The federal market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions is in the midst of an exponential expansion.  While most of the discussion has been about how this technology can be used to improve the delivery of IT solutions and related services to government agencies, AI can, in fact, impact all types of government contractors.  Contractors are already using AI to assist in their federal market research to develop better business plans.  According to FedBizAccess.com, AI algorithms can analyze previous successful bids and identify patterns and strategies that have been effective. This information can then be used to help contractors craft better proposals that are more likely to win contracts. Post-award, AI technology can be applied to ensure optimized outcomes and good project management. AI can help in other areas as well.  Internal company use of AI can help streamline common operations, just as it is in government.  Workflow mapping and process design are two other potential areas where AI solutions can be applied to reduce overhead and costs while improving efficiency.  That could enable a company to spend more time pursuing customers and creating relationships.  Non-IT and service companies may also be able to integrate AI into those sales and marketing operations by using auto-generated advertising and selling points.  Furniture companies can use AI to generate better design plans.  VA contractors can apply AI technology to develop better products and diagnostic processes. While some of this technology is currently in its infancy so, too, were cell phones when they first came out.  In time, AI-generated material may be as common as the smart phones of today.  No contractor should ignore the potential benefits of AI on both their internal and external operations.  There is nothing artificial about taking the steps necessary to grow your federal business.

While most contractors are properly focused on closing business during the critical fourth quarter of the federal fiscal year, its important to note that acquisition policy officials are still hard at work on their projects as well.  A recent review of open FAR cases showed nearly 13 pages of pending rules, all of which could impact the way in which a company sells to the government.  While landing business should be a company’s priority, someone should be tasked with looking in the rear-view mirror to see what regulatory snares may trip up a business while it’s trying to do actual business.  Objects in the regulatory mirror may be larger Read more

Federal agencies will spend an estimated $217 billion between now and the end of the fiscal year according to Bloomberg Government.  That’s a significant amount of money on the table and obtaining a share of it often determines whether or not a contractor has a successful year.  Bloomberg further estimates that 60% of total dollars, or $132 billion, will be spent via standing IDIQ contracts such as the GSA Schedules, NASA SEWP, and NIH CIOSP-3, among others.  Further, the Department of Defense will collectively be responsible for about half of total spending, with the Army projected to be the biggest single buyer in the defense community.  The leading civilian agency is expected to be the VA, where spending on both IT Read more

The Department of Homeland Security recently issued comprehensive cybersecurity regulations mandating steps contractors must take when handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).  Not only did DHS leapfrog ahead of similar rules coming soon from DOD, but the agency’s rules follow different standards and contain a different definition of what constitutes CUI from current and prospective DOD rules.  The DHS definition of CUI “is any information the Government creates or possesses, or an entity creates or possesses for or on behalf of the Government (other than classified information) that a law, regulation, or Read more

Cybersecurity enhancement, customer experience improvement, secure supply chain implementation.  All of these are goals that the Department of Homeland Security, to name one agency, is working on right now.  All are worthy goals, and all have a tie to government acquisition.  Not all of them, however, can be successfully implemented at the same time.  There simply aren’t enough resources at DHS, or most other federal agencies, to make every wish list item a priority.  This is an issue that government contractors must consider as well, Read more