The Impact of LPTA Procurements on Government Contracts and Solutions
September 20, 2013
Market Connections and Centurion Research Solutions are excited to bring the results of a unique research study on the implications of LPTA procurement for both government and contractors. The past year has been one of tremendous uncertainty within the federal government. The total impact on procurement policies and agency budgets is still unknown. Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements have been a hot topic in the federal government contracting industry for the past two years, leaving contractors lamenting that LPTA is stifling innovation, driving down prices and, at times, being used for the wrong types of federal procurements. To gauge the impact ... Read moreSequestration and Funding Battles Loom as Government 2014 Fiscal Year Approaches
September 19, 2013
The House Appropriations Committee has prepared a 2-½ month funding bill to keep the federal government open for business from October 1st through December 15th. However, the nonprofit research group Bipartisan Policy Center warned that the nation could run out of borrowing power no later than November 5th. The short-term continuing resolution measure allows the Department of Defense to spend at fiscal 2013 levels, but it prohibits starting new weapons programs or increasing the rate of production. Without a long-term solution to the budget, agencies and contractors’ future decision-making power will continue to be handcuffed. In other words, Congress continues to put ... Read moreOvercoming BD “Nightmares” to Win More Contracts
September 18, 2013
The government contracting arena is highly complex and the path to winning new projects is often fraught with major roadblocks. Knowing these roadblocks in advance and developing a BD strategy that enables your company to clear the hurdles is a critical first step. A recent white paper from Centurion Research Solutions, aptly titled, “Tales from the Crypt: Business Development Horror Stories And What They Can Teach Us,” showcases some key, and quite painful, lessons learned by contractors seeking to grow their businesses. Some of these stories include smaller contractors being short-changed by larger primes when it comes to collectively bidding on a project. ... Read moreQ&A: Tony Smeraglinolo, CEO of Engility, Discusses the Power of People, Processes and Cost-Effectiveness
September 17, 2013
In July 2012, Engility officially spun off from L-3 Communications as an independent company that provides specialized engineering, technical and training services to multiple Federal departments and agencies the Department of Defense (DoD), federal civilian agencies, as well as foreign governments. With 7,800 employees, Engility is a significant contractor who has streamlined its business processes, while focusing on attracting and retaining key talent, which has allowed it to be a cost-effective solution for the government. Engility is so unique that some of its customers have actually used the verb “Engilitize” to describe its overall processes and outcomes-driven approach. The FedPulse editorial team ... Read moreWeekly News Kick Off: U.S. Deficit Shrinks; Budget Resolution Stalled; SAIC Board Approves Spin Off; and Engility Wins State Department Contract
September 16, 2013
Welcome to the Weekly News Kick Off post from the FedPulse blog. FCW discussed the House Republicans’ failure to extend a temporary budget until December 15th amid a GOP fight over Obama’s healthcare reform. In addition, sequestration’s toll on jobs was a big story, though new contracts are still being awarded. Be sure to check out this and much more in the latest Weekly News Kick Off. Happy Monday. U.S. Budget Deficit Shrinks 35 Percent From Last Year The U.S. government posted a narrower budget deficit in August compared with a year ago, keeping the annual gap on track to be the ... Read moreThe Need for Brand Research in the Government Marketplace
September 12, 2013
Many large companies work in both the commercial and government sectors. However, when large companies do business with the government, they often unintentionally overlook whether the focus of their brand’s message resonates with the government sector. While marketing campaigns and branding may be working very successfully with target commercial markets, the same messaging and campaigns may fall short of achieving the goal of raising awareness and perceptions of the company within the target government market, because government decision-makers’ needs, priorities and expectations can vary widely from what motivates commercial buyers. Brand and perception studies, or Attitude, Awareness and Usage (AAU) research, ... Read moreWinning Contractor: Information Innovators, Inc. Expands Capabilities Through Acquisitions and Strengthens Competitive Edge
September 11, 2013
Information Innovators, Inc. (Triple-i) has established itself as a leading IT services and solutions provider through its employees’ deep expertise and state-of-the art technologies, which helps it advance government mission goals at the best value. The company’s foundation comes from bringing process-based solutions to high-risk, complex initiatives in the federal government through program and project management; security and information assurance; systems design and integration; telecommunications consulting; and enterprise architecture support. Since its inception, Triple-i has gained significant civilian and defense industry experience by serving Department of Defense (DoD) and other civilian agencies of the federal government. Its offerings include Enterprise Services, Information ... Read moreSequestration in 2014: Using Actionable Insights to Support M&A and R&D Activities
September 10, 2013
Last year when the concept of sequestration began to gain traction, FedPulse did a series of posts about how 2013 could potentially be the year that the “sky falls” on government contractors. Taking a metaphor from the classic fable of Henny Penny, which is a common idiom for a hysterical or mistaken belief that disaster is imminent, we signaled that tougher times lie ahead for all of us. As we highlighted this spring, things did not shake out as badly as we thought in 2013. In many ways, maybe we acted like Henny Penny and engaged in unnecessary hysteria. Of course, there ... Read moreWeekly News Kick Off: 2014 to be a Much Tougher for Contractors; Syria and Sequestration; U.S. R&D Leadership Declining and Much More
September 9, 2013
Welcome to the Weekly News Kick Off post from the FedPulse blog. With fiscal year 2013 winding down, the federal news cycle is full of stories about how 2014 will be tough for defense contractors. In addition, potential U.S. action with regards to Syria is causing many to question the sequester. Be sure to check out this and much more in our Weekly News Kick Off. Happy Monday. Pentagon Buying Official Forecasts Much Tougher 2014 for Defense Contractors The Pentagon’s top buying official forecasts a much tougher 2014 for defense contractors. Pentagon Weighs Firing Thousands Under 2014 Spending Cuts The Defense Department may have ... Read moreMarket research + Outreach strategy = Big ROI
September 6, 2013
By Jessica Gabriel – ENC Strategy ENC Strategy recently ran a blog post about how successful market research and outreach strategies can lead to a jump in ROI. In a down economy, companies can be overwhelmed with how to target their communication strategies. Jessica Gabriel provides insight into wisely choosing the proper media channels so companies can get the most bang for their buck. In order for companies to raise awareness about the value their products and services provide customers – and ultimately increase sales – they need to communicate effectively using a wide range of available media and the importance ... Read more