Advice Archives

Navigating Employee Benefits in GovCon

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How to Build a Competitive Employee Benefits Package in GovCon

Is your Open Enrollment coming soon? It’s almost never too early to be thinking about your benefit options! Employee benefits play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top talent in the competitive world of Government Contracting (GovCon). Determining the right benefits to offer requires careful consideration of various factors specific to the industry, such as compliance with government regulations, budget constraints, and the needs and expectations of employees. Let’s explore the key steps GovCons should take to determine employee benefits and provide practical tips for shopping for these benefits effectively.

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Ensuring GovCon Compliance with Recent TikTok Ban

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US TikTok Ban for Government Contractors: Compliance Guide

To address national security concerns, the US government has implemented a ban on the use of TikTok, a popular social media app, in government contracting. Effective June 2, 2023, this ban prohibits contractors and their personnel from using or having the TikTok app or any software developed by ByteDance on their information technology equipment while performing federal contracts. In this blog, we will explore the implications of this ban and discuss how organizations can ensure compliance with the new regulations.

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Retention Versus Recruitment

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While most Government Contractors (GovCons) agree that investing in relevant retention strategies will get them closer to a stable and high-functioning workforce, many ultimately devote more resources to recruiting than retention.

This may be because recruiting is a well-defined set of activities with a beginning, middle, and end. It involves activities such as job description development, job posting, resume screening, interviewing, and making job offers to the selected candidates. It begins with the need for a new employee and ends when that role is filled.

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Purchasing System Compliance – Unauthorized Commitments

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Unratified Purchase Errors.  In business-speak we call them procedural missteps, broken processes, or deviations from procedures.  Colloquially, we use phrases like “cart before the horse” or “cut across the infield” and “blew it this time”. DCMA calls them “Unauthorized Commitments”. 

If you are a GovCon subject to the DFARS Purchasing System rules, you most likely have Unauthorized Commitments from time to time. FAR 1.602-3 defines an Unauthorized Commitment as an agreement that is not binding solely because the representative who made it lacked the authority to enter into that agreement.  The most common example is a project manager directing a seller to get to work before authorization from the purchasing department.  Sound familiar?  

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The Crucial Role of HR in GovCon Mergers and Acquisitions

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The Crucial Role of HR in GovCon Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the government contracting (GovCon) industry bring forth significant changes and challenges for organizations. As the integration process begins after the sale closes, Human Resources (HR) assumes a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition and maximizing the success of the merger or acquisition. In our previous blog, we discussed the importance of HR due diligence prior to the sale. Any HR due diligence items that were not completed prior to a merger or acquisition due to timing or lack of cooperation during the process should be conducted as soon as possible. Now, let’s explore additional key GovCon HR activities that are vital during the transition phase.

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The Importance of HR in GovCon Mergers and Acquisitions

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The Importance of HR in GovCon Mergers and Acquisitions: Preparing for Success

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the government contracting (GovCon) industry, there are complex processes involved in integrating multiple organizations. While financial aspects and strategic synergies often receive the most attention, it is crucial not to underestimate the vital role played by Human Resources (HR). HR professionals are instrumental in ensuring a smooth and successful merger or acquisition by effectively managing various people-related challenges and facilitating a seamless transition for employees.

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July’s Mid-Year Evaluation Tips

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Mid-Year Assessment: Boosting Your Talent Acquisition Team’s Performance Well, it’s about that time again, folks! We are rounding the corner and making our way into the second half of the year (crazy how six months can fly by!), which means NOW is a crucial time to assess your progress towards your 2023 goals for govcon […]

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Use Coaching to Unleash Leadership Potential

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You just promoted one of your top employees to a leadership role and you want to be sure they succeed. Leaders must possess the unique ability to create vision and drive results while supporting the company’s greatest asset: its people. If you don’t listen and cultivate, your assets will leave.  Now in a post pandemic environment this is more important than ever. So, what tools and resources do you provide your newly promoted leader?

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So, you signed an onerous subcontract. Now what?

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GovCon or no, we have all been there.  We have made the bad deal.  We signed the paper without really reading and understanding it.  Whether we committed to the 3-year deal with the home alarm company with shoddy equipment and worse customer service or signed the exclusive teaming agreement thinking, “This is the ONE!”, only to end up with a one-sided subcontract with a fraction of the work share that we were promised, we have all experienced the rush of wind leaving our sails the moment we realize that we have been had.  That rush is the sound of your company’s growth plan moving backwards.

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