Contracting intelligence for small and minority-owned businesses, from the TIKC advisory team.
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The week that reshaped federal contracting: the Pentagon suspended CMMC Phase 2, fixed-price became the government’s default contract type, FEMA spending cratered 92%, and the…
The federal government buys nearly $800 billion a year — and there’s a learnable, 90-day path from Main Street business to registered, certified, bid-ready federal…
From opportunity monitoring to RFP analysis to proposal drafting — how small government contractors are actually using AI in 2026, the five use cases that…
The federal government buys nearly $800 billion in goods and services every year — and finding those opportunities is a learnable skill. SAM.gov, DSBS, agency…
Three funding lapses hit federal contractors in FY2026 alone. With the October 1 deadline approaching, here’s exactly what happens to your contracts, your payments, and…
Every federal contract moves through the same lifecycle — forecasting, market research, solicitation, evaluation, award, performance, and closeout. Understanding where you can influence each stage…
Most federal contracts are effectively decided before the solicitation posts. Sources sought notices and RFIs are where small businesses influence set-aside decisions, shape requirements, and…
As of June 30, 2026, DoD is barred from contracting with Chinese military companies on the 1260H list — and with contractors whose consultants lobby…
FEMA has spent just $310 million on contracts through three quarters of FY2026 — 92% below last year — while its Disaster Relief Fund sits…
WOSB, 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone — in a shifting FY2026 landscape, which certifications deliver real contract access, in what order should you pursue them, and what…
The Pentagon suspended CMMC Phase 2 third-party certifications on July 13 and launched a 60-day reform review. But Phase 1 self-assessments, DFARS 7012, and NIST…
GSA’s first-ever AI contract clause, DISA’s enterprise software consolidation, and a surge of AI awards to small firms — the technology reshaping who wins federal…
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