AS FEDERAL APPOINTEES HEAD TO THE EXITS CONTRACTORS MUST BE PREPARED

Although there are still 22 months left before the credits begin to role on the Obama Administration, some political appointees are already heading for the exits.  Just last week the GSA CIO, who has been in the position for 14 months, is leaving, as is GSA’s 18F head, in place for a similar period of time.  The Agriculture CIO recently left after the comparatively long tenure of almost three years.  Place on top of that the recent departure of GSA Administrator Dan Tangerhlini and the new tenure of OFPP chief Anne Rung, and it is clear to see why contractors and feds might be concerned about continuity and momentum.  Momentum almost always takes a hit when senior people leave, no matter how capable the “acting” person is who takes over.  The perception is that the organization has down-shifted.  Continuity, in terms of which actions are still priorities, can also be a problem.  Experienced contractors know that departures at this point in an administration are par for the course.  The key is to anticipate them and develop a strategy of how you will maintain critical work with an affected organization.  It’s always best to have at least two champions, for example, to make sure the impact of personnel changes on you is minimal.  Your firm also doesn’t want to be too closely identified with one person in case that official leaves under less-than-ideal circumstances.  If you haven’t already met to assess which of your critical customers might be on the way out of government and what it might mean to your key projects, you’re behind the curve.  Get that discussion on the calendar.  You don’t want to be the person or organization following the retiree out the door.