USFCR Blog

Susan Spenader

Susan is USFCR's Marketing Generalist. Her goal is to help businesses understand the ins and outs of the federal marketplace and to connect businesses with the resources they need to succeed.
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Recent Posts

Top 14+ NAICS Codes for Disaster Relief

Dec 16, 2024 1:21:28 PM / by Susan Spenader

As of June 1, hurricane season is upon us again. Every year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projects that there will be more and more hurricanes. 

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Bid Protests in Federal Contracting

Dec 23, 2022 2:43:17 PM / by Susan Spenader posted in Guides

When it comes to winning a government contract, the bidding process can be fierce and competitive. But what happens when a bidder believes the process was not conducted fairly or the winning bidder was not the most qualified or lowest-priced? 

That's where bid protests come in. A bid protest is a formal challenge to the terms or award of a government contract, allowing bidders and other interested parties to object to the procurement process or the selection of a winning bidder. 

In this blog, we'll explore the reasons for filing a bid protest, the process for doing so, and the potential outcomes of a protest in the federal contracting arena.

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The Power of a Debrief in Federal Contracting

Nov 23, 2022 7:22:00 AM / by Susan Spenader posted in Guides

Contracting is a complicated process. It takes time, effort, and resources to get it right. But one of the best ways to make sure you have all the information you need is by participating in post-award debriefings in federal contracting.

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Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0

Oct 17, 2022 8:24:51 AM / by Susan Spenader posted in Guides, cmmc, cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a major issue for the Department of Defense and federal contractors. In an effort to streamline the certification process and ensure that cybersecurity measures are being implemented correctly, the U.S. Department of Defense has created a model called Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). 

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The DoD Extends UEI Deadline to Help Federal Contractors

Oct 10, 2022 10:24:00 AM / by Susan Spenader posted in News

In response to the extensive delays seen since April 2022 with the transition from DUNS numbers to Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI), the Department of Defense (DoD) announced in September that it isn't requiring contractors to have a new UEI until October 31, 2022.

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What is the Federal Fiscal Calendar?

Jun 10, 2022 8:33:00 AM / by Susan Spenader posted in Guides

As a federal contractor or an aspiring one, you have probably heard the words “Federal Fiscal Calendar” floating around. You may be wondering why this matters to you or what real effects it has on contractors. 

Utilizing our over ten years of experience, we’ll break down why you should care about the federal fiscal calendar and how it will affect your business as a contractor.

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7 Things Not to Do When Writing Your Capabilities Statement

May 9, 2022 8:03:00 AM / by Susan Spenader posted in Guides

Imagine you are running your own business. 

You’re working 50-60+ hours a week, managing a team, developing a customer base, and now you are trying to get into the federal marketplace. 

You find out that anyone looking to solicit government contracts will need a capabilities statement. A one- or two-page document that provides a basic outline of your company and shows why you are capable of solving their problems. 

Does this sound familiar? 

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Unique Entity ID (UEI) Replaces DUNS Number [+Video]

Apr 21, 2022 2:15:00 PM / by Susan Spenader posted in News

As of April 4, 2022, SAM.gov has replaced the DUNS number with the Unique Entity ID (UEI) as their primary means of entity identification for Federal awards government-wide. This change has been made to streamline the entity identification and validation process and to no longer rely on a third-party website to issue the identifying number.

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