Are you going through GovPhases?  Below are tips to help survive the mid-cycle crisis.

 If you are a current government contractor, you may be experiencing the government procurement mid-cycle crisis.  The key to successfully mitigating a crisis is to focus on each phase of the cycle…one phase at a time. The only medicine needed is patience and dedication.

 Phase 1 – Pre-proposal.  It is very important to know your market.  Prior to proposal release, conduct thorough market research and competitive analysis.  In addition, conduct an internal review of your companies pricing structure and technical strengths.  Continually update your Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis to determine how to strategically bid and increase your PWIN.

 Phase 2 – Pre-award.   You have submitted a winning proposal, now what?  Take some time and Prepare to Win.  Review the performance work statement (PWS) and contract terms and conditions and create a compliance check matrix.  Check off all the requirements that are in place and highlight the areas that need to be implemented.  Create a timeline and conduct a pre-award kick-off meeting with your team.  Take full advantage of the source selection phase by proactively preparing your company.

 Phase 3. Award.  Congratulations, you won!  Now it’s time to perform.  Revisit your timeline and add any crucial dates and milestones needed for contract execution.  Schedule a kick-off meeting with the Contracting Officer, COTR and project team. 

 Phase 4. Post-Award. Continually monitor performance through quality control processes, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and project management.  Conduct monthly meetings, reporting and feedback with the customer.  Know your customer.

 Phase 5.  Contract Compliance and Customer Satisfaction.  This phase is critical and must be monitored on a daily basis.  Customer satisfaction may lead to more business through past performance evaluations and future opportunities with the customer and other agencies.  Perform to expand.

 Phase 6. Contract Closeout.  Unfortunately, every contract comes to an end.  If you are fortunate enough to win the recompete for an on-going effort, then this phase comes later.  However, if your contract expires, you will need to process the contract closeout documents in a timely manner.

If you proactively plan for each phase and manage each process, the mid-cycle crisis can be avoided.  Prepare to Win…Perform to Expand!

Boeing Co.'s satellite production facility in El Segundo won a $1 billion Air Force contract to build a military communications satellite, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

The contract is for the seventh Wideband Global Satcom, or WGS, satellite, part of a series of spacecraft that are dramatically improving U.S. military communications, from troops in the field to fighter jets overhead.

The DoD announced the contract award in a statement that included contracts to other companies. The statement was sparse on details.

The Boeing contract also includes advance procurement for the eighth WGS satellite, as well as an option for production and launch of WGS No. 9.

The Air Force contract pegged the value at $1,099,800,000.

A Boeing official declined to comment on the contract and referred media questions to the Air Force.

In August 2010, Boeing won a $182 million Air Force contract to begin so-called long-lead procurement and work on WGS No. 7.

The Australian military is also participating in the WGS system.

Boeing's first three WGS satellites are also orbiting the Earth.

The others will be launched in coming years.

This latest contract is large by satellite industry standards, but was not a surprise.

Boeing had been in discussions with the Air Force over the contract for the past several weeks.

Still, the contract award comes as good news for Boeing's El Segundo facility, which this month celebrated the 50th anniversary of its satellite facility.

The El Segundo operation has been buffeted with layoffs over the past decade. Today, the business employs about 6,400 people, about half the number that worked there in the late 1990s.

While not specifically commenting on Thursday's award, Craig Cooning, the Boeing executive in charge of the El Segundo operations, earlier this month said that employment at the satellite business was stable, with no planned layoffs, despite expected Pentagon belt tightening.

By contrast, Northrop Grumman Corp. announced last week that it would cut 500 jobs at its Redondo Beach-based Aerospace Systems sector.

Source: Contra Costa Times

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18807912