If you’ve been in the government contracting world for more than a minute, you know how important visibility is. Contracting officers, prime contractors, and agency buyers use government-maintained directories every single day to search for vendors that meet their needs. For more than 15 years, the go-to system for finding small businesses was the Dynamic […]
If you’re in the defense contracting ecosystem — whether a prime, a small business, or an innovative startup — one of the biggest contract opportunities in recent U.S. history is now beginning to take shape. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is preparing the SHIELD (Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense) contract vehicle to support the […]
Federal contracting is a competitive game. Many small and medium sized businesses assume that to win more contracts, they just need to bid lower. But here’s a truth many learn too late: federal and agency buyers don’t reward the cheapest—they reward the most strategic. Your certifications—particularly your socio-economic certifications—can be among your strongest strategic tools. […]
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is being re-written to streamline outdated rules, eliminate inconsistencies, and make contracting guidance more accessible for both agencies and industry. This sweeping modernization—sometimes called the FAR 2.0 initiative—is designed to align procurement with today’s realities: commercial innovation, digital tools, and faster acquisition cycles. One of the most important updates in […]
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) has long been the backbone of federal buying, setting the rules for how government agencies acquire goods and services. Now, the FAR has a new partner: the FAR Companion. Released in September 2025, the FAR Companion is not a new set of regulations—it doesn’t impose mandates, create legal obligations, or […]
Teaming with a prime can open doors, especially on bigger IDIQs, GWACs, and agency-specific programs where you need reach, facilities, or clearances you don’t yet have. But there’s a catch many small businesses learn the hard way: a broad exclusivity clause can quietly take your most valuable assets—capabilities, key people, and past performance—off the market […]
September is National Preparedness Month, a time set aside each year by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to remind Americans that disasters can strike at any time. Floods, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and even hazardous oil or chemical spills can devastate a community in a matter of hours. For businesses, the impact can […]
If you sell to the federal government (or want to), mark October 1, 2025 on your calendar. The FAR Council’s FAC 2025-06 final rule raises a number of acquisition-related dollar thresholds to keep pace with inflation. Two headline changes stand out: Several other ceilings and approval levels move up too—including the 8(a) sole-source justification trigger […]
Labor Day celebrates the builders—the people who turn big missions into tangible outcomes. In government contracting, that means welders and software engineers, machinists and program managers, small-business owners and acquisition pros. Together, they’ve been the quiet engine behind America’s security, infrastructure, and innovation for nearly 250 years. From the Republic’s first paperwork to the first […]
When it comes to winning government contracts, being responsible and capable is as critical as price and performance. That’s where FAR Part 9 — Contractor Qualifications comes in. It’s the set of rules designed to ensure agencies award contracts only to contractors with integrity, reliability, and solid performance records. With the recent FAR Overhaul, Part […]