Gordon Shumway

Hmmm... does it have to do with the small business size standard used in the initial competition?

Good stuff, thanks @Vern Edwards !

@Vern Edwards Where did you get question #10 from? I assume what you chose says something about your personality? I'd pick construction project manager for sure... steel toe boots and 711 taquitos all day!

@Vern Edwards touche Mr. Edwards, I crush people who misuse terminology, as precision is key in contracting. How about, "walk me through the process from requirement definition to award decision..." To my side note above, the question was "walk me through a source selection" and I did answer with the FAR Part 15 process. A side note to my side note, I just had a slight panic attack thinking about sitting down for an interview and seeing Mr. Edwards sitting across the table...

@Jamaal Valentine Yep, it's up to you on how you choose to answer. That's the beauty of the question, it's wide open. Like a case interview for consulting, it allows the interviewer to assess your thought process. I will evaluate what you say and how you say it, as well as what you do not talk about. Side note: I actually had this question asked in an interview. It was for a USAID/OPIC/Millennium Challenge Corporation type of agency with a very small contracting shop, where I was applying for the lead role. My interview panel was populated by 1 person from the program office, 1 person from finance, and 2 people from legal. Seeing as how their knowledge of the contracting process was limited (they confirmed this assumption during our pre-interview small talk) I kept my answer pretty high level. I also did extensive research on the agency and had a good idea of what they procured and how, thus tailored my answer to incorporate that information. No need to nerd out on the design-bid-build process if the contracting shop buys everything off of Schedule 70.

"Walk me through a source selection..."

if your boss asks you to do it, just do it... who cares if it's in the FAR or not

I would respond by sending two emails... Email #1: "Will do." (make sure to add a read receipt) Then, once read... Email #2: "SIKE!"

@PepeTheFrog @joel hoffman

If the contract is with the SBA, why can't the CO just have the SBA switch out performers and carry on with the work... Isn't that a thing? People always told me it was (LOL), but I never experienced it myself to be sure. Just thinking out loud here as I eat some tacos. But yeah, you need a good attorney. God speed.

Wow, I didn't see that coming! But as a former user of SeaPort-e, it makes total sense. I was discussing with a colleague the value of the data that SeaPort captures, if the government was ever able to aggregate it properly.

This. If the customer still needs the services, and there hasn't been a solicitation on the street for what you do, for the office you do it for, your option is probably going to get exercised. I'd say 99%...

I assume "CO" is an abbreviation for Colorado...

Ahhh this reminds me of a Tale of Two Markets, one of my favorite articles!! http://www.wifcon.com/analysis.htm >> Market Research -- A Tale of Two Markets, by Christopher E. Harris, CFCM, CPCM It should answer your questions, or at least give you a better understanding of what you are working with.

This is my favorite one! I had this come up not long ago on a project I was advising on.

FLASH... more like FLICKER, am I right @PepeTheFrog ?!

@joel hoffman Mr. Edwards put it better than I can, it's a mind set for folks to engage in "coping with new challenges and solving tough problems through smart thinking and methods." @Vern Edwards Chapter 4, The NASA Acquisition Process: Contracting for Research and Development was a very good read! Having worked in an R&D contracting environment, I found the information fascinating; R&D, like construction and other niche contracting areas, has some very unique challenges that make learning about past theories/processes entertaining for us contracting nerds!

Yes

@ji20874 MAKE CONTRACTING GREAT AGAIN!!

David Eaves gets it! The jury is still out on Kelman. #MCGA

Awesome article, thanks Mr. Edwards! "The reality is procurement law allows for a fair degree of flexibility. Procurement lore does not." This quote really drives home why it is so important to be a student of the game. As an 1102, if you just go with what you are told, you are going to find yourself bogged down by blue rules all day long. Learn and understand for yourself, and challenge the status quo... in many offices, there are plenty of "innovative" processes that can be discovered by clearly knowing the red rule/blue rule distinction. Steve Kelman gets it. #MCGA

In the time it took to start this thread you could have just requested the debriefing.

Assuming the garbage job DCAA does is considered "technically acceptable."

God speed, Mr. Edwards. And thanks for everything! #legend

...and that's why the rest of us just google to find what Mr. Edwards said. LOL, kidding (kind of).