Project 38: The Future Of Federal Contracting

How do the widely-reported disruptions in global IT supply chains caused by COVID-19 impact both the federal government and its leading systems integrators? We take an “outside-in” approach to finding some answers in this episode with Michael Hong and Jeff Sorensen of Kearney’s public sector practice. Why call it “outside-in” for this conversation? Federal agencies and their largest IT product and service providers all rely on the same supply chain network, one way or another, all the way from basic materials to the bundled solutions that integrators are responsible for providing. The COVID-19 crisis is causing a rethink of approaches to supply chain management and sourcing. Given Kearney’s work with both commercial and public sector organizations, Hong and Sorensen both hear the questions their clients are asking and provide some possible answers that others are discovering. They also share some perspectives on how enterprises have bolstered their IT investments and what that means for the virtual workplace

Three reporters from Washington Technology and our sibling publication FCW.com share insights on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on business, policy and work in the government market. Washington Technology Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers, and FCW reporters Lia Russell and Lauren Williams have focused their coverage on the myriad ways the pandemic is reshaping the marketplace. But each brings a unique perspective. Russell is focused on workforce issues. Wilkers has been writing about how contractors are reacting. While Williams is focused on the Defense Department and how its operations are adapting. In this conversation with Washington Technology Editor Nick Wakeman, the three share what they’ve learned and what think will happen next as the marketplace slowly makes its way to a new normal.

A glance at what the pre-coronavirus world looked like for federal agencies quickly brings technology modernization back to the forefront, and that is where we pick up for this second of a two-part interview with ICF CEO John Wasson. The federal government’s priorities are obviously centered around the pandemic today, innovation in terms of both new technology and business practices were top of mind for many agencies before that shift in attention. In this part two, Wasson and Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers transition their conversation from the ongoing crisis to the IT modernization agenda that includes the move to what are known as “low code, no code” platforms. Wasson explains the role those technologies play in innovation and how the firm sees its work with highly-regulated commercial clients as a natural bridge to the company’s federal programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic is raising several wide-ranging questions and implications for both government agencies and the industry that supports them, which we examine in this first of a two-part interview with ICF CEO John Wasson. Public health has also been brought to the forefront in ways rarely, if ever seen before, and is an area ICF is heavily involved in thanks to its work with many agencies on the front lines of the pandemic response. Think Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health. In this part one, Wasson shares his views to Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers on what this crisis means for the country’s public health ecosystem going forward and how an event such as this could lead to a very different way of responding to future pandemics. They started by talking about ICF and other professional services firms like it maintain their connections with federal customers in a world where so many have shifted to remote work.

The government market along with the rest of the country continues to be rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore how industry is responding and how it will be changed going forward in this conversation with Stan Soloway, former president and CEO of the Professional Services Council. Soloway now consults with companies across the market. From that perch. he has unique insights into what many executives are thinking and the strategic moves they are contemplating once we emerge from the crisis. Soloway also shares the immediate concerns he sees and what might happen as the shift to more long-term thinking begins. That includes the impact on pre-COVID-19 trends of IT modernization and cloud computing adoption, as well as what company leaders are learning from the current crisis.

In another podcast from our partner Government Marketing University, the Real Talk explores the $2 trillion stimulus package and what it means to federal contractors. Tom Suder, president and founder of the Advanced Technology Research Center, and host Matt Langan of L&R Communication review how this sweeping legislation is impacting the market. They talk about questions such as: • What does the $2T Coronavirus stimulus mean for federal employees and contractors? • Can all federal agencies benefit? Are there key areas focused on Civilian, DoD, Intel? • Breaking down the IT portion of the stimulus package a bit more…what areas will industry see the most need from federal agencies? • Are there any agencies that have jumped in and accelerate connecting with government industry to maximize this new funding? • How prepared is industry to respond quickly to this new demand for IT related support? • What are the key takeaways for government industry to be aware of when it comes to stimulus package?

What does a “whole of government” approach mean in terms of how agencies and their industry partners respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? Find out in this episode with Jerry McGinn, executive director of George Mason University’s Center for Government Contracting. That response is not just about where the contracting dollars are going, though McGinn and the GMU GovCon team are tracking that closely. It is also about how the entire public sector ecosystem of agencies and government contractors are functioning today and how that is shaping what the environment looks like for the long-term in a post-COVID world. McGinn formerly led the Defense Department’s Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy and before that worked in industry himself. No one can exactly predict the future, but McGinn does share some of the broader questions and trends he thinks will be a big part of that future. This episode was recorded before the Senate’s Tuesday passage of the latest CARES Act relief legislation and the GMU GovCon

In this Real Talk podcast from our partner GMarkU, we explore TIC 3.0, which was released in December, and what it means for the government market. Trusted Internet Connection 3.0 will have a broad impact on the market and this podcast examines TIC 3.0 from the basics to the pain points agencies face. Tom Suder, president and founder of the Advanced Technology Research Center, and host Matt Langan of L&R Communications share their expertise on a topic that will have an impact across the market.

Get a glimpse at how the business of government contracting has shifted to a different pace and cadence amid the COVID-19 pandemic in this episode with Amber Hart and Lisa Shea Mundt, the founders in charge at market intelligence firm The Pulse of GovCon. With some exceptions, much of the world has shifted to a largely stay-at-home setup that is causing both government contractors and their agency customers to think and collaborate in different ways with much of their personnel working remotely. With their business development and proposal consultant hats on, Hart and Mundt share insights into how GovCon firms and agencies have made that shift and what that looks like now in terms of daily operations. Hart and Mundt also have their eyes on where federal dollars are going as part of the overall COVID-19 response and have important words of wisdom every business should take heed of before looking to position for that funding.

The coronavirus response has elevated several legal issues for government contractors. In this episode, contracts attorney James Fontana highlights where legal issues can arise and how contractors should be proactive in protecting their business and employees. Fontana, co-founder and managing partner of the firm Dempsey-Fontana, has been a contracts lawyer for three decades and understands the legal exposure and risks contractors face in an ever changing environment. He talks to Editor Nick Wakeman about how COVID-19 and the response to it are creating new challenges for government contractors, from understanding customer requirements to working from home to the need to communicate.

The challenges and risks faced by small business government contractors are severe. They face possible work stoppages, slower payments, layoffs, and the threat of bankruptcy. Bruce Lyman is the CEO of Parabilis, a firm that works with government contractors on getting financing. He talks with Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers about the challenges small businesses face and what can be done to support them. The economic impact of widespread small business failures is great, but there are steps the government is taking. Lyman explains what is being done and other tools the government could use to help small firms.

Alba Aleman, Citizant CEO and recognized small business advocate, explains that small businesses should embrace the Defense Department's new cybersecurity requirements for contractors as both a way of differentiating themselves and path to being a stronger organization instead of seeing it as a burden. In fact, Aleman believes the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standard should have been made mandatory years ago. For this episode, she explains how her company approaches CMMC as a quality issue and one that will have benefits across of all of Citizant. It's an example both large and small businesses can follow.

Explore the impact of COVID-19 on the GovCon supply chain in Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers' interview with Chris Meissner, founding partner with the 202 Group, a data analytics and market intelligence firm. Meissner's firm specializes in using rich analytics tools to examine tech trends and develop competitive intelligence, particularly around the supply chain. There are still a lot of unknowns, but Meissner explains the areas to pay attention to as the market moves forward.

Many of us are practicing social distancing as the world deals with the coronavirus pandemic: either with being hunkered down at home or in offices that are very sparsely populated. It’s a different way of working that all of us are adjusting to. That also means many are working with little to no face-to-face contact with customers and partners. Marketing expert Mark Amtower shares how social media tools can build and enrich those critical relationships even when you can't be in the same place.

There is plenty for contractors to do as the coronavirus turns the market and world on its collective head. Business development and capture expert Lisa Pafe offers advice and insights on what actions you should take as COVID 19 causes delays and postponements. All of us are facing a market that has been significantly disrupted because of the pandemic. The normal course of business looks very different, but that doesn't mean the work comes to a halt. Pafe, a Washington Technology columnist and vice president of Lohfeld Consulting, has over 25 years of business development and capture management experience. Here, she offers practical advice on concrete actions you should be taking today.

A matchmaker in the government market must be an intermediary that possesses a deep understanding of two key items: what customers are asking for, and the companies whose capabilities might fill that need. Stephanie Alexander and Katie Bilek are the matchmakers at Govmates where they blend art and algorithm to connect customers and companies. In this podcast interview with Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers, they share the perspective they’ve gained from their unique perch in the market, including views on non-traditional players, small business challenges and what differentiation really means.

The month of February started with a bang with several important news stories breaking within days of each other, including big news from Leidos, SAIC and the CIA. Leidos closed a $1 billion acquisition and then announced another deal just as big. The next day the Navy picked them for the $7.7 billion NGEN award, a takeaway from the incumbent , Perspecta. Not to be outdone, SAIC announced their own deal, a $1.2 billion acquisition of Unisys Federal. And that deal will fundamentally change how SAIC goes to market. That's enough news for one week but we also had the release of the final CMMC standards, AECOM completed its spin-off of Amentum, PAE went public, Huntington Ingalls signed a $350 million deal to buy marine robotic developer Hydroid, and, finally, the CIA released the draft solicitation for its multi-billion cloud contract, Commercial Cloud Enterprise. And just to add a little more color, Amazon Web Services filed a request to depose President Trump and others as part of its protest battle over the J

The defense market is gearing up for the CMMC requirement but a lot of unanswered questions remain. Here's what we know so far and what to watch for in the weeks ahead. FCW defense beat writer Lauren Williams shares insights from her coverage of CMMC, including what challenges the Defense Department is trying to address. Contractors need to watch for several things including development of the first contracts with CMMC requirements, the creation of third-party assessors and how to get subcontractors into compliance. Our conversation with Williams sheds light on this issues and more as the market moves forward.

What does it take to build a ship when you don’t own a shipyard? Leidos executive Donnelly Bohan explains the technology, strategy and success behind the company’s Sea Hunter project to build an autonomous Navy vessel. Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers interviews Bohan about how Leidos has grown the program and how the broader conversation over the technology has shifted from the word "unmanned" to "autonomous." There really is a difference. The Navy eyes increases in spending on vessels with no sailors or submariners, and Bohan shares her company’s strategy to grow in this market.

Disney World has embraced big data and the internet of things as tools to improve its operations and its efforts offer lessons to the public sector. David Turner, president and CEO of Hitachi Vantara Federal shares how the company helps the resort to gather and use the reams of data it collects from rides, operations and visitors to enhance the park experience. This is no Mickey Mouse endeavor and it offers plenty of lessons for the public sector, from the Defense Department and how it manages military facilities to civilian agencies that are addressing a wide range of constituent needs. In this conversation with Editor Nick Wakeman, Turner shares what his company has been doing and why the government should pay attention to what's going on at the Magic Kingdom and beyond.