AcquiCore Consulting – Federal Readiness & Growth

  Introduction The federal government may be shut down, but your business doesn’t have to be. For federal contractors, every shutdown brings the same confusion: What stops? What continues? And how do you protect your people, cash flow, and contracts until operations resume? At  AcquiCore Consulting , we’ve supported small businesses through shutdowns before — and we’ve seen the same myths resurface every time. This post breaks down the most common misconceptions and gives you practical steps to stay ready using the  R.I.S.K.™ Framework : Recognize • Identify • Safeguard • Keep Moving. Myth #1: All government work stops. Reality:  Essential contracts — those tied to public safety, health, and national security — continue even during shutdowns. But other programs may pause, depending on funding type. Always confirm your contract’s funding status and scope with your Contracting Officer (CO)  before  performing new work. Myth #2: Invoices will still be processe...

 I ntro: The federal government has shut down. For contractors, that means uncertainty: delayed invoices, stop-work orders, furloughed Contracting Officers, and nervous subcontractors. While no one can control when Congress will act, contractors  can  control how they prepare, respond, and position themselves. At  AcquiCore Consulting , we’ve built a practical framework for moments like this:  R.I.S.K.™ — Recognize • Identify • Safeguard • Keep Moving. Recognize The first step is awareness. Shutdowns don’t just affect invoices — they ripple across contracts, staff morale, vendor stability, and compliance. Pretending “business as usual” won’t work. Identify Classify your risks clearly: Financial:  Delayed invoices, cash crunch. Performance:  Stop-Work Orders, paused deliverables. Compliance:  Missed renewals, frozen profiles (SAM.gov). Workforce:  Staff uncertainty, subcontractor instability. Safeguard Once risks are named, they can be mitigat...

  📝 What a Government Shutdown Means for Federal Contractors With another potential government shutdown on the horizon, many contractors are asking the same question:  what does this mean for my business?  While shutdowns create uncertainty, contractors who understand the impacts — and plan ahead — will be in the strongest position to weather the disruption. 🔹 What Happens in a Shutdown When appropriations lapse, agencies without funding must suspend most operations. That means: Contracting Officers and staff may be furloughed, delaying awards, modifications, or invoice approvals. Only “essential” contracts (health, safety, security) typically continue, and even then, funding can be disrupted. Market research, solicitations, and evaluations may pause entirely until government operations resume. 🔹 Impacts on Contractors A shutdown doesn’t just affect agencies — it ripples directly into contractor operations. Common impacts include: Delays in Awards & Mods  — Pr...

  📝 Why Your Capability Statement Could Be Holding You Back If you’re a small business in the federal marketplace, your  capability statement  is often the first impression a Contracting Officer, prime, or agency program office has of you. Think of it as your  business resume  — except you only get one page to make it count. Here’s the problem: too many capability statements look the same. They’re generic, cluttered, or missing the details that matter most to government buyers. 🔹 What a Strong Capability Statement Includes Core Competencies  — Clear, simple bullets that describe  what you do best . Differentiators  — Why you, not the competitor? Highlight unique strengths, certifications, or past performance. Past Performance  — Showcase relevant projects (agency names, contract values, outcomes). Company Data  — DUNS/UEI, CAGE, NAICS codes, socio-economic certifications (WOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), etc.). Contact Info  — Name, title, ph...

 🚀  Coming Soon: A.C.Q.U.I.™-201 – Applied Readiness & Engagement Take your federal contracting skills to the next level. Our new course will show you how to research agencies, evaluate opportunities with the Go/No-Go Matrix, track a real pipeline, draft compliance-driven proposals, and tailor your Capability Statement for maximum impact. Stay tuned — enrollment opens soon, and spots will be limited.

  📝 FAR Overhaul Highlights: Part 10 — Market Research The FAR Overhaul is reshaping how federal acquisition is conducted. While the updates aim to reduce inefficiencies, they also raise the bar for contractors. One of the biggest areas of change is  FAR Part 10: Market Research . What’s Changing FAR Part 10 governs how agencies conduct and document market research before issuing solicitations. Under the overhaul: Digital market research tools  are now mandatory — Contracting Officers must use standardized templates. Documentation requirements  are stricter — every acquisition must show evidence of adequate research and justification. Vendor outreach expectations  have expanded — agencies are expected to cast a wider net when identifying capable businesses. Why It Matters for Businesses These changes mean that  your visibility in the market matters more than ever . Agencies are required to show they’ve considered multiple sources, which makes it critical f...