EP313 – Demystifying the World of Government Contracting with Chelsea Meggitt of Collaborative Compositions
Have you ever wondered how government works with small businesses when the government is the customer in need of contractors to do certain jobs? We’re aware government contracting exists, but how does it all come to be? From the bidding process to securing and keeping a contract, what actually goes on behind the scenes?
Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Chelsea Meggitt of CollaborativeCompositions.com, a small business federal contracting expert and author of Hey GovCon, Get Help!, a resource for those interested in learning about the interworkings of US government contracting. Chelsea grew up in the world of government contracting, with her family running a successful small business that worked with the federal government. This background gave her a unique insight into the ins and outs of this industry, and she shared her knowledge with me.
In our conversation, Chelsea broke down the complexities of government contracting (known commonly as “GovCon”) and its impact on small businesses. We discussed how the government procures everything from mozzarella cheese to weapons systems, highlighting the vast scope of opportunities. Chelsea explained the difference between the private and public sectors, emphasizing that government contracting uses public funds. This therefore gives all of us an interest into the who, why, and how contracting works. We explored the Federal Acquisition Regulation, a 2,360-page rulebook governing federal contracting processes, something I’m learning is a big deal in GovCon circles. She mentioned SAM.gov, the System for Award Management, where bid opportunities are posted. Many of these sites are foreign to most Americans who live their daily lives unaware of the billions of dollars going to contractors to protect and provide for the nations’s welfare.
Chelsea goes into the behind-the-scenes of working with US federal government agencies when they are the consumer in need of servicers and suppliers to carry-out the government’s duties. She also goes into how opportunities exist for lawyers and mediators in this space.
You can learn more from Chelsea by checking out her book, “Hey Govcon Get Help!, The federal government guide you didn’t know you needed.”
Chelsea can be reached or followed on LinkedIn, LinkedIn GovCon, Facebook, and YouTube, and via the GovCon Group.
Keyword Tags
Government contracting, small business, GovCon, federal contracting, SAM.gov, Federal Acquisition Regulation, Apex Accelerator, PTAC, public sector, private sector, Chelsea Meggitt, contract termination, mediation, legal support.
