Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 (samples)

Latest Episodes:

129 ENCORE - What Are Simplified Aquisition Procedures? Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)This is an encore presentation of a topic that has made the news as our new President’s administration considers what can be done to streamline the Government’s acquisition processes. Simplified Acquisition Procedures!How can the Government buy commercial items efficiently? Good question! One streamlined acquisition process has now become an official part of the FAR. (after years as a “test program”) FAR 13.5 describes Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) which allow Contracting Officers to skip or greatly simplify the process for buying commercial items when certain criteria are met.Kevin and Paul describe when and where SAP can be used and why it is important for both Government and Industry to understand and take advantage of this most useful FAR language.__________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. 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.

131 Limitation of Costs or Funds Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)When is a cost-reimbursable contract not completely reimbursable? The Government’s obligation is limited to the estimated cost and/or current funding listed in the contract. (which sounds obvious, but is easily misunderstood once performance begins)Kevin and Paul discuss FAR 52.232-20 (Limitation of Cost) and FAR 52.232.22 (Limitation of Funds). Learn the notification requirements and thresholds that warrant Industry’s awareness and why tracking and reporting expenditures are crucial to avoiding unpleasant impacts to contract performance due to lack of available funding.__________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. 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.

138 Effective Teaming w/Kevin Lothridge Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)Today we welcome special guest Kevin Lothridge, the CEO of the National Forensic Science Technology Center. Our Kevin Jans discusses teaming with Kevin Lothridge so that you can learn from his experience developing effective partnerships to succeed in this market and achieve better acquisition outcomes for both Government and Industry. __________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. 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.

128 What Are Required Sources? Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)Before the Government can buy supplies and services from the open market they must consider “Required Sources”.Kevin and Paul discuss FAR Part 8’s required sources of supplies that must be considered by Government Contracting Officers at the beginning of the acquisition process. Learn how these apparent inefficiencies can actually speed up the buying process and why Industry must understand how the Government buys what you’re selling. (or you may be fishing in the wrong stream…)__________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. 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.

136 ENCORE - Contract Types Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)This special encore episode is brought to you by the Government Contract Pricing Summit. www.GCPSummit.com/podcastWhat is the difference between a Firm Fixed Price contract and a Cost Reimbursable contract? If you’ve ever asked this question, this podcast is for you. We provide an overview of the 2 basic contract types used by the Government with examples of when they may be used and the risks each party assumes. (this is an encore presentation of one of our earliest episodes…enjoy!)———————————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. 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.

135 What is COTS? Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)This episode is brought to you by the Government Contract Pricing Summit. www.GCPSummit.com/podcastCommercial Off the Shelf? (COTS) Is that the same as a Commercial Item? Good question! Kevin and Paul explain COTS and how the already streamlined ruleset for commercial acquisition in FAR Part 12 is further streamlined if you’re buying (or selling) COTS. ———————————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. 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.

134 Another Government Shutdown? Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)This episode is brought to you by the Government Contract Pricing Summit. www.GCPSummit.com/podcastAnother year, another potential Government shutdown. What does this really mean for Government contractors? What does it mean for Government acquisition personnel?Kevin and Paul explain why a Government shutdown isn’t really a shutdown and describe the common impacts to Government contracts. Learn why communication (especially with the Contracting Officer) is essential for navigating the annual threat of a Government shutdown. ———————————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. 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.

133 Don't Write Novels For Strangers Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)This episode is brought to you by the Government Contract Pricing Summit. www.GCPSummit.com/podcastWriting a Request for Proposals (RFP) without understanding industry’s capabilities and the state of the market is like writing a novel for a stranger. The same goes for writing and submitting a proposal to a customer you don’t understand. (What does that even mean? Listen and Learn!)Kevin and Paul take a different route through a couple foundational Contracting Officer Podcast topics: communication and targeting. Learn how communication between Government and Industry during the acquisition directly impacts the quality of RFPs and proposals and why targeting is important to each side.__________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. 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.

139 Be Early Sep 09, 2026

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If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)This episode is brought to you by Deltek. https://www.deltek.com/en/products/business-development/govwinKevin and Paul discuss the importance of identifying opportunities earlier than you need to. Learn why both Government and Industry can benefit through open communication early (even earlier than you think) in the acquisition process. __________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. 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.

132 Why does Profit matter? Sep 09, 2026

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