Rick Driggers

Government Contracting #govcon seems to be a labyrinth 😕to many outsiders and newer folks coming into the space. I once created an Access database🧮 at a previous employer many years ago to highlight the importance of good data management and common unique identifiers... As the company tended to have some byzantine processes and nomenclature that I was trying to flesh out and focus 🔍on measuring the things that matter. So I've seen quite a bit of diverse contracts from over $100M 💰annual jobs to ones under $100K. I believe the process is essentially the same to ensure a smooth transition from pre-award to 🥇post-award. It starts with being able to accurately code 🔣your contract into your system of record. Do your #proposal 📚and #pricing 💵documents match the contract award 📝documents? Check that before you 🖋sign! Had an experience recently where there was some ambiguity 😵with a contract modification document in what it was doing as it relates to the changes we proposed. Some contracts get complex when you get to a dozen mods or so with many CLINs, SLINs, and 🗜ARCNs... IYKYK We both had differing interpretations🗣 as we worked through the document. There was a 💪🏼challenge with all the moving parts and new CLINs added and old ones removed and it turns out that we both had the same initial confusion that it wasn't done correctly... However, when we dug ⛏deeper into the changes in Section B (contract values) and Section G (funding values) we determined that this customer was doing It's important to have a uniform 🥋methodology on how you read and review your contract documents before you sign it and book the funding and contract values in your accounting system. Set your books up right the first time, or you'll pay💸 for it over-and-over again each month. And get the right people 🤼 and departments involved! Make it a great week 👊🏼

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Read Guidehouse Defense and Security's new article, Managing Change Fatigue in the Federal Workforce, outlining our team's recommendations for agencies looking to produce better outcomes in the face of complex workforce challenges: https://lnkd.in/eXD7JN7V.

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SAIC's CloudScend™ empowers agencies to accelerate #CloudMigration by securely migrating workloads faster, maximizing value while minimizing risks. This IDC MarketScape report recognizes this solution, check it out to learn more.

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#BoozAllen recognizes the essential importance of #data enablement, and we know how to help federal agencies achieve it, whether they’re just getting started or almost there. Learn more about harnessing the power of data for civilian agencies.

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A new proposed DFARS rule was published on 5/30/2024 under DFARS Case 2024-D006, Procurement Technical Assistance Program This proposed rule would: ▶️ Implement section 853 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (Pub. L. 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 4951). to amend the definitions of nonprofit organization and business entities at 10 U.S.C. 4951 for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program. ▶️ Modify DFARS clause 252.205-7000, Provision of Information to Cooperative Agreement Holders, to amend the definition of cooperative agreement holder by removing “private” from “a private, nonprofit organization” and adding a reference to 10 U.S.C. 4951 to update the definition of business entities. The is clause will continue to not apply to acquisitions at or below the SAT. But, the clause will continue to apply to acquisitions of commercial products (excluding COTS items) and to acquisitions of commercial services. Comments are due 07/29/2024. Permalink: https://lnkd.in/gmmbDkJH

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Office of the DoD Chief Information Officer just released Fulcrum, the DoD IT Advancement Strategy supporting its mission to connect, protect and perform. The strategy is anchored on 4 Lines of Effort representing a strategic shift that embraces technology as a mission enabler: 1️⃣ LOE 1: Provide Joint Warfighting IT capabilities to expand strategic dominance of U.S. Forces & mission partners. 2️⃣ LOE 2: Modernize information networks and compute to rapidly meet mission and business needs. 3️⃣ LOE 3: Optimize IT governance to gain efficiencies in capability delivery and enable cost savings. 4️⃣ LOE 4: Cultivate a premier digital workforce ready to deploy emerging technology to the warfighter. This ratifies the themes we have seen in recent years including a shift from enterprise to mission and capability enabling IT, supporting those capabilities with a modern backbone (e.g. network, infrastructure), and orienting the workforce around these wholesale changes and new tech adoption. #DoD #defenseinnovation #defense #defensetechnology #technology #tech #nationalsecurity #jadc2 #army #navy #airforce

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Generative #AI is transformative but carries specific risks. #BoozAllen’s GenAI practice recognizes this paradox and has committed itself to helping federal agencies leverage these powerful technologies responsibly. Learn more at BoozAllen.com/GenAI.

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Read Guidehouse Defense and Security's new article, Managing Change Fatigue in the Federal Workforce, outlining our team's recommendations for agencies looking to produce better outcomes in the face of complex workforce challenges: https://lnkd.in/ep3bnyPS.

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A chance to listen to Shweta Mulcare, is a chance to learn about how you can architect system of systems (SoS) to be safer, more transparent, and actionable. In addition to being a visionary data scientist, she factors cultural elements into her equations. A key element of getting culture right is adding data privacy and sharing in the right measure and creating opportunities for social exchange of lessons learned to progressively build trust. #SystemofSystems #Safety #Transparency #DataScience #Culture

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In a new eBook from Federal News Network, #BoozAllen experts Imran Umar and Erica Banks share lessons learned from DOD’s Thunderdome project and how they can be applied to federal civilian agencies as they implement #zerotrust architectures of their own with the help of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program. Other #cybersecurity insights focus on #cloud, #EDR, and OT systems.

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AI has become a catalyst for digital transformation across all government agencies, including innovative projects at DHS and DoD. At this year’s Adobe Government Forum, Defense Department CDAO and CTO, Bill Streilein highlighted the role genAI plays in strengthening the DoD’s intelligence analysis and streamlining back-office functions to increase productivity across the board. Beyond that, U.S. Department of Homeland Security CAIO and CIO, Eric Hysen detailed how AI is helping secure our borders — assisting agents in more than 200 interceptions of illegal narcotics. It’s inspiring to see how agencies are evolving in how they use AI to achieve mission outcomes and operational efficiency. ➡ Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eR93g52U #AdobeGovForum #DOD #DHS

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🌟 Strategic Insight for DoD Projects: Prioritize Labor Supply 🌟 When expanding or setting up new Department of Defense operations, one factor trumps all: labor supply. Ensuring access to a skilled workforce is crucial for operational success. Always consider the availability and quality of local talent to keep your projects on track. 🔗 Connect with me for insights on optimizing your next site selection! #DefenseProjects #SiteSelection #LaborSupply #WorkforcePlanning

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🌟 Strategic Insight for DoD Projects: Prioritize Labor Supply 🌟 When expanding or setting up new Department of Defense operations, one factor trumps all: labor supply. Ensuring access to a skilled workforce is crucial for operational success. Always consider the availability and quality of local talent to keep your projects on track. 🔗 Connect with me for insights on optimizing your next site selection! #DefenseProjects #SiteSelection #LaborSupply #WorkforcePlanning

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There are some excellent tips here for small businesses looking to work directly with U.S. defense and intelligence agencies.

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Key Factor for DoD Projects: Understanding the Importance of Labor Supply Why Labor Supply? When it comes to defense projects, the demand for specialized skills and clearances is non-negotiable. The availability of a skilled and credentialed workforce can make or break the operational capabilities of any facility. From engineers to IT specialists and security personnel, each role is crucial and requires a specific set of skills and certifications. Strategic Site Selection Choosing a location isn’t just about land and logistics; it’s fundamentally about people. Before committing to a new site, we rigorously analyze the local and regional labor markets to ensure there is a sustainable supply of qualified workers. This often means looking beyond current statistics and forecasting future educational and training trends. Building Local Partnerships Engaging with local educational institutions and training centers is crucial. By fostering these relationships, we can help shape curriculums and programs that not only benefit the community by providing job opportunities but also create a reliable pipeline of talent tailored to meet the unique needs of defense projects. The Bottom Line For anyone considering where to locate their next defense-related operation, our advice is clear: prioritize your labor supply strategy. Understanding and integrating into the local workforce ecosystem is not just a good practice—it’s essential for long-term success. Looking to expand or establish new operations? Let’s connect and discuss how to strategically navigate your next site selection to ensure access to the best talent available. https://ow.ly/6UK250RnbCe #DefenseIndustry #SiteSelection #WorkforceDevelopment #LaborMarket #StrategicPlanning

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Learn more about how SAIC is leveraging its #GenerativeAI tool, Tenjin GPT, to empower it's employees. #SAICproud

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