Shows
Main Street VeganVictoria's Favorites - Dr. Greger on How Not to Age + Birthday Bonus: The 5 Tibetan Rites with Nancy Byerly-JonesPlease enjoy this re-broadcast of one of Victoria Moran’s favorite episodesThis week we're growing younger with the inimitable Michael Greger, MD, and his latest New York Times Bestseller, How Not to Age, plus bonus guest Nancy Byerly-Jones with the 5 Tibetan Rites, yantra yoga exercises said to work on the chakras to reverse aging. I think of this episode as science meets spirituality: totally my cup of tea and a great selection to air on my 74th birthday.Find Dr. Greger at his website, the source of straight-from-the-science videos on every conceivable topic: https://nutritionfacts.org. Check out the 5 Tibetan Rites...
2024-10-1855 minMain Street VeganDr. Greger on How Not to Age + Birthday Bonus: The 5 Tibetan Rites with Nancy Byerly-JonesThis week we're growing younger with the inimitable Michael Greger, MD, and his latest New York Times Bestseller, How Not to Age, plus bonus guest Nancy Byerly-Jones with the 5 Tibetan Rites, yantra yoga exercises said to work on the chakras to reverse aging. I think of this episode as science meets spirituality: totally my cup of tea and a great selection to air on my 74th birthday.Find Dr. Greger at his website, the source of straight-from-the-science videos on every conceivable topic: https://nutritionfacts.org. Check out the 5 Tibetan Rites with Nancy on YouTube , and the classic (and curious) book that b...
2024-03-2154 min
From The Green NotebookNancy Sherman- Resilience Through CommunitySend a textProfessor Nancy Sherman has spent decades working with military leaders on ethics, PTSD, moral injury, and suicide prevention. In this episode, she explains how an ancient philosophy can help service members and first responders work through traumatic experiences. She also discusses why community is so important for developing resiliency and grit, and finally, why we all should try a little bit harder developing our empathy for others.
2021-06-0547 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAll About Teaming AgreementsIn today's episode, we will be discussing Teaming Agreements from the Prime Subcontractor viewpoint. In addition, to defining the term teaming agreement, we will be discussing when to consider using one and the clauses that you will want to include in your agreement.
2020-02-1418 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastSteps To Become A Government ContractorStep One Market Research Why? Well, you need to determine if the government purchases your products or services in your area. The Government has moved to larger nationwide procurement contracts. As a result, many of the contracts that were competed in your area may have been bundled or consolidated into these contracting venues. You need to answer the following questions. No, I have not listed every question but a few to get you started. Is there a federal market in my area? Is there a federal market for my niche? Can I be competitive in my niche? Can I...
2020-02-0717 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastContracting Trends - Woman Owned Small BusinessThe WOSB program was not in effect at that time. We can see that the program has skyrocketed from 2011 until 2017 when it dipped and then started another upward trend. Now, this trend is not what I expected!!! Total Contract spending showed, Figure 1, a downward trend starting in 2011 and ending in 2015. From 2015 till 2018 it was an upward trend. It started a downward trend in 2018 but rebounded in 2019. This is nothing like the trends we have seen in any of the other programs
2020-01-3110 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastService Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business - A Decade of TrendsCongress has stated that 3% of Prime Federal Contracting Dollars needs to be set-aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). We want to see if SDVOSB received at least 3% for the last ten years. Facts: Total Contract Spending in the USA has increased by 7% Small Business Set-asides has risen by 2% HUBZone Set-asides has been decreasing by 78% 8(a) Set-asides has been reducing by 48%
2020-01-2410 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHUBZone Contracting Dollars DOWN 71% Since 2010Today on episode number 114 we will look at the HUBZone contracting dollars. No, the title is not wrong. HUBZone Contracting Dollars has been on a downward trend since 2010. Does that mean that the end of the HUBZone program? No, not necessarily. However, I believe changes will have to be made to the program.
2020-01-1712 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastIs SBA's 8(a) BD Program Dying?Today we are going to look at SBA's 8(a) BD Program. Specifically, we are going to look at the trends in 8(a) contracting dollars over the last decade. We can see that SBA's contracting dollars have been decreasing. In fact, it is down by 48% from 2009. Furthermore, Participants in the program have been declining. Why is this happening? A bigger question is what is SBA doing to fix this issue?
2020-01-1007 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTrends in Contracting Affecting Small BusinessToday, we are going to review the trends affecting small businesses in Government Contracting. We will review Federal Government contracting data for the last ten years and see what has happened. Federal spending has increased by 7.15% over the last ten years however small business contract spending in the last two years has declined. Small business contracting dollars is down over 19% the last two years.
2020-01-0312 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastChanges To HUBZone ProgramSBA has made changes to the HUBZone program that went into effect on December 26, 2019. These changes will impact every HUBZone Certified Business. Find out more about the changes by listening now.
2019-12-2709 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTop 6 Mistakes New Government Contractors MakeHello and welcome to Federal Contracting Made Easy where we take the complex world of government contracting and break it into simple steps that anyone can follow. In episode number 110 I will be discussing my reasons for not becoming a government contractor. -intro- Over the last 35 years I have had thousands of companies approach me about becoming a government contractor. As a result, I feel that I have the experience necessary to tell you like it is. Government contracting is not for those that are not in it for the long haul...
2019-12-2011 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastSmall Business Size StandardsIt should be easy to determine if your business is large or small. However, that is not the case, especially if you want a loan or become a government contractor. Remember, you cannot compete on small business set-asides unless you qualify as a small business. Furthermore, it will matter if you want to be eligible for SBA's loan programs. The last thing you want to have happened is to lose a government contract due to your business size. So before that happens, find out if your business is small or large. What Does the Government...
2019-12-1311 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcast2019 Small Business Economic UpdateSmall businesses are responsible for creating 8.7 Million jobs since 2005. They also are responsible for 46% of the GDP. As a result, the impact that small businesses have on our local and national economy is great. That is why all small business owners should pay attention to the economy. How is the small business economy? That is what we will be discussing today. SBA just released it's the latest bulletin on the strength and weaknesses in the economy. Let's find out more now.
2019-12-0610 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastDBE Program - Interview with Raymond Christy with SLC AirportsWe interviewed Raymond Christy with the SLC Airport Authority regarding the DBE Program. One of Raymond's jobs is to be the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Coordinator for SLC airports. He has also worked as the DBE Coordinator for the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) in Utah. He has a ton of experience with the DBE program and can provide valuable insight into the program. The DBE Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. DOT uses this program to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in obtaining experience on DOT contracts. Find out more... WATCH NOW!!
2019-11-2932 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat is the DBE Program?Today we will discuss DBE Program. DBE stands for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. It is another contracting program available to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The program is administrated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
2019-11-2215 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastGovernment Contract Disputes & ClaimsAnytime you enter into a contract you may be faced with a dispute or need to file a claim. This is what today's topic is all about. In government contracting there are 4 levels that a claim maybe processed through. We are going to talk about these todays.
2019-11-1509 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To File a Government Accountability Office (GAO) Protest?In today's episode we will discussing filing a GAO protest. Did you know that a GAO protest will cost you money? That's right. $350 to be exact. Did you also know that it takes 100 days for GAO to make the decision? That is a lifetime in government contracting. Find out more information just like this. LISTEN NOW Links: eCFR https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=91f93493acfe54883f7975f4653dfd96&mc=true&node=pt4.1.21&rgn=div5 FAR https://www.acquisition.gov/content/part-33-protests-disputes-and-appeals#i1080497 GAO Website: https://www.gao.gov/le...
2019-11-0826 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To File An Agency Protest?First you must present your factors in a concise and logical format so that the contracting agency can review for protest. If you fail to present your facts in this matter the agency may elect to dismiss the protest. And we don’t want that. Your protest should include the following information: Name, Address, Fax and Telephone numbers of the Protester. The Contract or Solicitation Number. A detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds for the protest. You must include a description of resulting prejudice to the protester. Include copies of any relevant documents. You must...
2019-11-0109 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcast8(a) Protests & More Plus GiveAwayCan you protest a 8(a) sole source contract? Can you protest a competitive 8(a) requirement or contract? Can you protest the NAICS code assigned to an 8(a) requirement? The answers to these questions and more will be answered in this week's episode plus a giveaway. GiveAway is through KingSumo. http://bit.ly/FCMEGiveAway
2019-10-2517 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAll About Protests Pt 2 PLUS GiveAwayRemember the government’s goal is to ensure effective and efficient expenditure of public funds. They also want fair and expeditious resolution of protests to a solicitation or award on government contracts. As a result of these goals the government wants to reduce the number of cases that go outside the agency. Therefore, the government regulation was written to direct that prior to submission of a protest the contracting agency, and all parties use their best efforts to resolve the concerns with the agency contracting officers through open and frank discussions. What happens when you cannot resolve th...
2019-10-1816 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAll About Protests, Part One Welcome to the wonderful world of Federal Contracting Made Easy. It is our job to take the complex world of government contracting and break it into simple steps that anyone can master. We are on episode number 99 and today’s topic is on “All About Protests?” But before we get started in today’s topic let’s roll that intro. Welcome Back Before we get started today, I wanted to talk about a new opportunity for my viewers. Federal Contracting Made Easy is now on Patreon. Patreon allows viewers of our blog, podcast and YouTube...
2019-10-1111 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastBreach of Contract FCME uploads new episodes every Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube October 4, 2019 Episode #098 Support our channel:...
2019-10-0404 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTermination For Default (T4D) - Contractor Edition FCME uploads new episodes every Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Friday September 27, 2019 Episode #097 Termination for Def...
2019-09-2716 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTermination For Convenience - Contractors EditionFriday September 20, 2019 Episode #096 Termination for Convenience. Those three little words are something that no contractor wants to hear. After all, who wants the government to seek termination actions on their contract. But let's be honest, it does happen. Contract terminations can happen at any time. Sometimes the contractor is at fault and sometimes the contractor is not at fault. Our goal for today’s episode is to educate you on the procedures that transpire when the government terminates a contract. In addition, we will go over the resources available to both parties (government and contractor)....
2019-09-2009 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastGSA Implementing Changes AFfecting ALL Government ContractorsFriday September 13, 2019 Changes in Government Contracting That You Need to Know About. Welcome to the wonderful world of “Federal Contracting Made Easy”, where we take the complex world of government contracting and break it into simple steps that anyone can master. Today, we are celebrating our 95th episode and to mark the occasion we will be discussing some changes that GSA is implementing that will impact you!!!. BUT before we get started let’s roll that into. Welcome Back The General Service Administration (GSA) oversees many acquis...
2019-09-1309 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastA Surprising Tool To Help You With Your Contract Performance A Surprising Tool to Help You with Your Contract Performance Welcome to the wonderful world of Federal Contracting Made Easy. Where we take the complex world of government contracting and break it into simple steps that anyone can master. This is episode number 94 and today we are going to discuss a tool to assist you in performing your contract. But before we get started let’s roll that intro. Welcome back. Introduction Up to this point you have been selling the government that your...
2019-09-0607 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastThe Ultimate Guide to the Pre-Award Survey The Ultimate Guide To The PREAWARD SURVEY Welcome to the wonderful world of Federal Contracting Made Easy. We are on episode number 93 and today’s topic is on preparing for the preaward survey. But before we get started let’s roll that intro. Welcome Back. We have walked you through the bid process and through the evaluation process. Now we are going to discuss the pre-award survey. Recap The government is responsible for evaluating a bid to determine...
2019-08-3007 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat Happens During The Evaluation Process?Welcome to our channel Federal Contracting Made Easy a division of Byerly Enterprises. We are federal contracting experts and can assist you in your government contracting needs. We specialize in helping small businesses with their government contracting journey. Today we will be discussing what happens after you have written your proposal. Early episodes we discussed how to write a proposal, invitation for bid (ifb), request for quote (RFQ), and request for Proposal (RFP). Beef up your proposal writing skills by listening and watching our videos. We are your government contracting "how to" expert. Learn our p...
2019-08-2315 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastNo More Mistakes When Submitting Your Proposals Final Proposal Checklist Congratulations on arriving at your last step in the proposal writing process. At the present time, you have finished writing your proposal. There are multiple ways that you can submit your bid. Some of them are U.S. Mail, UPS, FedEx or hand deliver to name a few. Remember, the U.S. Post Office is the only carrier that the government will recognize for consideration of a late bid. As a matter of fact, you may want to remember the USPS when determining your bid submission method. Before we sub...
2019-08-1609 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Write a Government RFP Proposal - Part TwoLast week we discussed Part One of our steps for writing a bid on a Request For Proposal. This week we are going to discuss a ton of tips to assist you. Proposal Writing Tips Most important, your proposal needs to address the government's requirements, be written clearly, and be persuasive. Below we will discuss our suggested writing tips. Please feel free to use them as you see fit. The Proposal Is a Sales Document. Write your proposal like a sales document. Your bid must sell your company's ability to meet the...
2019-08-0913 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Write a RFP? Part 1 FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Last week we walked through how to...
2019-08-0218 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastEverything You Wanted To Know About Writing an Invitation To Bid But Were Afraid To ask FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube “How To Write Your Invitation to Bid...
2019-07-2624 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastIt's All About Pricing Services for Government ContractsHello and welcome to Federal Contracting Made Easy, I am your host Nancy. Today we are on episode number 87 and will be discussing “ It's All About (The) PRICING SERVICES GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING”. This is not an easy task and took me a day to do all the calculations. (It would have gone faster but those darn interruptions.) DISCLAIMER. "I wanted to take a moment and tell you that I am not a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and you should always consult with your accountant and have them help you compute your service pricing. If you do not have a...
2019-07-1908 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastPricing-How To Write a ProposalHow to Write a Proposal – Pricing The best advice that we can give to you is to be as competitive on your pricing as possible. There are too many ways to price a product or service. I am not going to provide you with a ton of insight into this, but I will provide sound guidance. I can tell you that the old stories of the government buying toilet seats for $200 and $300 hammers are simply that – old news. In today’s age, you had best sharpen your pencils and be as competitive as possible. Next, we will be discuss...
2019-07-1216 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTechnical Data-How To Write a Proposal?Episode #85. How to Write a Proposal – Technical Data #proposal writing #government contracting Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of government contracting. We are on episode number 85 and today we are going to talk about How to Write a Proposal – Technical Data. But before we get started let’s roll that intro. Welcome Back! Now that you have reviewed and understand the contents of the solicitation package, it’s time to start gathering the required information needed to complete our proposal package. This includes the technical data need to put into our proposal.
2019-07-0510 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Read a Solicitation (Bid)Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of government contracting. I am your host, Nancy, and today we will be going over "How To Read a Bid?" Can you believe it? We are already on episode number 84. But before we get started let's roll that intro. Introduction We left off on our last episode with you reading the solicitation multiple times. But before we go on let's review where the government posts its solicitations. Remember the Federal Business Opportunities website is where the government lists all bids over $25,000. The only exception to this is the Federa...
2019-06-2808 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Write a Proposal - Part 1?Listen to Nancy as she walks you through the proposal writing process for IFB, RFQ, RFP and other types of contracts.
2019-06-2110 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastSpecial AnnouncementWe are taking two-weeks off our production schedule and changing our release days to Fridays.
2019-06-0702 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTypes of Government ContractsToday, we will be talking about “Contract Types and Contract Clauses.” When preparing to respond to government contracting bids, you need to be sure that the requirement fits your business model. There is no point in spending resources working on a proposal when your chances of winning are slim. This is going to be a multipart series, so make sure that you subscribe. When you subscribe to our channel, you will be automatically notified when we release new episodes. The first step in the process is to review the solicitation and see if it is one tha...
2019-06-0109 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhy We Celebrate Memorial Day?We all know that Memorial Day is an American holiday that is observed the last Monday of May. But do you know why we celebrate this holiday? Memorial Day's purpose is to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It is a very somber day to me as I remember my family members, fellow veterans, and military members who have lost their lives while serving this great country. Also, I also remember those that served in the military. Many veterans may have made it back from military conflicts but they did not come b...
2019-05-2706 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHUBZone Program ExaminationWelcome back to our blog. Our topic today is on the HUBZone Program Examination. Subjects covered include: When does the Small Business Administration (SBA) conduct examinations? What documents will SBA check?. By what means, does SBA conduct a program audit? Now, let's talk about who conducts the HUBZone Program Examination. Who Conducts SBA HUBZone Program Examinations? Of course, SBA Headquarters is responsible for HUBZone Program Examinations. However, the local SBA District Office may be tasked to visit you. If the local district office is not able to visit, they may ask a resource partner to comple...
2019-05-2013 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Prepare For Government ContractingWelcome Back folks!!! Today, we are going to have a talk about being prepared for government contracting. I have been getting a lot of calls and emails from businesses that are wanting to become government contractors. However, these businesses (in most cases), I believe are not ready to enter into government contracting. Let's discuss why I feel this way. Preparation Everyone knows that the better prepared you are the better your chances of succeeding. This is true in life and government contracting. The first step is preparation is to ensure that you have the resources availabl...
2019-05-1708 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHUBZone Price Preference AdjustmentToday, we will be explaining the HUBZone Price Preference adjustment. Contracting Officers must give qualified HUBZone businesses a ten percent price adjustment on certain contracts. Not sure what the HUBZone program is? Check out this blog. Now on to the rest of the article.How does a price evaluation preference affect the bid of a HUBZone business in full and open competition?The HUBZone Price Preference adjustment happens on full and open competition. In other words, it happens on contracts that are open to large and small businesses. The Government must deem the price offered by the HUBZone business to...
2019-05-1312 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHUBZone Appeals and PenaltiesSo Nancy? Who can appeal the decision of a protest? Well that is a great question. First, the protested HUBZone small business, second the protestor company, or lastly the Contracting Officer may file appeals. Send your appeal to the Director of HUBZone. By the way, there is a time limit to the appeal process. Likewise file your appeal within five (5) business days after the date of the protest determination. You must remember that SBA will not accept any appeals after this time frame. Now we will discuss how to file the appeal. Questions: email: nancy@byerlyenter...
2019-05-1009 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAbout the HUBZone ApplicationToday, we are continuing our discussion regarding the HUBZone Program. Our topic is going to concentrate on the HUBZone application. Now we will not go into how to fill out the application but will go through all the regulations governing the application process. This way you know what to expect as you are considering this program.Where To Fill Out the Application?One of the changes that SBA has made is to develop a new system for all their certifications. This new system is a database that is accessed through your web browser. The location is https://www.certify.sba...
2019-05-0622 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHUBZone ContractsHUBZone contracts are contracts awarded to a qualified HUBZone SBC, regardless of the place of performance, through any of the following procurement methods: •Sole source awards to qualified HUBZone SBCs; •Set-aside awards, including partial set-asides, based on competition restricted to qualified HUBZone SBCs; •Awards to qualified HUBZone SBCs through full and open competition after a price evaluation preference is applied to an other than small business in favor of qualified HUBZone SBCs; •Awards based on a reserve for HUBZone SBCs in a solicitation for a Multiple Award Contract or •Orders set-aside for HUBZone SBCs against a Multiple Award Contract, which had been a...
2019-05-0330 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAbout HUBZone Joint VentureGenerally a qualified business may enter into a joint venture agreements with one or more other small businesses. In addition, a business can enter into a Joint Venture with it's approved mentor. What do I mean by approved mentor? Well, SBA has to approve your Mentor Protege Agreement (MPA) either through the All Small Mentor Protege Program or the 8(a) Program. If your MPA has been approved by SBA then you can enter into a joint venture with your mentor. Unlike the 8(a) BD Joint Venture, a Joint Venture does not required certification. Want more information? Then listen...
2019-04-2922 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat is the HUBZone Program?Congress created the HUBZone Program in 1997 as a way to rejuvenate low income and high unemployment areas. By providing small businesses with a Federal contracting program as an incentive to hire employees within this low income zones and reinvest in their local communities. This program is mandated by all federal government agencies that have at least one contracting officer. As an added benefit Congress also revised the Subcontracting Program to include HUBZone businesses. As a result, any government contractor that is required to have a subcontracting plan will have to address how they plan to hire HUBZone small...
2019-04-2618 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat is the Surplus Property ProgramDid you know that SBA has a Government Surplus Property Program? It is one of the lesser known benefits of being an 8(a) participant. The Surplus Property Program allows 8(a) businesses to obtain excess equipment from the government. As long as the 8(a) business is eligible and in good standing with SBA they are eligible to receive the Federal Government Property from State Agencies for Surplus Property (SASPs). Every state has its own State Surplus Property Agency. The property that you can receive has been donated by Federal agencies that no longer need the item. Eligibility In...
2019-04-2212 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat is the SBA 8(a) Business Plan?You have accomplished a lot the last few months. You have submitted your SBA 8(a) application and now have received your 8(a) certification. The next step is for you to complete and submit your 8(a) business plan. Before you get started let's find out more information. Why Does SBA Need You To Complete a Business Plan? Your business plan is used by your Business Opportunity Specialist (BOS) to assist you in developing your business while in the 8(a) program. That business plan is your road map to success. The more detailed the plan the better. Your...
2019-04-1907 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat is SBA's 7(j) Program?Learn how HUBZone and 8(a) firms can benefit from CEO level training to enhance their capabilities. Sign up for your FREE Bidsync account today! Never have to manually search for opportunities. bidsync.com/ContractsMadeEasy
2019-04-1506 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat is Suspension in the 8(a) BD ProgramWhat is Suspension? Suspension is when SBA suspends all program support to an 8(a) BD business to include accepting new 8(a) sole source contracts for you. This is done to protect the interests of the Federal Government Learn the rights you have if SBA decides to take suspension action against you.
2019-04-1216 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastLeaving the 8(a) BD Program Part 3Today we are going to concentrate our efforts on Early Graduation and Termination from SBA's 8(a) BD Program. All 8(a) businesses need to understand the process that SBA can take to remove you from the program. Do you know your rights? Can you stop the process? What recourse do you have? These are a few of the things that you will learn from our podcast today. We are excited to announce our sponsor Bidsync. Are you struggling to find quality public sector bids in a timely manner? Well, you are not alone. Based on cu...
2019-04-0810 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastLeaving the 8(a) BD Program Part 28(a) BD Program Eligibility Part One 10:03 Nancy Byerly Federal Contracting Made Easy Government, Business 0 8(a) BD Program Eligibility Part One 10:03 Nancy Byerly Federal Contracting Made Easy Government, Business 0 Leaving SBA's 8(a) BD Program Part Two 13:55 Nancy Byerly Federal Contracting Made Easy government, business
2019-04-0513 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastLeaving the 8(a) BD Program Part OneLet’s get into today’s topic. There are five (5) ways that a certified 8(a) business may leave the 8(a) BD program. The first way is to complete the nine (9) year program term which SBA refers to as graduation. The next way to exit the program is by voluntary withdrawal or voluntary early graduation. The difference between the two is the withdrawal means you have not met your goals and objectives in your business plan. If you have met your goals and objectives, then it would be called a voluntary early graduation. Why would you want to Vo...
2019-04-0115 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastNon-Manufacturer RuleListen as Nancy explains SBA's non-manufacturer Rule.
2019-03-2909 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcast8(a) Business Development ApplicationListen to Nancy as she walks you through the 8(a) BD application process then provides an overview of what to expect while waiting for SBA to make a final determination.
2019-03-2516 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcast8(a) Business Development Program Eligibility Part ThreeEver wondered if you meet the eligibility requirements for the 8(a) Business Development program? Find out now as Nancy walks you through the program eligibility requirements. SBA's 8a program has helped thousands of businesses succeed. Do you need a mentor? The 8a program has it's own Mentor Protege Program. Do you need training? SBA provides CEO level training as part of this program. One of the benefits of the 8a program is that small disadvantaged businesses can obtain sole source contracts. Yes, that is right. Sole Source contracts that do not require you to compete!!! This is one of...
2019-03-2206 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcast8(a) Business Development Program Eligibility Part TwoIn this second part series Nancy will explain the social and economic requirements of the 8(a) program. She will also go over the ownership requirements.
2019-03-1815 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcast8a BD Program Eligibility Part OneListen to Nancy as she explains in detail the eligibility requirements for the 8(a) Business Development Program. This is part one of a four part series.
2019-03-1510 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Overcome "No Past Performance"?Ever feel like the chicken and the egg? You need past performance but how do you get it if the government will not give you a try? Like any other business, the government requires contractors to have past performance. So how is a small business supposed to get experience to overcome this stumbling block? 6 Ways to Gain Past Performance Today, we are going to discuss 6 ways to gain past performance experience. By following the six techniques below you will be able to build your government past performance. 1. Use relevant commercial experience in your proposa...
2019-03-1109 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastOstensible Subcontractor RuleAll government contractors need to understand the ostensible subcontractor rule and how SBA makes the determination. This is especially true for new government contractors who lack past performance. Even if a prime contractor is following the limitations on subcontracting, it does not mean that SBA cannot find affiliation between them. Small business government contractors that rely too much on another business for subcontracting could raise concern for affiliation under the Ostensible Subcontractor Rule. What is Ostensible Subcontractor Rule? Ostensible contractor affiliate happens when a small business holds a prime contract, but a subcontractor ends up con...
2019-03-0809 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastLimitations On Subcontracting EP-055 3/4/2019 Limitations on subcontracting for prime contractors is an important topic. Especially now that the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) are NOT in agreement. Let's get into this topic in more detail, shall we? Background In January 2013, the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) became law. This Act made major changes to the limitations on subcontracting. The law changes the way the government determined compliance with the limitations on subcontracting for prime contractors. By the way, limitations on subcontracting applies to service and supply contracts. The old way...
2019-03-0408 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Become a Government Subcontractor? EP-054 FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube 054 How To Become a Government Subcontractor?...
2019-03-0118 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Discover Your PassionI answered the phone the other day and the gentleman on the other end of the line stated that he wanted to start a business. I responded "Okay what type of business are you interested in?" His response was "the one that sells the most to the Federal Government". I have heard that response before. In reality, he did not know what type of business he wanted, he just wanted to sell to the world's largest purchaser of products and services. I then proceeded to tell the man that he needed to find something that he was passionate about doing b...
2019-02-2507 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastUsing FOIA To Improve Your Proposals EP-053The Freedom of Information Act, otherwise known as FOIA, allows individuals to request federal agency records or information. However, there are exceptions, nine in fact, and three special law enforcement record exclusions. We will go through the list of exemptions and exclusions for your benefit. Remember, the more educated you are, the better your FOIA requests will be.
2019-02-2209 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Make a Great First ImpressionWhen you meet someone for the first time, they instantly form an impression based upon your age, gender, race, height and weight. People will also judge you based on your body language. Do you look someone straight in the eye? Do you cross your arms? Do you stand up straight? Your total impressions are a combination of all these factors. So what does this have to do with 30 seconds to make an impression? Everything! Though you cannot change your age, gender, race, height or weight you can change the way you stand, whether or not you fold your arms...
2019-02-1808 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastContracting Secrets Part 2 - Finding Opportunities Before Competitors EP-051 FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Episode 051 Small Businesses Don’t wai...
2019-02-1510 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastGovernment Contracting Questions & Answers EP-050 FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS T...
2019-02-1315 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastFiring An Employee EP-047I cannot think of anyone that I know that loves to fire an employee but sometimes you just have to do it. The first thing that comes to mind is how to protect the business from a lawsuit. Even though most businesses are covered by at-will laws, which allow for firing of an employee for no reason. This language should be incorporated into your employment agreements, offering you another layer of protection. However this will not stop an employee from filing a lawsuit against you for wrongful termination. Even if the courts rule in your favor you are still...
2019-02-1106 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastContracting Secrets - Find Opportunities Before Your Competitors, Part 1 FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Episode #049 Contracting Secrets, Finding Opportunities Before You...
2019-02-0813 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHiring 1st employee HIRING 1ST EMPLOYEE You only hire an employee for two reasons: The employee can save you money. The employee can reduce your expenses. Before you hire your first employee make sure that you take the time to put things in place. Does your business have an Employer Identification number? (EIN) Do you have Worker’s Compensation Insurance? Post required Notices Job Safety and Health Protection Equal Employment Opportunity (Only if involved in Federal Contacting) Fair labor Standards Act Employee Eligibility Verification Setup record keeping Have you determined the first...
2019-02-0400 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTOP 5 THINGS TO DO NOW THAT GOVERNMENT IS REOPENED -0451 Feb 19 Top 5 Things To Do Now Government Is Reopened Congress has created an Act called Fair Compensation For Low Wage Contractor Employees Act. I found information for this at www.vox.com Breach Of Contract. It is advisable to review your contracts to see if the Government breached the contract. If so, contact your attorney and come up with a game plan on how to proceed. Bridge Contract – Don’t consider your contract over yet. In some cases, the government may issue a bridge contract to cover the time until they can rebid the contract...
2019-02-0107 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastGovernment Office Came To Visit -035It has been a couple of years since you took the first steps to adventure into government contracting. Your business is HUBZone certified and the business has won HUBZone contracts. Things are going well when suddenly a visitor walks in stating that they are from the Government and you need to answer a few questions. Before you panic, stop and take a deep breath. Let the air out slowly. Now go and talk to the Government Official. More than likely the Government Official is from the U.S. Small Business Administration and he or she is performing a HUBZone site...
2018-12-0305 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastRelationship Between 8(a) Firm & BOS -034The better informed you are about their responsibilities the better decisions you can make during your tenure in the program. Regulations First let’s start with where this information is obtained from. Every Agency has regulations that tell them what their responsibilities and obligations are. The Small Business Administration is no different. Their regulations are called Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and are available to download from their website. I would suggest that you download the SOP and keep it on hand during your time in the program. 8(a) Business Development - https://www.sba...
2018-11-2611 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhy Do Business With The Federal GovernmentHave you ever lost sight into why you are doing something? That is why today's podcast is about doing business with the federal government. For the last six months, we have been discussing topics related to government contracting and the steps you need to take to become a government contractor. We have been concentrating on developing our business strategy for competing in the federal marketplace. However, as we work on this business strategy it is easy to lose sight of the original reasons, we started this process in the first place. That is the goal for today’s topic is...
2018-11-1905 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastSBA Surety Bond Program - 032SBA guarantees the surety bonds for approved surety companies which allows these companies to offer surety bonds to small businesses that might not meet the eligibility criteria for other sureties. Many small businesses first starting government contracting utilizing the SBA Surety Bond program. Websites: SBA Surety Bond Program - https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bonds SBA www.sba.gov FAR Part 28 Bonding http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmfara.htm Federal Contracting Made Easy - www.federalcontractingmadeeasy.com Byerly Enterprises www.byerlyenterprises.com Contact Nancy - Nancy@byerlyenterprises.com
2018-11-1207 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastBonds In Government Contracting -031Businesses have to abide by the set rules and regulations especially when it comes to contract work. Bonds protect the parties if the job fails to meet the contract. That is why bonds exist. Most contractors¸ do not think about bonding until a time comes when the projects they seek require bonding. Consequently, businesses willing to enter into a contract with corporations or the government should understand the workings of bonds. Learn more about bonds by listening to this podcast. Websites: FAR Part 28. http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmfara.htm FederalContractingMadeEasy.com B...
2018-11-0514 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow Contracting Officers Perform Market Research?-030Learn how market research is performed by government officials. Have a question or topic you would like discussed? Submit it to nancy@byerlyenterprises.com Federal Contracting Made Easy - www.federalcontractingmadeeasy.com Byerly Enterprises-www.byerlyenterprises.com
2018-10-2905 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhat is the Certificate of Competency Program? -029Did you know that if you that if you are a small business and a contracting officer determines that your business is non-responsible that the contracting officer has to refer the matter to SBA? Learn more about this program and how you can ask to have a Certificate of Competency performed on your business. Websites: Federal Contracting Made Easy -www.federalcontractingmadeeasy.com Byerly Enterprises - www.byerlyenterprises.com Contact Nancy at nancy@byerlyenterprises.com
2018-10-2206 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAre You a Responsible ContractorNow before we get into today’s topic it is time for you to act and subscribe and rate our podcast. This is important as you will find new episodes will be automatically downloaded. You will not want to miss our newest releases. What can you expect to learn today? Which part of the FAR covers responsible contractor, factors that the contracting officer must consider besides cost, what resources they will look at in your business as well as what steps you can take if you are found to be non-responsible. Federal Acquisition Register (FAR) 9.1 an...
2018-10-1508 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow To Capitalize On Federal Business Opportunities -027As you continue your business strategy to enter into the government contracting marketplace, it is essential to understand the databases where the government officials post solicitations. Today, we will be discussing the most popular database in government contracting, called FedBizOps or FBO for short. Contracting officers will post opportunities to this site valued at or above $25,000. FedBizOps does more than keep track of upcoming opportunities. It also can search for pre-solicitation or sources sought. Websites: Federal Business Opportunities - https://www.fbo.gov/ Federal Contracting Made Easy – https://www.FederalContractingMadeEasy.com Byerl...
2018-10-0806 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastSimplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) - A Great Business StrategySAP procedures are also known as small purchases. These small purchases are the easiest way for a small business to get started in government contracting. Since these purchases are at the lower threshold, the government requires less paperwork making it ideal for micro or businesses. Some businesses will even specialize just in this area and never venture into contracts above this threshold. Your business strategy can be as simple as bidding on contracts within the Simplified Acquisition Threshold or more complex by adding contracts above the threshold. Considering the acquisitions in this range is essential. It is o...
2018-09-2407 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastTypes of ContractsThere are many types of government contracts. Today we will discuss the most common types of contracts that the federal government uses. Types of Contracts -Firm Fixed Price (FFP) FAR Part 16.2 -Cost-Reimbursement and Cost-Plus Contracts FAR Part 16.3 -Time and Materials Contracts Far Part 16.6 -Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IDIQ)FAR Part 16.5 -Sealed Bidding Contracts FAR Part 14 -Negotiated Contracts FAR Part 15 -Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) FAR Part 13 Websites: Federal Acquisition Regulation: http://farsite.hill.af.m...
2018-09-1708 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastEthics for Federal ContractorsCongratulations, You have decided to enter the world of government contracting. Because you are going to be a federal contractor you need to look at the rules regarding Government and business relationships. Do you know how Government Ethics can impact your business? Do you have an Ethics program in place as part of your business strategy? If not, then please consider adding business ethics to your business strategy immediately. Some contractors will be required to have a business ethics program in place to perform federal work. Besides that, every business should have a ethics policy in place before completing any c...
2018-09-1014 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastBasic Ordering Agreements - Business Strategy 025Small Businesses will want to consider contracting options that are available as part of your business strategy. One of those options is a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) otherwise known as a BOA. No, a BOA in this instance is not a snake. A Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) is a written agreement of understanding, negotiated between the government and a contractor. This agreement includes terms and clauses applicable to future task orders awards as well as a statement of work or products needed. In addition, this document will also contain the methods for pricing, issuing and delivering of futur...
2018-09-0304 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC)s can Help?When establishing your business development strategy, you should consider all the costs that are involved with implementing the plan. These costs can make a difference on your Return on Investment, otherwise known as ROI. However, there are free resources or low-cost resources that you should also consider and PTAC is one of those resources. PTAC is a free resource (not really free as it is partially paid by your tax dollars) available to assist you through the federal procurement process. There are ninety-four Procurement Technical Assistance Centers with over 300 local offices nationwide. Find your nearest PTAC: http://www...
2018-08-2906 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow the Past Performance Questionnaire Will Impact Your Business Strategy.It is crucial for small businesses to educate themselves about a topic before they develop a business strategy. Learning the rules and regulations is just a tiny part of this process. In government contracting, the Federal Acquisition Regulation otherwise known as the FAR is the government's bible. Federal agencies and small businesses awarded contracts must follow the procurement rules and policies set forth within the FAR. One of the items contained within the FAR is called the Past Performance Questionnaire otherwise known as PPQ. Websites: FAR http://farsite.hill.af.mil/ Federal Co...
2018-08-2908 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastFree Business Services For WomenEpisode 019 is on free business services available to women. Listen to Nancy as she discusses the free resources available to women business owners. With over 100 Women Business Centers available nationwide there is bound to be one close to you. If not, sign up for their online counseling and training programs. Either way is a win-win for you. Websites: Women's Business Centers: https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/wbc SBA www.sba.gov Federal Contracting Made Easy www.FederalContractingMadeEasy.com Byerly Enterprises. WWW.byerlyenterprises.com Contact Nancy at Nancy...
2018-08-2003 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAttention All Veterans - Free Business Counseling Services -018Welcome to the Wonderful World of Government Contracting! We aim to demystify the world of government contracting and make it easy to understand. This week's episode (018) is on a free resource available to a veteran, military, National Guard, Reserve and Military Spouses. Websites: VBOC Nearest You - https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ovbd/resources/1548576 SBA - www.sba.gov Federal Contracting Made Easy - www.federalcontractingmadeeasy.com Byerly Enterprises - www.byerlyenterprises.com Email Nancy - Nancy@byerlyenterprises.com
2018-08-1304 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAmerica’s Small Business Development Centers and Why You Need ThemSmall Business Development Centers can provide a wealth of assistance to small businesses, especially when developing your business strategy. These centers can help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs obtain free face-to-face business consulting and at-cost training, on topics including business planning, accessing capital, marketing, regulatory compliance, technology development, international trade and much more. Website: https://americassbdc.org. http://www.sba.gov https://www.byerlyenterprises.com https://www.FederalContractingMadeEasy.com email: nancy@byerlyenterprises.com
2018-08-0604 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow SCORE Can Help Your BusinessLearn how this nonprofit organization has been helping small businesses for over 50 years by providing mentorship and consulting services free of charge. Websites: www.score.org www.SBA.gov www.byerlyenterprises.com www.federalcontractingmadeeasy.com contact information nancy@byerlyenterprises.com
2018-07-3006 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAbout SBA's All Small Mentor Protege Program All Small program benefits Protégés can get valuable business development help from their mentors in several areas, including: Guidance on internal business management systems, accounting, marketing, manufacturing, and strategic planning Financial assistance in the form of equity investments, loans, and bonding Assistance navigating federal contract bidding, acquisition, and performance process Education about international trade, strategic planning, and finding markets Business development, including strategy and identifying contracting and partnership opportunities General and administrative assistance, like human resource sharing or security clearance support Learn more information by listening to the podcast. ...
2018-07-2317 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastAll About GSA Schedules-014GSA establishes long-term governmentwide contracts with businesses to provide access to millions of commercial products and services at volume discount pricing for federal agencies. Learn how your business can take advantage of these contracts, and what you must do to keep your contract active. Websites: General Services Administration - GSA.GOV GSA Vendor Toolbox - https://vsc.gsa.gov/ra/toolbox.cfm GSA Application (eOffer/eMod) - https://eoffer.gsa.gov/ Podcast Contact Information Nancy nancy@byerlyenterprises.com Phone: 385-244-0134 byerlyenterprises.com federalcontractingmadeeasy.co...
2018-07-1609 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWhere are Federal Opportunities ListedJoin Nancy as she discusses the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fbo.gov. She also goes into detail on the search options available. Learn how to use the website to your advantage. Websites discussed in today's show: www.fbo.gov (All other Agencies) www.faaco.faa.gov (FAA opportunities) www.FederalContractingMadeEasy.com www.ByerlyEnterprises.com Contact: Nancy at Nancy@byerlyenterprises.com Phone: 385-244-0134
2018-07-0205 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastHow to Register to Do Business With the Federal GovernmentJoin Nancy as she discusses how to register with the System for Award Management (SAM.GOV) and recent developments with the system that will impact everyone registered with the system. Enclosed is a free worksheet to help you gather the necessary information to register your business. Contact email: nancy@byerlyenterprises.com www.federalcontractingmadeeasy.com www.byerlyenterprises.com
2018-06-2108 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastWoman-Owned Small Business -Business DevelopmentAs a small business owner, you realize that business development is a necessary and essential part of your business. What better way to grow and develop your business than to expand into government contracting? If your business is owned by a woman then see if you qualify for this set-aside program and get your piece of the government contracting pie. Contact information www.federalcontractingmadeeasy.com www.byerlyenterprises.com Email: Nancy@byerlyenterprises.com Links www.sba.gov/wosb www.fbo.gov www.sam.gov ECFR https://www.ecfr.gov/c...
2018-06-1818 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastFinding Opportunities Before Anyone Else - 005Join Nancy as she walks you through the steps to find federal procurement forecasts that you can use in a variety of ways to get ahead of your competition.
2018-05-1407 min
Federal Contracting Made Easy's podcastCapability Statements-What they are and why you need one - 004Join Nancy and she discusses what a capability statement is, why you need one and how to create one.
2018-05-0713 min