281: Why Your Government Contract Bids Keep Failing (The Secret Nobody Tells You)
Release Date: 06/25/2025
Think You Know SBA Rules? Think Again.
Govcon Giants Podcast
In today's episode, we dive into the intricate world of government contracts and the surprising challenges faced by companies trying to make their mark in this space. Our guest, Adam Lasky, a seasoned government contracts attorney at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, takes us through the maze of regulations and common misconceptions that entrepreneurs often stumble upon. Adam brings to light the misconception surrounding creating new entities for federal contracting. It's not as simple as it seems. Affiliation and size calculations are critical factors that many businesses overlook. Our guest emphasizes how...
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Why Payment Delays Are Killing Small Contractors (And How to Beat Them)
Govcon Giants Podcast
On today's episode of The Daily Windup, our guest shares insights on the shortage of subcontractors, leading to difficulties in finding reliable suppliers for projects, especially in certain regions like South Florida. We discuss the impact of subcontractor performance on projects and explore strategies for handling escalating costs in government contracts. Negotiating fair prices and creating a level playing field for subcontractors are essential considerations. We also explore how to build the capacity of small businesses to handle larger and more complex projects and the importance of...
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282: URGENT: FAR Overhaul Hits in 24 Hours—What Small Businesses MUST Do Now!
Govcon Giants Podcast
You ever felt like the rules of government contracting change before you can even understand them? In this episode, I sat down with Emily Murphy—former GSA Administrator and current head of Government Procurement Strategies—to break down everything you need to know about the FAR Rewrite and how it impacts small businesses, AI, commercial solutions, and contract consolidation. We’re talking about sweeping changes being implemented within 24 hours, missing references to small businesses in key parts of the FAR (yes, even the Rule of Two!), and the major shift toward modular IT procurement...
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Fighting for the Middle: The Harsh Truth About Government Contracting Careers
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of The Daily Windup, Eric Coffie introduces us to a former corporate professional, Yolanda Clarke who struggled to find their place in the competitive job market despite multiple degrees and valuable experience. Yolanda, shares her journey of constantly fighting to reach the elusive "middle" in their career. She discuss the challenges of seeking opportunities in the defense industry and the difficulties faced by military spouses in finding stable employment. She reveals how a pivotal moment in her life led them to make a bold decision to pursue a different path. She eventually...
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Stop Guessing! Why Most Small Businesses Lose Money on Their First Government Contract!
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of The Daily Windup we delve into the crucial but often overlooked aspect of pricing in contracting. Our guest, a seasoned contractor, shares his experiences of working with small businesses and the constant queries they receive about pricing jobs. He also emphasizes the importance of asking the right pricing questions and how it can make or break a contract. Recounting their journey of learning the intricacies of pricing, including the mistakes made along the way, and the need to unlearn certain misconceptions from their time in a large business. The episode provides insights...
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Contractors BEWARE: One Wage Mistake = 200% Damages + 16% Interest!
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of The Daily Windup, we delve into the crucial role of the New York State Department of Labor and its significance in protecting workers and small businesses alike. Our guest, a former New York State Labor Inspector General, shares invaluable insights gained from 12 years in government service. We explore the origins of the Department of Labor, which was formed as a response to the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and how it continues to advocate for the rights and safety of workers. Our guest highlights the various aspects of their work, including overseeing civil and...
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Why Small Businesses Keep Failing: The 10% HUBZone Advantage You’re Wasting!
Govcon Giants Podcast
In today's episode of the Daily Windup, we dive into the world of government contracts and how startups can navigate this complex landscape. Our speakers discuss the importance of FedRAMP certification and how it can open doors for small businesses. They share valuable advice on building a track record and finding the right niche to deliver value to government agencies. Our guest, an experienced entrepreneur, shares the story of how they secured their first government contract and the valuable lessons they learned along the way. From dealing with pricing challenges to overcoming the initial...
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281: Why Your Government Contract Bids Keep Failing (The Secret Nobody Tells You)
Govcon Giants Podcast
Ever wonder why you keep losing government contracts while the big guys stay winning? It’s because 95% of opportunities never even hit SAM.gov — they’re locked up in existing contract vehicles you don’t know how to tap. Today, I brought on Ryan Atencio, a boots-on-the-ground expert who learned federal contracting from the inside as a special operations buyer. He’s revealing exactly how veterans and folks with base access can skip the line and win sole-source deals — even with zero past performance. If you’re a vet or have military installation access, you’re sitting on a...
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Material Costs UP 40%: Are Your Government Contracts About to Bankrupt You?
Govcon Giants Podcast
In this episode of The Daily Windup, Eric speaks with Brian, an entrepreneur and compliance officer, about his experiences in the government contracting industry. Brian's firm specializes in working with government agencies on various projects, focusing on compliance and driving opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs). Brian shares how his office in Manhattan transitioned to remote work during the pandemic, and he emphasizes the importance of living near an airport to serve clients nationwide. They discuss the types of projects Brian's firm handles, ranging from smaller...
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2.5 YEARS Just to Win ONE Government Contract? The Ugly Truth They Won’t Tell You!
Govcon Giants Podcast
Welcome to a new episode of The Daily Windup! Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Yolanda Clark, CEO of Powder River Industries, a small business that has successfully navigated the world of defense contracts and specialized in DevSecOps and infrastructure as code services. Yolanda shared her journey of bringing stability to her business by establishing headquarters in Wyoming while her spouse serves in the military. In our conversation, Yolanda explained the intricacies of DevSecOps, clarifying that it involves coding within secure environments, ensuring software compliance with cyber...
info_outlineEver wonder why you keep losing government contracts while the big guys stay winning? It’s because 95% of opportunities never even hit SAM.gov — they’re locked up in existing contract vehicles you don’t know how to tap. Today, I brought on Ryan Atencio, a boots-on-the-ground expert who learned federal contracting from the inside as a special operations buyer. He’s revealing exactly how veterans and folks with base access can skip the line and win sole-source deals — even with zero past performance.
If you’re a vet or have military installation access, you’re sitting on a goldmine — and Ryan shows you how to turn it into real revenue. Stop fighting for scraps and start shaping requirements directly with the people who write the checks. Ready to take action? Book your free assessment call right now at govconeric.com/call and see if you’re one of the five new businesses we’ll help break in this month.
Ready to win smarter and get the support you need?
For trusted government contract financing, visit encoregov.com.
To level up your skills, watch free trainings and connect with our expert coaches at federalhelpcenter.com.
Ryan Atencio Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-a-75b1a3172/