Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 (samples)

Latest Episodes:

072 ENCORE - Small Business Set-Asides Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Listen and Learn…What is a small business set-aside? Why would the Government allow only small businesses to bid on some opportunities? In this ENCORE presentation, Kevin and Paul discuss the different types of small business set-asides and why they are important for both large and small businesses to understand. Learn how the Government can benefit from utilizing more small businesses and some of the pitfalls that can trip up a small business set-aside acquisition. Learn how small businesses can influence Government acquisition offices to set business aside for small businesses only and why large businesses should pay careful attention to business size standards for every acquisition. ___________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, but it’s 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.

078 What is a Contractor Responsibility Determination? Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)Government Contracting Officers are required to make a determination that a contractor is “responsible” before awarding a contract. (FAR 9.104) This determination requires a review of the contractor’s financial resources, performance record, and business capabilities. (among other things…)Kevin and Paul discuss why it is important for industry to understand how the Government evaluates responsibility and why Government Contracting Officers should be prepared to help small businesses pass this test. ———— If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support __________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.

074 What is FOIA? Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)What is the Freedom of Information Act? (FOIA) The Freedom of Information Act is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. www.foia.govKevin and Paul discuss how FOIA works and what kind of information is exempt from release under the act. Learn how Government employees deal with FOIA requests and why these requests can impact the schedule of completely unrelated acquisitions. FOIA can also be used by Industry to gain competitive intelligence. FOIA is an important tool that allows citizens to better understand our Government and hold officials accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, it can also be used to sensationalize the mundane and otherwise waste taxpayer dollars. Use wisely! ———— If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support __________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.

075 What are Unallowable Costs? Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by the Government Contract Pricing Summit, the groundbreaking pricing event bringing together government and industry!If you are planning to attend a conference this year, this is the event you should consider. The GCP Summit runs June 21st -23rd in San Diego. You’ll want to be there…For the first-class training and workshopsTo learn from top expertsMeet like-minded peersEarn CPE credits Plus you can participate in a special episode of the Contracting Officer Podcast recorded live from the GCP Summit.There is a special rate for CO Podcast listeners. Visit GCP Summit.com/podcast to find out about the savings and see the list of great speakers at the summit. This is a limited time offer so go check out GCP Summit.com/podcast today!_____________________What are Unallowable Costs? Just because a cost can be allocated to a contract doesn’t mean it can be billed directly to that contract. These costs are called “unallowable costs”.Kevin and Paul discuss the concept of unallowable costs and some examples from FAR Part 31.201. Learn why some costs are not billable on Government contracts and why it is important to set up your accounting system to properly segregate allowable from unallowable costs. ___________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, but it’s 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.Thanks again to our sponsor, The Government Contract Pricing Summit.

076 What is a Novation? Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)What is a novation? How is it different than a name change? How do you know which one applies?Kevin and Paul discuss novations and change-of-name agreements and the procedures outlined in FAR 42.12. Learn how and when novations happen and why it is important to recognize that both assets and liabilities are transferred to the successor company. Remember that novations aren’t always required just because a company acquires another. ———— If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support __________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.

077 What happens when proposals are delivered? Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)What happens if you don’t submit your proposal by the time specified in the RFP? Are you automatically eliminated? Can the Government accept and evaluate it anyway?Kevin and Paul discuss the final step of the proposal process…submitting it! Time has run out and the proposal is complete, ready or not. What happens if you’re late? FAR 15.208 covers submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals. Learn the rules for how the Government handles proposals between the due date and award of the resulting contract and why this can be a stressful time for both sides.———— If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support __________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.

083 The Value of Context Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)How does context influence perception in Government Acquisition? Kevin and Paul discuss context, the central concept behind the Contracting Officer Podcast, as it relates to the Government acquisition process and Government contracting in general. Without context, every conversation can lead to misunderstandings, open questions, guesses, and in the case of source selections: protests. Don’t assume that the people on the other side of the issue understand your position. Explain! Give them the context they need to ensure you aren’t talking past each other. Learn what Government and Industry professionals can do to improve communication through real life examples. ———— If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support __________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.

080 What is a NAICS Code? Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)The Federal government uses the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) (http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/) to classify businesses and collect statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. NAICS codes define companies of all types based on the activities in which they are primarily engaged. The Small Business Administration (SBA) uses the NAICS as a basis for its size standards, which determines whether a business is considered large or small for each applicable NAICS code. Paul discusses NAICS Codes with special guest Shelley Hall and explains what they are, how they are used, and why it is important for both Government and Industry to understand NAICS codes. Learn how misuse of NAICS codes can skew the Government’s market research and how Industry can use NAICS codes strategically to eliminate potential competitors. ———— If you need help with the Government market, join the Skyway Connection Community and get access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and contract-centric training resources that will make sure you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities each time they knock.The Skyway Connection© Community was created specifically to help small companies expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to increase their competitive position in federal government acquisitions. - Learn more at: https://skywayacquisition.com/connectMembership benefits include: Access to Skyway Insight© Webinars Unlimited access to The RFP Score™ Access to Ask a Contracting Officer Forum™ Priority Access to Skyway Team for Skyway Insight, capture, proposal support __________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.

372 - The Execution Time Zones - Overview Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Kevin and Paul give an overview of the Execution Time Zones - a helpful way to envision where and how certain topics fit into the Government contracting world. (execution as in “contract performance”) The Execution Zones are the post-award companions to the Acquisition Time Zones and are referenced in nearly every episode.
Much like the Acquisition Time Zones, the Execution Zones are cyclical, but using contract award as the “beginning” is the easiest way to think about them. Starting with contract award, we enter the Honeymoon Zone. Learn what happens during the first days and weeks after contract award and why a contract kickoff meeting is valuable for both sides.
Following the Honeymoon Zone, the continuum moves through the Performance Zone, the Re-Compete Zone, and the Wrap-up Zone before circling back to the Honeymoon Zone for the next contract.
Learn when to begin the capture and business development process for your next award. Learn when Government acquisition experts begin their market research. The basic flow of contract execution and administration is explained. This episode is a quick overview of each zone - be sure to listen to the zone-specific episodes for deeper insight.
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If you enjoy this podcast, check out Skyway Acquisition at skywaymember.com to begin your relationship with our team of former contracting officers. The Skyway Community is the essential resource for context in the government market.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or email us at connect@skywayacquisition.com
LinkedIn CO Podcast Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6796606/
Facebook Government Contracting Network Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GovernmentContractingNetwork
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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 worked on the industry side, Kevin and Paul share their perspectives in support of the podcast’s mission: Make government contracts better, one contract at a time.

240 - The Acquisition Time Zones (Encore) Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)

In this encore presentation of one of the earliest Contracting Officer Podcast episodes, Kevin and Paul provide an overview of the Acquisition Time Zones. The Acquisition Time Zones are a foundational concept of the podcast. Each zone aligns to a phase of the government acquisition process. The Acquisition Time Zones help our listeners understand how the content discussed in each podcast fits into the overall government acquisition process.

The Acquisition Time Zones are, in chronological order:

The Requirements Zone (Episode 012)

The Market Research Zone (Episode 013)

The Request for Proposal (or “RFP”) Zone (Episode 014)

The Source Selection Zone (Episode 015)

This episode provides a brief overview of each zone. The episodes above dive into the details of when the zones begin and end, what types of communication are allowed, and what government and industry professionals are doing (and thinking) during each zone.

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This episode is brought to you by Skyway Acquisition. To get help with the Government market, become a Skyway Community member. The Skyway Community ensures you are better positioned to take advantage of opportunities and better equipped to manage the challenges of government contracts. Members have access to one-on-one insights, time-saving tools, and training resources from Skyway’s team of former COs, including the ability to get the perspective of the entire team in the “Ask A Contracting Officer” Forum, get specialized training from on-demand webinars and articles, targeting support through the RFP Score™ assessment tool, as well as custom consulting from Skyway’s team of former COs who help solve your unique puzzles. To learn more, visit askskyway.com or call 877-884-5280.

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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.

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