DOGE is a big deal right now, and I have some thoughts on how their tactics as I understand them today coincide with the arena of federal contracting.
This is what I recently emailed them…
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Happy Birthday To George Washington & Good Day:
My pursuit within the arena of federal contracting began at the VA Acquisition Academy as part of The 2015 Cohort. It was quickly apparent that we were being trained by an elite group of instructors.
Contracting was explained to us as a mixture of an accountant and a lawyer without having to pass the BAR exam. We were taught how to read and apply federal and agency regulations, pricing skills and market research tactics, business writing, negotiating, pre and post-award administration as well as applicable soft skills from PWC. We even were presented with several mock scenarios to apply what we previously learned.
I understand the overarching premise of DOGE to be an overdue modernization of our federal government. After all, I did spend just shy of 10 years at the VA’s FSS program on the Hines VAMC. I know what red tape is. However, as a GS-13, I knew how to simplify unnecessary bureaucracy for my vendors.
That being said, I knew others above and below my pay grade did not. They simply took multiple shortcuts to award or no-award their assigned workload. They did not display the aptitude to easily discuss the nuances within the profession in-house or out.
I am concerned that proclaimed brilliants using up-to-date AI instruments will both dumb down the profession and cater to unnecessary aptitudes while not giving potential and long-standing trusted business partners the respect they deserve for compiling proposals and reducing their importance as actual people.
Federal contracting must not be reduced to a series of electronic signatures which produce dollar signs. Federal contracting is much more than that. It’s a multi-faceted arena that builds well-rounded businesspeople. It operates in a fair marketplace which promotes competition when operated as regulated.
Before beginning my career as a Contracting Officer, I had no idea what federal procurement and acquisition even were. Now, I love it so much that I’ve begun my own consulting company called Robertson KX to walk with vendors through the federal contracting process.
I encourage DOGE to understand any ramifications of its findings before any Executive Orders are signed, regulations are changed or even any in-house SOPs are amended.
Yes, continue the pursuit of modernizing our government with state-of-the-art technology accompanied by out-of-the-box thinking. Nevertheless, please be aware of placing emphasis on mere optics instead of the necessary distinctions that make federal contracting exactly what it is.
I appreciate you taking the time to process my stance. I look forward to understanding how DOGE moves forward to benefit both the taxpayer and the warfighter within the arena of federal contracting.
Thank You.
God Bless,
Nicholas S. Robertson
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Federal contracting can be a slippery slope. Donald and Elon have great ideas, but they need to harness their zeal before implementing them.
I help walk companies through the seemingly complex nature of federal contracting during the pre-award and post-award phases of federal business.
If you think I can help you then email nicholas.s.robertson@outlook.com for your introductory email and free consultation.
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