I'm bringing back a true powerhouse in the world of government contracting — Michelle Burnett, Executive Director of the HubZone Contractors National Council and President of HubZone Council, Inc. If you've ever wondered why billions in HubZone contracts go unclaimed or how to position your business for success, this episode is for you.   Michelle brea...

In this episode, I discuss various opportunities to respond to government contracts so you can show interest in any particular bids. Some bids may not be posted on the government's website and so you can respond to requests for information even if they are not formal bids. I also highlighted an example of a request for information on body armor to illustrate the process, so you can see that respon...

In today's podcast, we have two experts who will be speaking about DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS), Mike and his wife Vanessa. Mike is a pilot who did 700,000 in sales in August and over 5 million in sales for the year shares his experience.  We also have a Q&A session to guide you look at sources sought on Sam.gov. Noy only that, in this episode, I share how you can navigate Sam.gov and dow...

In this episode, we have Lynwood Owens, Jr. who talks about his experience with acquisition in the IT industry. He shares how he found the Service Disabled Veteran-owned company that he worked for and helped grow, and how the company was later acquired by General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) due to its CMMI Level 3 certification, which helped GDIT obtain more government contracts. He als...

In today's podcast, we talk about the importance of reviewing past RFPs/RFQs in order to build a team in advance for future Recompetes. To start, waiting until the contract comes out is not an effective strategy, it's vital to pull down past RFPs/RFQs and make sure that you check all the boxes. It's also important to have the right resources and partners in order to meet the criteria for future co...

In this episode, we discuss compliance monitoring and enforcement for government contracts. My guest, who works in compliance monitoring, explains that they work for both the government and contractors to ensure compliance with regulations. If someone notices a contract not meeting compliance, they can reach out to the government. Also, while its true that the government has limited resources and...

In this podcast, I emphasize the importance of building a network and community, and discuss the benefits of partnering with others in order to win contracts. With that, I encourage individuals to focus on their strengths and advantages when targeting contracts, and caution against burnout. I also share examples of successful partnerships and encourage individuals to reach out for support. My goal...

In this episode of the GovCon Giants podcast, we sit down with Fergal McGovern, CEO of Visible Thread, a trailblazer in government contracting and software innovation. As the first guest of his kind on the show, Fergal shares his remarkable journey from launching his first company, Still Trace, to leading the development of Visible Thread — a revolutionary tool designed to simplify the review and...

In today's episode, we discuss the process of registering a company for government contracts. The very first step is to analyze the company and help them obtain necessary codes, such as a CAGE code and an NK code, to register in the System for Award Management (SAM). However, if the company is not based in the Middle East, they only need an NK code and SAM registration. It's important to analyze t...

In this podcast episode, we discuss the challenges faced by businesses in the procurement process for government contracts. As companies grow and bid on larger contracts, they may need a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPSM) to be eligible for those contracts. ProcureLinks, helps businesses create a procurement manual that fits their culture and streamlines the procurement process for co...

In this episode, I share some tips for working with companies that have more money than time. A good way to start is to look for companies with high bonding and no contracts if you want to work with such a company. When it comes to working with approved sources on a DIB solicitation, check if the listed company has a history of providing materials to the government or if a third-party vendor has p...

In today's episode, we dive into the certification process for diverse-owned businesses. The state and federal certifications often require a minimum requirement, such as being in business for a year for WOSB in New York. However, the private sector, specifically the big five, don't have such requirements. The minimum requirement to apply for certification is just one sale, but it's crucial to pro...

In this episode, we talk about how you can improve their business. My guest emphasizes that treating employees well is the most important thing a small business can do. By showing respect and appreciation, employees will be motivated to work harder and go the extra mile for the company. Not only that but the small gestures like paying attention to details, remembering important events, and valuing...

In this episode, we dive into the intricacies of Contractor Purchase System Review (CPSR) audits, which are necessary for maintaining an approved purchasing system when dealing with cost reimbursable contracts with the government. You will learn about the audit process, which includes ensuring auditable files, complete purchase orders and subcontract agreements, and correct dates for reps and cert...

In this episode, we welcome Ed Tuorinsky, a veteran cybersecurity thought leader and CEO of DTS, a company excelling in both the federal and commercial sectors.   Ed shares his inspiring journey from military service to founding a successful company, overcoming challenges in IT, and navigating the highly competitive world of federal contracts. But his story goes beyond winning contracts—it's about...

In this episode, we dive into the procurement process for small businesses bidding for government contracts. The government's objective is to save as much money as possible while maintaining quality products, which means small businesses need to be strategic in their pricing proposals. We highlight three ways small businesses may not make the cut, including under-bidding or over-bidding. Under-bid...

In this episode, Vicky Mangano shares her background in international procurement markets and her experience as a business development manager for construction materials and technologies. She also talked about her work with US government agencies and her training as a qualified construction quality control manager through the US Army Corps of Engineers. In our conversation, we highlight the import...

In today's episode, we discuss the importance of verifying public rates for employees in the construction industry. Researching the Department of Labor's website and reviewing the language of contracts to ensure proper classification of employees is vital. Additionally, we talk about the Wage Theft Prevention Act and the need for contractors to follow up if they are not receiving certified payroll...

In this conversation, Jonathan Barker shares his career journey working for various companies of different sizes, from a 90,000-person corporation to a small family-owned business. He discuss his experiences working for a company that went public and the challenges of being a publicly traded company. His transition from being a young man to a young father and how it impacted his career goals. We a...