Government Contractor’s Playbook

Unlock the secrets to winning federal contracts with the Department of Labor (DOL)! This episode dives deep into the DOL's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) Vendor Outreach Sessions, a game-changer for small businesses looking to secure federal contracting work.

We'll explore why these virtual events are a "low-barrier, high-opportunity" way to set your business development pipeline on ...

🚨 Big news is shaking up the world of federal transportation contracting! This episode dives deep into the major legal pivot impacting the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reversed its long-standing position, agreeing with plaintiffs in a Kentucky lawsuit that the DBE program’s race- and gender-based preferences violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause. Th...

Is your small business ready for a major shake-up in federal contracting? The House of Representatives is advancing eight significant new bills that could completely reshape how you compete—and who your competition is—in the government contracting arena. These proposed changes represent one of the most substantial waves of legislative activity in recent memory, pushing for more transparency, accountability, access, and continuity f...

Attention small federal contractors: A seismic shift is coming to the government contracting landscape! In this episode, we unpack the critical news dropped in June 2025: the FAR Council is seriously weighing a rollback of the long-standing "Rule of Two". This foundational policy currently requires federal agencies to set aside contracts for small businesses when at least two qualified firms can bid at a fair market price...

Are you a small business looking to win federal contracts or subcontracting opportunities? The game has changed! The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched its new Small Business Search (SBS) platform, which officially replaced the legacy Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) in July 2025. This isn't just a simple update; it's a complete rebuild that dramatically impacts your visibility in the federal marketpl...

Get ready, small business federal contractors! In 2025, Congress is rethinking small business contracting with a cluster of bills that could seriously reshape the landscape for your firm. This isn't just policy tweaks; these proposals could redefine who gets a fair shot at the $700+ billion federal marketplace.

In this podcast episode, we break down eight key bills you need to watch. We'll explore how proposed changes like m...

"Tune in to discover how Maryland's $67 billion FY2026 budget is rewriting the playbook for state contracting! Signed in May 2025, Governor Wes Moore’s budget is backed by an aggressive executive order to modernize the state’s procurement, IT, real estate, and fleet management systems. This isn't just about plugging a $3.3 billion deficit; it's a sweeping operational shakeup aimed at saving over $576 million over t...

"GSA's OneGov Strategy: Navigating the New Federal IT Landscape for Small Businesses"

The federal IT market just got a major shake-up! The GSA's new OneGov initiative is fundamentally changing how federal agencies buy software and IT services, moving from resellers as prime contractors to direct purchases from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Microsoft, Google, and Adobe. This isn't just a policy tw...

Texas contractors are feeling the heat! In the first half of 2025, over $860 million in federal contracts and grants have been canceled across Texas, with devastating ripple effects, especially for small, local businesses. San Antonio alone has seen over 50 contracts totaling more than $400 million pulled, disproportionately impacting firms that relied on a handful of federal opportunities.

This isn't just a headline; it's a...

Are you a small business owner looking to grow through federal contracting? You're likely leaving money on the table without an SBA certification! Last year, the federal government awarded over $176 billion to small businesses, with more than a third of that coming through set-aside programs.

This podcast dives into the SBA's five major certification programs, designed to level the playing field in federal contracting:

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Michigan's 2025 K–12 education budget is making significant waves, creating both challenges and opportunities for small business vendors. This episode dives deep into what these sweeping budget changes mean for your contracts and revenue, especially if your business serves public schools.

We'll unpack how the state's decision to increase overall classroom funding while simultaneously eliminating or drastically slashing s...

Are you a small or mid-sized business (SMB) owner who's been blindsided by unexpected funding disruptions? This year, SMBs in Texas and Michigan faced a harsh reality as over $55 million in broadband and digital equity grants were pulled, a $500,000 minority business program was blocked, and about $21 billion in clean energy funding was frozen. These sudden changes, driven by political shifts and federal budget freezes, have gu...

Are you a small business in the government contracting space, particularly in IT, telecom, drones, or physical security? Your vendor list could be your weakest link in the face of expanding federal scrutiny on foreign ownership and supply chain security. In this episode, we break down critical changes impacting contractors today.

We'll explain how Section 889 of the FY2019 NDAA started a major shift, with recent provisions in th...