Conchie Fernández

Excited to join this upcoming Lightcast conversation on how states are responding to labor shortages and rethinking workforce investment strategy. Across the country, we’re seeing deeper coordination between workforce systems, higher education, and employers - especially around credentials, apprenticeships, and better use of labor market data and employer input to guide investment. All this is especially crucial in the context of rapid AI adoption, Workforce Pell implementation, and the broader movement at federal and state policy levels toward outcomes-driven education accountability frameworks. Looking forward to sharing a few lessons from Maryland and hearing perspectives from colleagues doing this work across the country. Join me, Dr. Christopher Laney, Raymond Sass, and Barry May on March 18th!

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State vs. Federal Contracts – What’s the Difference? State contracts ≠ Federal contracts. Here are a few key differences every government contractor should know: 🔁 Portal Access: Federal: sam.gov State: Each state has its own portal (ex: myfloridamarketplace.com for FL) 📜 Compliance Requirements: Federal: FAR, DFARS, SAM registration, etc. State: Varies by state, less standardized but still detailed 📈 Contract Size & Scope: Federal: Larger, longer, more layered State: Smaller, faster, more targeted 🧠 Mindset Shift: Start small, win fast. Use state wins to build your past performance and level up to larger federal opportunities. 👉 Ready to step into state contracting? Let me know your state — I’ll send you the direct portal link. Make sure to join me for more on State and Local Government Contracts. https://lnkd.in/epsF6yWb

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One week left to register for this free webinar presented by SPLC and NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement! The Maryland Procurement Academy (MDPA) provides training and performance support resources for State of Maryland procurement professionals, as well as vendors and suppliers seeking to do business with the state. In addition to content, resources, and educational materials, the MDPA develops training aimed at enhancing efficiencies, ensuring ethical behaviors, developing quality personnel, and supporting Maryland procurement for everyone. The Green Purchasing Specialization is a voluntary training program open to all Certified Maryland Procurement Officers (CMPO) and Certified Maryland Procurement Associates (CMPA). The training is conducted annually, and covers climate literacy, the green marketplace, Maryland laws and regulations, and how to green a contract.​ Learn how these programs are benefitting Maryland’s green purchasing efforts through education and how you can leverage their work for your own organization’s learning and development needs. Presenters: Shae Cronin, Maryland Office of State Procurement Victoria Nellis, Maryland Department of General Services Carlesia Byrd-Evans, Maryland Department of General Services Register: https://lnkd.in/e65XJa4x #SustainableProcurement #SustainablePurchasing #PublicProcurement

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To everyone who asks "does your brother Neil McDonnell do in person events?" - put March 26 on your calendar. Jennifer Schaus will be hosting her Subcontracting Symposium in #Reston followed by GovCon Networking. Here's how to get the maximum value from your time and energy: 1. Update your LinkedIn personal profile and company page so your new connections instantly see what you bring to the table. 2. Practice your elevator pitch to quickly communicate your value proposition 3. Take selfies and share on LinkedIn about– 👉🏼 who you met (tag them) 👉🏼 what you learned from the experts 👉🏼 what you can offer to a prime as a subcontractor 4. Connect with everyone you meet 👉🏼 DM them with a gentle reminder of what you had in common 👉🏼 Don't 'pitch' but if you have something they'd value... share it with them. Generosity and patience wins the day! ______ 🟦 I’m Cecilia McDonnell – I help busy government contractors connect with federal buyers using LinkedIn.

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On June 27, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "decided to cancel the evaluation of proposals submitted under its Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services III (PACTS III) Department-wide contract vehicle solicitation." DHS determined that PACTS III was "a non-mission critical contract that would provide redundant offerings available through existing General Services Administration (GSA) solutions.... The Department intends to leverage existing contract solutions such as GSA’s One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services+ and the GSA Multiple Award Schedules to support its requirements for these services in the future." Based on Executive Orders issued by the Trump Administration, expect other federal civilian executive branch (FCEB) agencies to take similar actions and leverage GSA contract solutions. #federalcontracting #DHS #GSA

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The VA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program has launched a new online resource to communicate with industry. See the below post/link for details and how to register for email alerts, etc.! #GovCon #IndustryPartners #GovernmentContracting #FederalProcurement #PublicSectorProcurement

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“TransTrack has reduced our NTD process from months to just weeks, and we don't see ourselves going back.” — Joseph Poulard, Senior Program Project Coordinator, Broward County Transit (BCT) Broward’s team transformed their workflow by automating monthly reviews and streamlining annual submissions, giving staff the time and clarity they need to focus on service and planning. What changed for Broward: • Cut NTD reporting time by 70% — from weeks to just a few days. • Reduced errors and made audits smoother with built-in automation. • Eliminated data silos with a single, trusted source of truth. • Finance-driven KPIs now support stronger cost allocation and performance tracking. Curious what a 70% time savings looks like in practice? 👉 Explore the case study: https://hubs.li/Q03XV__70

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For small and tribal-owned businesses, the SBA 8a program isn’t just a designation—it’s a strategic procurement advantage. It opens doors to accelerated procurement timelines and sole-source contracts, which fosters partnerships that support federal missions. Miami Federal brings added flexibility to our government clients with high dollar caps on sole-source awards. That means agencies can move faster while working with proven, mission-aligned teams. Understanding how to work with 8a contractors can streamline procurement and strengthen your outcomes. See how Miami Federal supports agencies through 8a contracting: https://miamifed.com/ #MiamiFederal #8aCertification #Tribal8a #FederalContracting #GovernmentProcurement #SmallBusinessAdvantage

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