GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING BLOG

Insights from our consultants and GovCon Unscripted guests on the latest in federal contracting.

It’s A Small World After All

By Chelsea Roberts

Everyone in my feed is talking about it: the proposed changes to the SBA size standards. On August 20, SBA published a proposed rule that rewrites small business size standards…

The Defense EO One Year Later: What Actually Changed

By Chelsea Roberts

The defense acquisition system has changed more in the past 12 months than it did in the previous 12 years. If you are a government contractor still operating on your…

Greener GovCon Grass by Chelsea Roberts

By Chelsea Roberts

No, The Grass Isn’t Greener in Other GovCon BD Shops There’s a persistent belief in government contracting that somewhere out there is a perfectly functioning business development organization. A shop…

Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS): What is it, and why is it a cry for help? by Chelsea Roberts

By Chelsea Roberts

Do you suffer from relentless thoughts of FOMO? Have you been doom-scrolling sam.gov regularly? Does your ideal client profile shift week to week, or even day to day? Does your…

Your GovCon Tribe by Chelsea Roberts

By Chelsea Roberts

The longer I’ve worked in the federal contracting ecosystem, the more tribes I’ve come into contact with. And the more tribes I’ve come into contact with, the clearer the differences between them have become. Just as the…

2025 Wrapped by Chelsea Roberts

By Chelsea Roberts

2025 didn’t fix defense acquisition, but it certainly changed the direction. 2025 is the year everything changed for me. I got married. I became a parent. And somewhere in between…

Why Everyone Is Talking About Oral Presentations (And How AI Can’t Save You Here) by Natasha Velez

By Chelsea Roberts

Government contracting is having a moment. And by “moment,” we mean a complete shake-up of how proposals get evaluated and contracts get won. If you’ve been in the contracting game…

So You Won The Contract… Now What? by Teresa Moon

By Chelsea Roberts

Are you financially ready to mobilize on your contract award? Winning the contract is one thing. Having the funding and financial plan to actually deliver is entirely different. We’ve seen…

Federal Procurement Is Changing. Here’s How Contractors Can Prepare by Tom Barrow

By Chelsea Roberts

Federal Procurement Is Changing. Here’s How Contractors Can Prepare By Thomas Barrow The federal procurement system is entering a period of significant transition. In April, the Trump Administration launched what…

Winning Federal Work in the Intelligence Agility Era by Noura Bashshur

By Chelsea Roberts

Blog Post for GovCon Unscripted June 11, 2025 Author: Noura Bashshur [email protected] What separates today’s growth leaders isn’t volume—it’s velocity, powered by insight. Federal procurement is shifting. Agencies are moving…

They Took Your Call — Now What? by Judy Bradt

By Chelsea Roberts

Micro Engagement Strategies for GovCon Success Guest Post by Judy Bradt, Summit Insight You finally get a federal buyer on the phone. Maybe it’s someone you’ve worked with before. The…

GOTS Is the Most Expensive Vendor You’ll Ever Hire by J.L. Hancock

By Chelsea Roberts

GOTS Is the Most Expensive Vendor You’ll Ever Hire by J.L. Hancock When we talk about vendor lock, images dance of a defense prime firm chaining the government to proprietary…

From Vacuums to Vision: A Blueprint for Career Transition by Mark Wigginton, MS, LPC, BCC

By Chelsea Roberts

From Vacuums to Vision: A Blueprint for Career Transition By Mark Wigginton, MS, LPC, BCC I’ve reinvented my career more times than I can count. From selling vacuum cleaners’ door…

How Startups Can Break Into Dual-Use: Lessons from the Field By Tim Balz

By Chelsea Roberts

How Startups Can Break into Dual-Use: Lessons from the Field by Tim Balz For early-stage startups, especially those far from the coasts or outside traditional defense circles, the idea of…

Collaborative Compositions Partners with New Trail Corp. to Support the F-35 Program

By Chelsea Roberts

We’re proud to share that Collaborative Compositions has officially partnered with New Trail Corporation to provide acquisition strategy and consulting support to the Department of Defense’s Joint Program Office F-35…

Federal Contracting Is Changing—Fast. If You’re Not Diversifying, You’re Already Behind.

By Chelsea Roberts

Federal Contracting Is Changing—Fast. If You’re Not Diversifying, You’re Already Behind. By Chelsea Roberts If you’re still waiting for the federal market to go “back to normal,” here’s the truth:…

The Commonsense Executive Orders You’ve Been Waiting For!

By Chelsea Roberts

  If you’ve ever thrown your hands up in frustration at federal procurement, you’re not alone, especially if you’re a small or non-traditional business. For years, the government’s own rules…

The Defense Executive Order You’ve Been Waiting For

By Chelsea Roberts

On April 9, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a landmark Executive Order (EO) titled “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base.” This directive aims to overhaul…

The Unsung Heroes of Federal Service: How Government Employees Impact Every American’s Life

By Chelsea Roberts

I’ve spent years working with small and mid-sized companies, helping them navigate the federal contracting landscape. Through this experience, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary impact that federal employees have on the…

In Our Collaboration Era 

By Chelsea Roberts

In Our Collaboration Era  The Surprising Rise of Public-Private Partnerships   Think of just-out-of-high-school Taylor Swift clutching her guitar with a dream in her heart: talented, song-filled, yet nobody gave this…