“SMALLTOFEDS” – By Ken Larson “Explaining the term, “Contractor” and the regulatory factors and practical considerations related to use of the term from a small business federal government contracting perspective.” _______________________________________________________________________________ “There is often confusion regarding the definition of the term, “Contractor” in government work. The term is used in a conflicting manner to describe companies, individuals and busines

Vermillion River Trail - Hastings, Minnesota https://www.flickr.com/photos/odysseyof_armaments/53106238047/in/dateposted-public/

“NEW YORK TIMES” By Eric Lipton “Retiring generals and departing top Pentagon officials once migrated regularly to the big established weapons makers. Now they are increasingly flocking to venture capital firms that have collectively pumped billions of dollars into Silicon Valley-style startups” ________________________________________________________________________________ “When Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and other top officials assembled for an event at the Rona

“CLEARANCE JOBS” By Steven Matthew Leonard “Much of what the military does is shrouded in myth, little of which is based on fact. Where facts are lacking, assumptions fill the gaps. And when the assumptions aren’t challenged, they rise to mythical stature. Here are 10 contemporary myths that need to be busted.“ _______________________________________________________________________________ “In the weeks following my redeployment from the Gulf War, I was riding a wave of good

“SMALLTOFEDS” BY Ken Larson “Job cost accounting and business system challenges involving Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) requirements in the service contracting start-up environment.” ________________________________________________________________________________ “Small enterprises in the start-up service contracting business to the federal government often experience DCAA audit difficulties, suspended billings or negative marks on prici

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “An ethical company image is vital. Key actions in the small business contracting venue that you can take to favorably maintain your company ethics image.” __________________________________________________________________________________ “In the age of modern communications, lighting fast news, social media and exposure to world events, an ethical company image is vital. This article recommends several key actions in the small business contra

“FEDERAL TIMES” By Melissa Rayworth “For entrepreneurs, it’s part of the central mythology: You launch your own business because you want to be your own boss. To thrive as a business owner, it helps to have an independent streak and be comfortable going it alone. But when small and mid-sized companies begin pursuing government contracts, it can help — immensely — if they strategically collaborate with other businesses.” ________________________________________________________

“WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY” By Mark Amtower “Depending on where one starts his or her journey of doing business with the government, they can hear things that may not necessarily be accurate, and in some cases, intentionally inaccurate.“ _________________________________________________________________________________ “When you register at SAM.gov, you will get phone calls from some questionable people offering the magic elixir, telling you they can get you a GSA Schedule and it

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “Don’t let poor judgments on technology detract from your idea as well as raid your treasury before you launch. Define your business vehicle and its journey first. Then pick the right technology tools to make a successful trip.” _______________________________________________________________________________ “As a small business counselor I have noticed there seems to be a belief that automation, the Internet and social networking can make the busin

We will all retire in some form. We have no choice. What we invent or re-invent along the way to make the most of it is our personal challenge. _________________________________________________________________________________ If one aspires to simply maintain one’s material life style, retain responsibility for those close to us and relax as objectives, that is one form of retirement – call it maintenance. Many cannot undertake a maintenance retirement due to challenges such

From My Neck Of The Woods To Yours - Vermillon River Valley - Hastings, Minnesota https://www.flickr.com/photos/odysseyof_armaments/55343646098/in/dateposted-public/

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE “THE CIPHER BRIEF” By Edward Han “Veteran skill sets naturally lend themselves to roles where human judgment, leadership under uncertainty, and adversarial thinking are most valuable: precisely roles least susceptible to AI disruption and most critical to national security.“ _______________________________________________________________________________ “I spent my formative adult years in service to my country—from seventeen to twenty-nine—and the core

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “For government contracting success it is vital to understand the roles, responsibilities and authorities for the principal personnel with whom the contractor must do business.” ________________________________________________________________________________ “PROCUREMENT CONTRACTING OFFICER During a federal government contract proposal you will come to know the Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) assigned to the solicitation that runs the source

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article from “Military.Com” featured at this posting is a treatise from an employer perspective about the challenges often faced by veterans returning to or entering the civilian workplace. It does not fully address, however, an understanding of why these challenges exist and what to do about them from both employer and employee perspectives. For that insight I suggest you combine your review of this article with the linked article below at our

“SMALLTOFEDS” By Ken Larson “The world has become tightly wired technologically and the current economic situation ties us inexorably to foreign economies. It is likely small business will encounter the import/export process either on the selling or the buying end of federal government contracts involving foreign countries.” _______________________________________________________________________________ “This is particularly true with Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts th

“WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY” By Bruce Lyman “Servant leadership – putting employees and their work first by creating an environment in which employees are safe, challenged, effective, motivated and productive. Other leadership goals like organizational performance, profits, and cost-cutting will become more easily — and more naturally — accomplished.“ _________________________________________________________________________________ Ensure employees and their families are safe All

“SMALLTOFEDS” – By Ken Larson “When considering submitting a proposal to a given government solicitation, conduct a bid/no bid exercise. By going through that process you will begin formulating your win strategy or you will discover that you should not bid this job for lack of such a strategy.“ ______________________________________________________________________________ “Government contract proposal preparation is time consuming and can be costly. Meeting the agency Request

“THE DAILY BEAST” By Kevin Maurer “Anne, [“SPARKLE”] an Air Force staff sergeant, a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) sensor operator or “sensor.” “When you hit a truck full of people, there are limbs and legs everywhere,” Sparkle said. “I watched a guy crawl away from the wreckage after one shot with no lower body. He slowly died. You have to watch that. You don’t get to turn away.” _________________________________________________________________________________ “Anne crawled

Veterans Home - Hastings, Minnesota (click the link and then the pic for close-up view) https://www.flickr.com/photos/odysseyof_armaments/55326931204/in/dateposted-public/

“MILITARY TIMES” By Richard Sisk “The unemployment rate for veterans dipped to 3.2% in May, bolstered by a gain among women veterans despite fears that artificial intelligence could trigger layoffs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report.” _________________________________________________________________________________ “The jobless rate for all veterans fell from 3.7% in April to 3.2% in May. The rate for the post-9/11 veterans ticked up from 4.0% i