DOING BUSINESS IN THE ENVIRONMENT YOU HAVE, NOT THE ONE YOU WANT

Let’s be clear at the outset:  The author remembers the days when risk taking and innovation dominated the government acquisition market.  There was also a time when government budgets, while always finite, were a little bit less so than they are today.  That’s not the market, however, in which we currently work.  Some contractor executives react with surprise when faced with this reality.  Regardless of what you want, though, your company needs to make smart decisions based on “what is”.  For some, that may mean adapting to tight budgets, increased competition and a still-growing number of specialized rules (we’re looking you DPAP) or walking away from federal business.  Staying in the market requires investment and specialized knowledge.  There is no half-measure that leads to success.  No one should think they can develop or sustain a federal business practice without the requisite commitment.  If you’re a small business, you have to be able to separate the rhetoric (we want you) from reality (but only if you can jump through our increasing number of flaming hoops).

One other suggestion if your firm doesn’t like this market:  Work to change it.  Procurement reform didn’t happen a generation ago because government leaders thought it all up on their own.  It happened because the contractor leaders of that time looked up from their quarterly reports long enough to bring about positive change.  That type of leadership today would likely bring similar results.  Can it be found, though, somewhere other than on the panel of a milk carton?