Fed Talks: A Baker Tilly Podcast
The Fed Talks Podcast is a series of audio episodes featuring current issues in government contracting, offering thoughtful, bite-sized insights with rotating guests from inside and outside Baker Tilly.
Episodes
Our recent episode of the Fed Talks podcast discusses the recent changes to the Department of Defense's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification: CMMC 2.0.
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss the recent changes to the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) with subject matter specialist Matt Gilbert. Questions addressed include:
-What is CMMC 2.0 and what are some of the key features of this...
On our second installment of our Fed Talks miniseries: But why?, we discuss the purpose of incurred cost proposals (ICPs) with Baker Tilly subject matter specialist Drew Lewis. Questions addressed include:
• What is an ICP and when are contractors required to prepare them?
• How can contractors ensure that submitting an ICP is as simple as possible?
• What types of changes are expected to be made to the ICP process?
Our most recent episode of the Fed Talks podcast discusses new policy directives related to supply chain risk management.
On this episode of Fed Talks, we explore how new policy directives related to supply chain risk management (SCRM) are challenging federal contractors to adapt their legal strategies, with special guest Alex Canizares from Perkins Coie, and Baker Tilly subject matter specialists, Jeff Clayton and Leo Alvarez. Ques...
Our most recent episode of the Fed Talks podcast discusses the costs of varying levels of cybersecurity maturity model certification.
We play a game of “headline or clickbait” with subject matter specialists Matt Gilbert and Joe McCaffrey to discuss the costs of varying levels of cybersecurity maturity model certification (CMMC) compliance. Questions addressed include:
• Are the DoD’s estimated CMMC cost figures reasonable?
• How sho...
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss the growing importance of supply chain risk management (SCRM) in federal procurement with Baker Tilly subject matter specialists, Jeff Clayton and Leo Alvarez. Questions addressed include:
• What is SCRM and why now?
• How is SCRM affecting federal acquisitions?
• How is the use of all-source intelligence platforms (“supply chain illumination”) changing risk governance?
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss the top 10 costs contractors are forgetting to include in their termination settlement proposals with Baker Tilly partner Noah Leiden and special guest John Prairie, a partner at Wiley Rein LLP. Questions addressed include:
- What are government terminations and when do they occur?
- Why are government terminations a timely topic in 2021?
- What are the types of costs that government contractors...
On our recent episode of the Fed Talks podcast we discuss the importance of test automation for government contractors.
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss test automation with Baker Tilly principal Kevin Brandt.
Questions addressed include:
- What is test automation and why is it important?
- What are examples of how test automation is used and what are the potential benefits?
- Are there concerns companies have about using test au...
Government contracting specialist Drew Lewis joins our most recent episode of the Fed Talks podcast to discuss the purpose of contractor business systems.
On the inaugural installment of our new Fed Talks miniseries, "But why?," we discuss the purpose of contractor business systems with Baker Tilly subject matter specialist Drew Lewis. Questions addressed include:
- What are contractor business systems and why are they emphasized ...
So, you want to be a government contractor? On this episode of Fed Talks, we play a game of ‘Fact or Fiction’ with subject matter specialists Matt Danner and Rachelle Jackson to comment on common concerns companies have when considering contracting with the Federal Government. Questions addressed include:
-Does the government require advance approval for contractors for their subcontract arrangements?
-Will working with the govern...
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Service Contract Act (SCA) contractors with Baker Tilly’s Jennifer Flickinger and subject matter specialist Rachelle Jackson.
Questions addressed include:
-How has COVID-19 affected contractors with SCA contracts?
-How have the health and welfare (H&W) component costs of employee compensation changed due to COVID-19?
-What steps should contractors take to be succ...
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss all things cybersecurity in the government contracting industry with subject matter specialist Dr. Sabari Gupta. Questions addressed include:
-What are the biggest similarities and differences in managing cybersecurity for a company versus the federal government?
-What is the ‘Zero Trust’ model of information security and why is establishing user identity a critical component for an effective ...
On the first episode of Fed Talks season two, we play a game of ‘What’s the Word’ with subject matter expert Mike Cullen to better understand how CMMC will affect non-traditional government contractors.
Questions addressed include:
- How concerned should non-traditional government contractors be about CMMC?
- What level of certification should non-traditional government contractors seek?
- What are some of the complexities surrounding C...
Have you heard of Baker Tilly’s podcast, Fed Talks?
Fed Talks is a series of bite-size audio episodes, featuring guests across the government contracting industry, as they provide unique perspectives on current issues. Season two of Fed Talks will highlight trending topics in the same conversational nature, but with enhancements to make the episodes even more entertaining.
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss the top five things contractors need to know when putting together a proposal for a Service Contract Act (SCA) contract with Baker Tilly subject matter experts Jennifer Flickinger & Rachelle Jackson. Questions addressed include:
1. What is the Service Contract Act?
2. How does the contract type affect both a contractor’s focus during a proposal and ability to secure future funding?
3. Ho...
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss industry critiques of CMMC’s binary certification process with Baker Tilly subject matter expert Matt Gilbert.
Questions addressed include:
Why are some industry experts saying that CMMC lacks agility?
In what ways can the CMMC assessment process be more flexible without undermining its purpose?
How can contractors prepare themselves to succeed within CMMC’s current design?
On the fourth installment of our Fed Talks miniseries edition: Beers with Brent, we discuss Independent Public Accountants (IPAs) with Baker Tilly partner Brent Calhoon and special guest Nicole Owren-Wiest, a partner at Crowell & Moring LLP. Questions addressed include: What are IPAs and how are they utilized in the government contractor space? How have government contractors reacted to the use of IPAs? How do we expect IPAs to be...
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss recent happenings in the commercial item space with Baker Tilly subject matter experts Jeffrey Clayton and Steven Brewer. Questions addressed include: What are commercial item determinations and why are they important for government contractors? What are some key takeaways from the Defense Contract Management Agency Commercial Item Group’s recent Request for Information? What are some best p...
On the third installment of our Fed Talks miniseries edition: Beers with Brent, we discuss the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) with Baker Tilly partner Brent Calhoon and special guest Nicole Owren-Wiest, a partner at Crowell & Moring LLP. Questions addressed include: What was the background and theory behind CAS? Does CAS successfully establish the original mission of the CAS Board? What can contractors do to ensure success when th...
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss accounting system audits and how accounting systems can be a strategic differentiator for government contractors, with Baker Tilly subject matter experts Jennifer Flickinger & Jack Coviello. Questions addressed include: 1. What actually is an accounting system audit and what are the different variations? 2. What recent developments in the industry have led to a renewed importance for system...
On this episode of Fed Talks, we discuss how contractors or recipients of assistance awards (grantees) can assess their organizational risks and improve internal controls when faced with the imposition of an Administrative Agreement. Baker Tilly subject matter experts Patrick Fitzgerald and Delaney Gordon dig into this topic, and further discuss how organizations can get out in front of the government’s concerns to address issues ...
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