“ WAR ON THE ROCKS” By Christphopher Preble “Americans today enjoy a measure of safety that our ancestors would envy and that our contemporaries do envy. We generally do not need to wage war to keep it that way. On the contrary, some recent wars have degraded the U.S. military and undermined our security. Policymakers should therefore be extremely reluctant to risk American lives abroad.” ________________________________________________________________________________ “The U

Vermillion River Trail - Hastings, Minnesota (click the link and then the pic for close-up view) https://www.flickr.com/photos/odysseyof_armaments/54896320263/in/dateposted-public/

“U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS” “The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans — and their  survivors  — with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve. What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?” _______________________________________________________________________________ “The PACT Act is perhaps the l

“SMALL TO FEDS” By Ken Larson “Utilize social media to promote your small business. The process requires a front-end loaded investment in time, but it is well worth the effort when using free or very low cost utilities on the Internet. The return may surprise you. Set up a free Google or Word Press blog as an extension of your web site.  A blog is quite different from a web site. Provide good, solid information free of charge and use blog searches for synergistic business tea

“WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY” By Nick Wakeman “The latest changes to Part 15 eliminate deviation requirements, allowing contracting officers to structure deals without senior-level approvals.” ________________________________________________________________________________ “The General Services Administration is foot-stomping one of the main goals of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul: give more flexibility and authority to contracting officers. Jeffrey Koses, GSA’s senior procurement

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “Start-ups, entrepreneurs and new small businesses regularly seek information regarding small business grants. There are many misconceptions about the nature of such instruments, who qualifies for them and what constitutes a small business grant. Other than the special circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic, there is generally no such thing as “Free” small business government grant money. In many instances individuals seeking grants should

“NEXTGOV/FCW” By Nick Wakeman Editor-in-Chief, Washington Technology “Contractors have 30 days after work resumes to file for equitable adjustments, but the accounting and documentation must start now.” _________________________________________________________________________________ “As the government shutdown [continues] contractors need to track the impact on their business and that starts with understanding of what the guiding laws and regulations are. A government shutdo

“ SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “Comparing small business federal government contracting to selling commercial products and services may be useful for those who are considering melding commercial and federal government business or starting an enterprise involving both venues”. ______________________________________________________________________________ “WHAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING IS – AND IS NOT Small business federal government contracting is not rocket science – to

“NATIONAL DEFENSE MAGAZINE “ By P.W. Singer and Emerson T. Brooking “A comparatively tiny physical conflict, fought in an area the size of Portland, Oregon, became a global engagement, prompting the exchange of more than 10 million heated messages on Twitter alone. The lesson was clear: Not only did modern war require a well-planned military campaign. It required a viral marketing campaign as well… “ ___________________________________________________________________________

Vermillion River Trail - Hastings, Minnesota https://www.flickr.com/photos/odysseyof_armaments/54880488081/in/dateposted-public/

If companies to which you are applying are doing business with the Federal Government, they must abide by the law with regard to hiring protected veterans and report statistics on their compliance. Application data regarding protected veterans is tracked. ________________________________________________________________________________ “DEPARTMENT OF LABOR” “The law, sometimes referred to as VEVRAA or Section 4212, requires employers doing business with the Federal government

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “Regularly review your company labor category rates and fringe benefits for ongoing compliance with DOL Area Wage Determinations. Sample the DOL Wage Determination web site regularly as a normal function of maintaining your labor rates and fringe benefits costs.” ____________________________________________________________________________ MANAGING COMPLIANCE WITH THE SERVICE CONTRACT AND DAVIS-BACON ACTS When pricing government contracts, in partic

“WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY” By Nick Wakeman “Now-deleted regulations prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and national origin. The rules still need to go through a formal process including public comment before becoming final.” ________________________________________________________________________________ “The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul’s newest set of changes includes the removal of equal employment opportunity requ

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “A contingent hire agreement is one way to approach an experienced employee with the prospect of joining your firm at a later time when the business base is there to permit professional advancement. Under such an agreement the prospective employee agrees to contribute time and effort on a proposal for a new contract and is assured on paper by your company of a position on the project when it is awarded to your firm.”  ______________________________

“DEFENSE ONE” By Lauren C. Williams, Business Editor “With the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as its north star, ‘GeoFutures’ is part of the Greater St. Louis, Inc. not-for-profit, but investor supported, effort working to get defense tech to put down roots in the Midwest.” _______________________________________________________________________________ “St. Louis is vying to be the  next big defense tech hub  with a new initiative meant to attract startups and invest

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson ” The practical aspects of how business ethics effect a company past performance rating and how not meeting the associated challenges can jeopardize an industry reputation and business success.” _______________________________________________________________________________ “It is vital to maintain solid ethical business practices in dealing with customers and industry partners. Maintaining an Ethical Company Image IGNORANCE ON POLICY AND REGULATOR

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE The irony the United States faces, both within our country and globally, is a product of technology, weapons and power races inside human communication bubbling voids. This is high risk. Both within our country and abroad, we are struggling to understand one another, having not taken the time to learn about each other’s respective values, cultures and objectives. We have much more in common than we have been led to believe. _____________________________

Vermillion River Trail Hastings, Minnesota https://www.flickr.com/photos/odysseyof_armaments/15643079635/in/dateposted-public

“ MILITARY.COM ” By Joe Plenzler “In a nation as diverse and complex as the United States, the task of uniting all our people is difficult but essential. Veterans and their families, with their unique experiences and dedication to service, can be pivotal in fostering unity. Here are six ways veterans can help Americans overcome differences and bring them together. Keep Informed Knowledge is power, and being well-informed is the first step toward meaningful engagement. Vetera

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “Sculpting a government contracting business opportunity to the point where it becomes a small business set aside procurement. _____________________________________________________________________________________ “Marketing is one of the greatest challenges for the small business federal government contractor. We have previously discussed the federal government marketing process at the following articles: Insights to Succeed Small Business Governme