We’ve written a lot lately about protests and their impact on various government contract programs. Many revolve around the central point of whether the company, or the team of which they are a part, qualifies as a good prospective government contractor. The Defense Acquisition University actually has a list of seven traits that contracting officers should look for. They are: “capability, competency, capacity, credit, integrity, perseverance, tenacity, and limitations on subcontracting.” Commenting on all of these would be its own full article, but a quick look at a few can provide clear insight on what makes not only for a competent contractor, but a successful one as well. Take tenacity. Successful companies dedicate the Read more
Pre-Thanksgiving optimism has given way to December political reality as Congress grapples with whether to pass an omnibus FY’23 appropriations package this calendar year or next. While leaders on both sides had expressed a desire to reach a deal this year before the break, agreeing to a top-line number that would then allow allocations across all measures has proven difficult. “The top line is really important,” said Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Jon Tester (D-MT.) in a recent media report. “And make no mistake about it – they’re Read more
It is undeniable that better acquisitions take place when industry and government have an opportunity to discuss key issues in advance of a formal solicitation document. Industry can educate government officials on the latest developments in market technology, while government people bring their important perspective for assuring integrity and meeting the special needs of the public sector that industry may not always see in its markets. Improving communications is the thrust behind a new FAR rule (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-01/pdf/2022-25959.pdf) issued December 1st. According to the Federal Register notice, Read more
Contract changes are usually the number one cause of claims litigation, according to government contract attorneys, but rarely do contractors do a good job documenting those changes. Failure to get changes in writing can eat into a contract’s bottom line more than many companies realize. While much has been written on the need to document and obtain CO approval before a significant change is made, the same is also true for smaller changes. Even if each individual change isn’t substantial, the number of new requirements can quickly add up. Sheppard Mullin contracts attorney Christopher Loveland states, “if the terms of the Read more
So said an esteemed government contract attorney last week. We couldn’t agree more. Bad, or non-existent, communications among OEM’s, distributors, and re-sellers can cause major compliance headaches, not to mention fees. Allen Federal can help. We’re experienced at conducting compliance reviews, either on our own, or as part of a larger team. Compliance money is literally pennies on the dollar compared to what problems can cost you. Contact Allen Federal today at info@allenfederal.com and we’ll set up a review that will ensure that your company has a happy holiday, indeed.