Field notes.
Practical notes on contracting, skills, hiring and workforce operations.
340 matching articles · Page 4 of 29
Provisional Billing Rates and Indirect Rate Structures, Explained Simply ↗
Before you invoice on a cost-reimbursable contract, you need approved or provisional indirect rates. Here is what that means and how to set them up.
Records Retention for Federal Contractor Onboarding Documents: What to Keep, How Long, and Why It Matters ↗
Federal contractors face overlapping retention rules for I-9s, E-Verify, offer letters, and clearance paperwork. Here is the operational breakdown.
Joint Ventures and the SBA Mentor-Protege Program: A Practical Guide for Small Contractors ↗
Before you pursue a large federal contract alone, understand how joint ventures and SBA mentor-protege agreements can expand your competitive position.
Onboarding Metrics Worth Putting in a COR Status Review ↗
CORs rarely ask about onboarding health until a compliance gap surfaces. Here are the metrics that belong in every status review before that happens.
Onboarding New IT Hires Faster When You Already Know Their Real Skill Level ↗
Verified skill data cuts IT onboarding time by removing the guesswork. Here is how hiring teams use pre-hire assessment results to accelerate ramp-up.
Building an Internal IT Skills Benchmark for Your Team ↗
Before you post the next IT req, do you know what 'good' looks like on your own team? Here is how to build a benchmark that answers that question.
I-9 Reverification and Document-Expiration Tracking: What Federal Contractors Must Get Right ↗
Expired work-authorization documents and missed reverification deadlines are among the most common I-9 violations. Here is how to close the gap.
Building a 12-Month Pipeline from Agency Procurement Forecasts ↗
Agency procurement forecasts are public, free, and largely ignored. Here is how capture teams turn them into a structured 12-month pursuit calendar.
SAM.gov Registration for First-Time Federal Contractors: UEI, CAGE Code, and Entity Validation Done Right ↗
Before you can submit a federal proposal, your SAM.gov registration must be active and accurate. Here is how to get the UEI, CAGE code, and entity validation right.
How to Approach a Terminal-Based Skills Assessment (And Actually Pass It) ↗
Terminal assessments test what you can do, not what you claim. Here is how to prepare, execute, and recover when things go sideways.
Re-Onboarding a Returning Cleared Employee Under Clearance Reciprocity ↗
Clearance reciprocity speeds re-onboarding, but the paperwork still has teeth. Here is what contractors must verify before day one.
From Certification to Competence: Why Certs Alone Do Not Predict Performance ↗
A CompTIA Security+ on a resume tells you a candidate passed a multiple-choice exam. It does not tell you what they do under pressure at a terminal.
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