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If you are interested in any specific topics, please let us know so we can cover them in the upcoming issues. Thank you.

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Bid Proposals
For program management, proposal planning and development as well as system engineering, contact
 
Trade
For International trade strategies & trade compliance solutions, including Government Regulatory Compliance & ITAR Agreements,  contact

Ask the DCAA Experts 
 
Email your questions to our former DCAA auditors ready to help 
I.T. Services
Deltek hosting, design, build, maintain voice and data network infrastructure services are provided by
 

Government Cost Accounting

Have questions regarding government cost accounting, such as fringe, overhead and G&A costs, ICE Models, Rate calculations & audits, FAR & DCAA regulations?
 
Email Debbie Goode, CPA
Website: Hoyman Dobson
Selling to Government Made Easy
Selling to the Government Made Easy
If you are an established business located in Central Florida and are interested in selling your product or service to the government, take advantage of the FREE counseling available through the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the Small Business Development Center at UCF. Start your journey into the world of government contracting with the right tools and proven strategies.
 Email Tony Espinosa, Procurement Specialist

Insurance
As a Government contractor, how can you make sure your insurance coverage fully meets your needs and the industry requirements?  With questions on  Workers' Comp, General Liability, Auto Liability, Professional Liab, Employee Benefits 
Intellectual Property
Protect your brand and your product through timely and proper trademark and patent registration. Where do you get started?
 
GSA Schedules
Let Gary help you win and administer GSA contracts, market, set pricing and manage your  GSAAdvantage! catalog!
 
Legal Solutions
Ed can help with representing Government Contractors in bid preparation, bid protests, performance issues, claims, and disputes 
 
Finance Matters
For Government Contract and Purchase Order Financing, Advances on Accounts Receivable and Inventory
 
                                    January 2011
Happy New Year from your Government Contracting Advisory Team (GCAT). We hope your 2011 is off to a great start!

Here are some events you may be interested in:
If you plan on building a long-term relationship with the Department of Defense, please read their latest Strategic Management Plan (SMP). This SMP is the highest-level plan for improving DoD's business operations and it will give you some insights on where the DoD is headed.

Sincerely,
Your Government Contracting Advisory Team (GCAT)
Doing Business With the Government
Five Ways to Get a Government Buyer's Attention  

By Gary Beckert, U.S.M.C. (Ret.)
GM Beckert & Associates, Inc.

Have questions for Gary? Send Gary an email
Introduction

No one can afford to waste time and money on marketing and sales. Believe me, I have helped hundreds of businesses sell to the federal government, and it can be very successful - for the people who understand the game and follow the basic rules. Most of the rules are common sense, but in this article you might find a few useful tidbits that will help you. Helping small businesses is what the Government Contracting Advisory Team (GCAT) is all about.

Although government contracting people have different roles in procurement, the buyer is the key player for most small businesses. So, let's look at five ways to help improve your government sales.

Are you ready? OK, then, here are Gary's Five Basic Rules for working with government buyers.

1. Be Prepared

What do you do? Perhaps the worst thing you can say to a government buyer is "I can do anything." It shows that you are unfocused and a little desperate. Try to find a focus and start with that. Yes, it is good to be versatile, but you need to understand what the buyer is looking for. A buyer needs to classify you in some way. Only meet with buyers who buy your offerings. You can usually find out from the Small Business Specialist at the federal agency or the prime contractor.

Read the rest of the article>>

Litigation Matters
 
Avoid Litigation by Effective Risk Management

By Ed Kinberg, Attorney, Board Certified, Construction Law 
Kinberg & Associates, LLC 
Have questions for Ed? Send Ed an email

Introduction

Most contractors think risk management is something you do to minimize the risk of injury while your company is performing a job. In fact, effective risk management must begin the moment you think about bidding a job.

A contract is simply a tool for allocating risk between the owner and the builder. The more risk you take on, the more you must charge for the work. By applying good risk management skills before you enter into a contract and throughout performance, you can substantially reduce the risk that you will lose money on the job.

What Is It?

Risk management is the practice of looking for potential trouble spots before they arise and taking steps to prevent those "spots' from interfering with your job. This is done by carefully examining each step of the process you will be using, identifying potentially difficult or dangerous areas, and implementing procedures to ensure they don't affect your performance.

The most effective risk management tool available to you is your experience and that of your staff. By forcing yourself to keep an 'eye open' before you even submit your bid, you will develop the ability to identify problems long before they impact performance. If you are unable to avoid an impact, your risk management program will ensure you have developed a solid record for recovering your costs.

Read the rest of the article>>

Meet the GCAT

The Government Contracting Advisory Team
Through the independent services of the Government Contracting Advisory Team (GCAT) businesses can quickly find professional resources to help them succeed in all areas of government contracting.  
 
The GCAT Members include:
The individual companies participating in GCAT are not affiliated with each other for any purpose other than providing educational programs for issues related to government contracting.  Participating companies do not share fees and, have no obligation to refer client's to companies participating in GCAT and do not assume any responsibility or liability for information provided by any member of GCAT.