Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 (samples)

Latest Episodes:

584 - Qualification-based Selection and the Brooks Act (with Bill Scheier) Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

All Episodes are inside Skyway Central©
Click here to access your Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 License and start listening today

319 - What is an IDIQ contract? (REFRESHER) Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
What does Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) mean for my contract? Did I really win any work? Or for the Government, how much can I buy and for how long?
Kevin and Paul discuss the benefits and pitfalls of this common contract type. Learn how to leverage IDIQ contracts to make acquisition easier for both Government and for Industry. You’ll also hear cautionary tales of how misunderstanding IDIQ contracts can be perilous for your program or company.
This is a refresher of a previously released episode.
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

317 - Acquisition and Execution Time Zones Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Kevin and Paul revisit the fundamentals of the podcast: the Acquisition and Execution Time Zones. If you're a long time listener this overview is a quick refresher on the beginning and end points of each time zone. For new(ish) listeners, this episode defines one of the key concepts used to illustrate "where we are in the process" in nearly every podcast episode.
The Acquisition Time Zones: Requirements Zone, Market Research Zone, RFP Zone, Selection Zone
The Execution Time Zones: Honeymoon Zone, Performance Zone, Re-Compete Zone, Wrap-up Zone.
We've also used this opportunity to rename the Source Selection Zone to simply the Selection Zone. After a couple hundred episodes we finally recognized that the "source selection" terminology is pretty much a major competition thing. We've been inadvertently giving offense to the vast majority of government buys where a formal source selection is not required. Listen and learn! (I guess we finally listened and finally learned...)
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

316 - What is Certified Cost or Pricing Data? Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Kevin and Paul explain the differences between cost and pricing data and the all-important "Certified Cost or Pricing Data" This has been a hot topic lately as the threshold that triggers the requirement for certified data took a big leap.
This is an update to Episode 062, where we first discussed the topic. The concepts there are still accurate but...due to the threshold change we thought it would be helpful to dig into this topic again. If you'd like even more depth on certified cost or pricing data, check out Episode 313 where we covered the meaning of accurate, complete, and current.
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

315 - RFP Questions w/Wendy Frieman Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Given the complexity of most Government Requests for Proposals (RFPs) questions are inevitable. Paul discusses the sensitive nature of RFP questions with proposal expert (and Skyway team member) Wendy Frieman.
When should you ask questions? What should you ask? It is easy to ask questions in a manner that is not helpful to bidders or government. If you're on the government side, why should you encourage questions? When and how should you answer them? Listen and learn.
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

314 - Contract Types - Fixed Price vs. Cost Type Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Kevin and Paul discuss the differences between Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts and Cost Reimbursable contract types, with a little Time and Materials (T&M) thrown in for good measure.
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

313 - What is Accurate Complete and Current Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Certified Cost or Pricing Data must be accurate, complete, and current. We covered certified cost or pricing data way back in Episode 62.
Today Kevin and Paul get into the meaning of accurate, complete, and current. Listen and learn why certifying is required, the impact of collecting and certifying cost or pricing data, and the peril in certifying to inaccurate, incomplete, or less than current data.
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

312 - Pre-Award Clearance and the National Pre-Award Registry (with Shelley Hall) Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Paul welcomes Contracting Officer and Skyway Acquisition team member Shelley Hall to the podcast to discuss Pre-Award Clearance. This is one of the last hoops that a Contracting Officer has to jump through in order to award a contract.
Listen and learn how the process works, why it can add time to the contract award process, and why industry must comply with the laws and regulations enforced by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in order to receive contract awards.
Check out the National Pre-Award Registry here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/pre-award
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

311 - What is a BAA? Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Kevin and Paul answer your question: What is a Broad Agency Announcement? (BAA) Listen and learn when and how BAAs are used, what types of work are solicited and acquired through a BAA, and how both Government and industry can leverage the opportunities that BAAs make possible.
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, the Skyway Community will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

320 - The Requirements Zone Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Kevin and Paul describe the first of the four Acquisition Time Zones. (Episode 317 provides an overview of all the Acquisition Time Zones). Listen and learn why requirements definition sets the stage for acquisition (and mission) success, what the Government is doing (or should be doing) and what Industry is doing (or should be doing) during this phase of the acquisition process.
_________
If you enjoy this podcast, we invite you to check out the Skyway Community at skywaymember.com. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for anyone at any stage of starting, growing and running a government contracting business. We speak GovCon.
Whether you are brand new to GovCon, just got your first contract, or you are already a successful government contractor, building a relationship with Skyway's team of former contracting officers will guide you to the next level.
With our extensive tools and training, exclusive member discounts on consulting support, and a supportive and active community of peers to help you along the way, the Skyway Community is the perfect resource for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check it out at skywaymember.com.
___________
Kevin Jans and Paul Schauer created the Contracting Officer Podcast to help government and industry acquisition professionals understand more about how the other side thinks. As former government Contracting Officers who have also walked in industry's shoes, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.
Admittedly, the podcast’s name sounds very limiting. It is not just for contracting officers or even just for those in the contracting profession. Anyone with an interest in the Federal acquisition world can benefit from the insight and down-to-earth explanations of complicated topics provided by the hosts.

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