Contracting Officer Podcast 2.0 (samples)

Latest Episodes:

290 - Is This Classified? Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
The term "classified contract" is often misconstrued. Both Government and Industry need to understand the exact nature of any classified information prior to contract award and throughout contract execution.
Listen and learn the differences in terminology, how they impact an acquisition (or active contract) and why the world of classified contracts can be confusing for all involved.
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

287 - The Past Performance Advantage (Part 3) Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
In Part 1 of our past performance series (Episode 267) we covered the factors the government uses in evaluating past performance and what they mean in context. Part 2 gets deeper into how past performance is used in the source selection process.
Listen and learn as Kevin and Paul explore how the concepts discussed in Parts 1 and 2 are applied to your current acquisition.
Past performance always matters, regardless of acquisition strategy. (well, almost always matters anyway) Learn how both Government and industry can tap the power of past performance for better acquisition outcomes - otherwise known as "making Government contracts better, one contract at a time!".
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

289 - GovCon Targeting (with Cameron and Amy from The Arbinger Institute) Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
We've discussed the importance of targeting many times on the podcast. For a fresh take on what successful targeting looks like in practice, we invited Cameron Cozzens and Amy Sadeghzadeh from The Arbinger Institute (www.arbingerinstitute.com) to the podcast to share their experiences.
Listen and learn as Kevin, Cameron, and Amy walk through real life examples of how a focus on targeting leads to better acquisition outcomes for both Government and Industry.
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

285 - CARES Documentation Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Document, document, document. Kevin and Paul discuss the CARES Act. Well, not the law itself, more the ambiguities within just one section. Learn why you must document, document, document everything related to COVID-19 impacts and mitigations in order to increase your company's chances of receiving the benefits that the act intends.
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

277 - Evaluation Criteria (with Charles Hargett) Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
The Government's choice of evaluation criteria are the critical element in any source selection. The evaluation criteria define how the Government selects a winner...and how industry writes a proposal to win. If the criteria are well written and well understood, we all win. The Government gets the best contractor to successfully deliver on the contract requirements and industry not only understands which solicitations they are most likely to win, but also how to win.
We welcome special guest Charles Hargett (former contracting officer and also a Skyway team member) to the podcast to talk through this important topic with Kevin.
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

283 - Emergency Acquisitions - FAR Part 18 and COVID-19 Sep 17, 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 FAR Part 18, Emergency Acquisitions. Learn how the flexibilities within the FAR (not just in Part 18) enable rapid acquisitions to support crises like current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Both Government and Industry professionals can streamline the acquisition (and therefore, the crisis recovery process) through a better understanding of how the FAR supports, not hinders, acquisition in time of crisis.
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

282 - Coronavirus and Contracts Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
Kevin and Paul provide guidance on how the FAR handles situations like the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Learn how your contract may be impacted, why the FAR's contract termination clauses come into play, and what other options are preferable where possible. As always, open communication between Government and Industry is the most important factor in limiting negative outcomes for all.
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

280 - Small Business Rules Update Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
The Small Business Administration issued a final rule that includes significant changes that impact small businesses overall and also large businesses who are required to commit to small business subcontracting goals.
Listen and learn as Kevin and Paul discuss a subset of changes and why both Government and industry can benefit.
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member will guide you to the next level.
Personal memberships start at just $20/month.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

279 - What is Availability of Funds? Sep 17, 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 another one of those "only in GovCon" situations - you have a contract in hand, but you're not allowed to work because there isn't any money allocated to it.
Listen and learn how FAR Part 32 and a couple clauses - FAR 52.232-18, "Availability of Funds" and FAR 52.232-19, "Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year" - give the Contracting Officer the flexibility to award a contract that crosses fiscal years with one-year money. (If all that sounds super confusing, give it a listen. We break it all down for you)
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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.

278 - The Past Performance Advantage (Part 2) Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

If you work in the Government acquisition world, this podcast is for you. (not just for Contracting Officers!)
In Part 1 of our past performance series (Episode 267) we covered the factors the government uses in evaluating past performance and what they mean in context.
This week Kevin and Paul review why a Government solicitation must explain how past performance will be evaluated as well as how the evaluation process works.
Learn why clear definition of what is important and what is relevant helps the Government reduce their workload and helps industry target the competitions they are most likely to win.
Past performance always matters, regardless of acquisition strategy. (well, almost always matters anyway) Learn how both Government and industry can tap the power of past performance for better acquisition outcomes - otherwise known as "making Government contracts better, one contract at a time!".
_________
If you enjoy our 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, being a Skyway Community member 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 place for anyone who is serious about winning more contracts.
Give us a call at 877-884-5280 or check us 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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