GovCon Coffee & Issues

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Ep 8: Infrastructure Bill Nov 30, 2021

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The wait is finally over! On November 15th, 2021, the long-awaited "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" became law. This legislation is exciting news for many contractors operating in various industries that will see a significant uptick in spending across the board. In this episode, Carroll and Michael break down the 1000-page document, revealing some interesting surprises.

Ep 7: How to Find Opportunities Nov 30, 2021

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In this episode, Carroll and Michael address a common issue that many new small business contractors face - finding the right opportunities for their business. They talk about different ways the federal government procures products and services and suggest tried-and-true strategies for finding these opportunities.

Ep 6: COVID Vaccine Mandate Nov 30, 2021

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Carroll and Michael invited Steven Koprince, now retired govcon attorney and the founder of Koprince, McCall, Pottroff LLC, to explain the federal government's COVID-19 mandate in terms people can understand. Although the mandate situation is still evolving, this episode offers valuable insights into what a government contractor should expect in the near future. Additional resources: A First Look at the Government Contractor Vaccine Mandate(blog article) and What Government Contractors Should Know About the Vaccine Mandate (Govology e-course).

Ep 5: Deceptive and Misleading Information Nov 30, 2021

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In this episode, Carroll and Michael share examples of deceptive and misleading information, which unfortunately is plentiful in the government marketplace. But how do you know who to trust? Here are a few tips:

Check the domain of the website claiming to be a government site - is it .gov or .com? Some websites will make you believe they are official government sites, but only a government website will have a .gov extension at the end of its domain name (e.g., sam.gov).
Not all companies (.com websites) are bad - many provide valuable services. Also, sometimes federal government uses websites with .net and .com extensions, such as Fedconnect.net and Fedbid.com (now Unison Marketplace). A lot of government spending goes through these websites.
The bottom line - you need to trust your gut and check with your trusted advisor - e.g., PTAC, MBDA, VBOC, private coach, etc.
Watch out for "easy money" claims. There is no easy money in the government marketplace. Winning takes time, knowledge, effort, resources, and relationships.

Ep 4: Getting Involved in the Government Marketplace for the Wrong Reasons Oct 05, 2021

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In this episode, Carroll and Michael address the issue of getting involved in government contracting for the wrong reasons. Carroll identified two main reasons - 1. because you have a certification and 2. it's all about the money - the U.S. government is the biggest buyer, and you want a piece of the action. Michael mentioned one more common reason - someone told you it was a good idea. But, unfortunately, you got bad advice from a third party who is not even in the government market. However, most of the conversation focused on using certification as the main reason to enter the government marketplace. Carroll and Michael discussed common mistakes contractors make when using their certification to access government market opportunities. Key takeaway points: 1. Ask yourself, "How well do they (i.e., government buyers or primes, depending on the situation) know, like, and trust you?" 2. When selling, forget about your certification and focus on why your business is not winning contracts. 3. Goals are not mandates, so no one is mandated to do business with you.

Ep 3: Where to Start Oct 04, 2021

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In this episode, Carroll and Michael discuss the importance of doing market research before jumping into government contracting and even after being a government contractor for a while. This issue plagues not only newbies but also seasoned contractors, who may have done their homework a decade ago. However, the market is ever-changing. Carroll's advice: become a govcon detective. Use various tools and sources of information to pull data to have a more complete and accurate story. Michael looks at it differently. Drawing from his experience as a former licensed private investigator and a trained analyst in the military, Michael equates it to being a research ninja. He looks for bits of data to start building the big picture.

Ep 2: Gaining Clarity Sep 15, 2021

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In this episode, Carroll and Michael go back to the basics - i.e., gaining clarity. They ask an essential question: Why do you want to enter the government marketplace, and why now? They note that many small business owners are experts in their craft but have no training in being a business owner. “They dive in and start swimming...but when they come up for air, they feel like they are drowning.” Without clarity, you lack clarity. So, regardless of how many years you’ve been in business, step back and ask yourself, “Where am I going, and why am I going there? Is this the right fit for my business at this time? Do I have the time and resources to do what it takes to succeed in the government marketplace?

Ep 1: Coffee & Issues for Government Contractors: What, Why, How Aug 24, 2021

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For their first episode, Michael and Carroll talk about their backgrounds, their WHY for this podcast, and how you can get the most value from this show. Carroll and Michael are both from Louisiana and served in the military before getting involved in government contracting. Their goal for this podcast is to simplify government contracting because, as Michael said, "It's not hard; you just have to learn it." The key is to get foundational stuff under your belt, and once you start executing your plan, some things become automatic. Unlike other podcasts, GovCon Coffee & Issues is an interactive show where you can share your issues and be part of the conversation. To follow this podcast, submit an issue, and register for the live show, go to https://govology.com/issues.

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