What is CBAR? Well its not FUBAR...at least not yet!

The CBAR system is Contractor Business Analysis Repository that is administered by Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). CBAR is now being used by Contracting Officers for cost analysis on defense contractors prices on previous proposal submissions. CBAR shows trends of pricing and cost analysis data with regard to cost estimating systems and practices of all DOD contractors managed by DCMA. For now, there is a small percentage of approved CO's due to the sensitive proprietary nature of the data. The Pentagon has created ICATs (Integrated Cost Analysis Teams) to assist any and all CO's with the data analysis and information. http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20130623/DEPARTMENTS01/306230006/How-DoD-became-smarter-customer?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

How are Americans feeling the impact of the Sequestration?

Most all of the federal services are impacted by the Sequestration and no one is immune. The changes are affecting the military, people using public support, court systems, airport services, DOD contractors, it goes on and on. Think of all of the services provided to us you would be surprised what is being cut and when. These services are provided courtesy of our tax dollars, and we have no control over where the money goes and how much. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/29/more-americans-are-feeling-the-effects-of-the-sequester/?wpisrc=nl_pulse

Contracting Professionals traveling, why it should happen!!

I just read this incredible article about why contracting professionals need to travel to see their customers, co-workers, subcontractors. It is a great way to get to know more people and understand the day to day activities. http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20130428/ADOP06/304280004/Contracting-professionals-need-travel-8212-train

Budget Cuts Affect Small Business

Denver Post: Budget Cut Great article detailing the affects of budget cuts through sequestration and small business primes and subcontractors. Seems to hurt the most effective sectors in the US which has the highest growth and gives the most prosperous products and services.

Budget cuts freezing small businesses

Huffington: Budget Cuts Small US based businesses are taking a large hit with the sequestration changes costing the entire sector 1 million jobs as nearly half of the job losses would come from small business. And "the U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that small businesses employ about half of all private-sector workers and generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years, and were responsible for about one-third of U.S. exports."