The process of procuring a contract can be difficult because it requires expertise in various areas such as marketing, sales, and finance. A great government contracting team will need to have certain skills and traits. In this blog article, we’ll discuss who you’ll need to employ, and the qualities and abilities required to form a successful government contracting team.
Government contracting (GovCon) is a booming industry, where small businesses have the ability to capitalize when done correctly. It’s one of the few industries where turnover rates are low, and it has an excellent employment outlook. But who should you hire to help you? If you’re still new, we can simplify quickly – all you need is a well-prepared virtual assistant.
You’ll want to appoint one leader who can plan and prioritize their work. They need to know how they fit into the company’s short-term goals as well as long-term plans. It’s easy to get distracted or chase the wrong contracts, even easier to misallocate if your team isn’t hyperfocused on the end-game.
Leaders are necessary on a government contracting team because of all the people you’ll hire for various departments within your business. Someone needs to be in charge, so this person should have a certain mindset – they need to be a good delegator and have the ability to motivate others. If this isn’t you, you might need to hire a 6th. It’s important to understand that you can participate even before you can afford to hire this dream team. It’s a progression of business development so consider this a long-term plan. For now, you may be just getting your feet wet in subcontracting or capturing micro-purchases or simplified acquisitions.
Next, let us identify who and what skillsets are pertinent to your GovCon team. There are five critical experts that you need to have on your government contracting team. These are specialized skills that you don’t need to hire as full-time employees. However, you need to meet these folks and build a relationship with them early in your GovCon journey so you have access to their expertise early and often.
1 – Procurement Analyst
A Procurement Analyst is responsible for determining which contract vehicles best suit your company’s needs. This person will help you understand the market, identify opportunities and determine how to compete effectively in order to win business. They know the complex rules and regulations associated with government contracting, making them the perfect partner for your company in this space.
A Procurement Analyst must have extensive experience working in the GovCon space where they were responsible for maintaining relationships with clients and partners alike while ensuring compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, laws, and other directives. They also need to be extremely detail-oriented, as the procurement process is very complex. They should have exceptional communication skills and be able to speak intelligently and direct outreach efforts, including teaming/ subcontracting strategies based on requirements.
2 – Government Contract Lawyer
A GovCon Lawyer has extensive experience in the legal, compliance and regulatory environment of government contracting. This person’s primary responsibility is to ensure that your company is in full compliance with all laws and regulations associated with the GovCon industry including:
The FAR, which is the acronym for the Federal Acquisition Regulation, is a set of rules and policies that have been put in place to ensure fair competition within government contracting. This person will review your company’s performance with a fine-tooth comb which includes reviewing past contract performance as well as future strategies to make sure you are taking all necessary steps to remain competitive.
SAM.gov and DIBBS registration systems can be very complicated and time-consuming, so it’s important that you have a lawyer on your team who is an expert in these systems. They will make sure all transactions are completed successfully while also ensuring the company remains compliant with all legal requirements of going through the registration process.
3 – Legal Clerk/ Admin
A legal GovCon clerk is needed to ensure all documentation is submitted accurately and on time. They will make sure a company has the proper compliance with federal, state, and local laws as well as making sure you are in full legal compliance within your industry – for example, they may make sure that an organization’s website complies with guidelines set forth by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Contracting Officer Representative (COR) is a person who works on your company’s behalf to negotiate and manage contracts with the U.S government. This person will make sure that you are getting paid for all work completed as well as ensure that only necessary services and products are purchased from vendors within this space.
Your legal GovCon clerk needs to work with the COR to make sure all documentation is accurate and that the COR has access to all information needed in order to make a wise, informed decision when negotiating contracts.
4 – Government Accountant
The skills of the GovCon Accountant are distinct from those of a traditional accounting professional. They are specialists in GovCon accounting and financial management. They are responsible for ensuring that your company is in full compliance with federal accounting standards, especially when it comes to reporting on costs associated with goods or services provided under the contract. They’ll ensure you have the necessary paperwork to satisfy the government’s standards, ensuring that they are prepared if the government decides to audit your books without notice. They will also work with the COR to make sure that your company is receiving payment for all work completed.
5 – GovCon Banker
The GovCon Banker specializes in financial management and service contracts. They will make sure any company involved in GovCon transactions is fully compliant with federal banking guidelines, ensuring that all financial transactions are handled properly including electronic fund transfers (EFTs), wire transfers, etc.
The bank you choose must be authorized by the U.S government to conduct business with companies who have a contract with the U.S government or are working with an entity that does – for example, if your company is subcontracted by another federal contractor they will need to work through a bank who has this authority.
Your legal GovCon clerk needs to work closely with your GovCon banker to make sure all financial transactions can be completed in compliance with federal banking guidelines.
In conclusion, we hope this blog post has been helpful and given you a better idea of the skills and traits needed to create a great government contracting team. If your organization is interested in learning more about how they can meet these requirements, we invite you to contact us for more information at www.duweldev.com. We will be happy to point you in the right direction.
