How Do We Know When to Make a Decision?

Making decisions can be difficult, but you can help guide your agency and organize your calendar by considering the relevant urgency and importance of particular choices.

The NAICS Procurement Code: Getting It Right

A seemingly innocuous 6-digit NAICS procurement code should be more than an afterthought. It has big implications for federal agencies and acquisition teams, especially when seeking out small business entities.

Firm-Fixed-Price Contracts — What Could Go Wrong?

Federal regulations prefer that agencies use firm-fixed-price (FFP) contracts, which place all performance costs and risks on the contractor. That may sound like a good thing but, in practice, the FFP approach can be a problem.

How to Implement Innovations

Innovation is more than a process: It’s a culture. Here’s how Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology makes it happen.

Unsung Heroes: The Technical Team Behind the US Administration for Children and Families

When one thinks of ACF, your mind might understandably drift toward the frontline workers, the policy makers, or the many initiatives undertaken to support vulnerable children and families across the United States. However, behind the scenes lies a team of dedicated professionals whose work is instrumental to ACF’s operations and mission: the technical team enabling… Read more »

Change Is Hard — Which Is Why We Need to Find Better Ways to Solve Problems

We can’t always plan for change when a crisis occurs. A crisis acts a motivator, and we look for ways to promote the change forward.

Let’s Start the Contract With a Great Kick-off

In federal contracting, a post-award orientation is commonly called a “kick-off” and is an important way to ensure that contractors perform the work they should.

When Failure Happens Beyond Control of Designer

Government has entered a new world of engineering design, in which systems must be capable of responding to dynamic changes. Failure is not an option.

Selling a Generative AI Project Internally to Government Leaders: A Strategic Approach

While generative AI (GenAI) presents a unique opportunity to streamline operations and improve citizen engagement, it’s not a mature technology. How can you overcome internal skepticism and help your leaders consider a practical GenAI project?

Changing a Culture of Lowest Price to Best Value for Coming ESG Demands

Agencies need to consider more than just the lowest price when bidding for goods and services. In the end, what bidder will provide the best value?

Project Management