Contract Termination

Broken Contracts, Broken Businesses: The Ripple Effect of Terminations

Multiple small businesses with recently terminated contracts are telling me today they’re getting stiffed by the U.S. Government for work these small businesses have already done. Smalls are being told they cannot get any relief—the usual final negotiated costs (for costs not yet invoiced, for example) or equitable adjustments, etc. A few months ago, I […]

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Civil Service Fork in the Road is a National Security Threat

National Security Threat: the Civil Service Fork in the Road

I’m hard-pressed to find anyone who thinks that “deferred resignations” or anything from the new OPM’s “Fork in the Road” initiative for civil servants is well-thought out—unless the plan was for utter chaos with a side of cruelty.  I say this as a swing voter who was a public servant under 10 administrations and saw reductions […]

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Ethics

When Ethics Cost You: Standing Firm in a World of Excuses

If you and I have never had a Life-Death-and-the-Universe discussion all night about Acquisition, ethics, and/or the law, consider this article a taste.  There are a few things in life and business that really bother me, and I wish they bothered more people.  It’s about principles, and the key to knowing whether you or someone else follows the principles […]

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Broadening Your Contracting Perspective: Tools, Techniques, and the Value of Networking

I’m all for leaning into your strengths and doing what you do best in Contracting and Acquisition. I don’t believe you have to be “well-rounded” and work in areas that aren’t suited to your work personality or strengths, but you do need to be open to the very real fact that there may be other […]

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The Long-Term Value of Investing in Workforce Newbies

I’ve taken for granted how incredibly lucky I was when I was a Contracting intern and brand new Unlimited Contracting Officer as a GS 12 with barely 4 years’ experience.  Eons ago.  Back when dirt was new and fire was an emerging technology. I’m stopping to think about it only now when I’ve left the […]

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Bringing in Contracting Experts to Help

I see a lot of Government organizations who don’t understand that they need Acquisition expertise, let alone Contracting expertise. It’s funny how often I hear them say later that they didn’t realize how much they needed to consider Acquisition/Contracting in their planning. I also often see people who’ve merely touched a contract in some capacity, […]

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Goodwill, Boundaries, & Wasting Small Business’ Time

For my Govvies, you’re probably not even aware of this bc people won’t say it out loud to you. Small businesses, consultants, board members, employees, etc, have to mind their tongues or maybe suffer financial consequences. That’s why I haven’t really talked much about this in the last 5 years–bc I might hurt organizations I […]

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