Darren Phelps

🔔 GSA MAS Refresh #30 – Coming November 2025 #GSA #MAS #FederalContracts #Acquisition #GovCon GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) has announced plans to issue MAS Solicitation Refresh #30 this November. Key updates include: ✅ Alignment with the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) — modernizing clauses and provisions across the MAS program. ✅ Updates to proposal instructions (SCP-FSS-001) to reflect new FAR/GSAR deviations. ✅ Revisions to the Order-Level Materials (OLM) SIN under the Miscellaneous category. ✅ Contractors will have 90 days to accept the mass modification once issued. All MAS holders should review the draft notice, monitor the MAS Interact community, and be prepared to accept the update promptly once live. 💡 GDI Consulting is your extended in-house arm for GSA Schedule management, compliance, and proposal support — ensuring you stay ahead of every solicitation refresh and regulatory shift.

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We’re diving into fixing procurement and the reality's of delivering new capability at the "speed of need". For both government teams and contractors, the challenge is always the same: how do you move faster while staying within the guardrails of FAR/DFARS? This should be a great session for anyone frustrated by the current defense acquisition ecosystem.

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The #publicsector is reshaping national security recruitment. From reducing time-to-hire and building a more resilient cleared workforce, learn how ClearanceJobs are helping agencies on July 10: https://ow.ly/oqpz30sNUnc

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If you’re #interviewing in #GovCon and things feel slow, inconsistent, or “almost unreal”… you’re not crazy. GovCon hiring isn’t always driven by normal business cycles. It’s driven by award timing, funding timing, and contract timing — and those are not always visible to #candidates. Why interviews happen but hiring stalls: The work is tied to an award that isn’t final yet The contract is real, but the start date is moving The team is building a bench for a ramp, but headcount isn’t released yet The role is being reshaped (scope changes, compliance needs, AI/automation shifts) How to protect your time (and win faster). Here are 5 common-sense moves that separate high-conversion candidates: 1) Ask the right question early: “Is this role tied to an awarded contract, an option year/mod, or a proposal?” No drama — just clarity. 2) If it’s proposal-based, ask: “What’s the expected award window and ramp date?” 3) Lead with the GovCon value signal: Execution under constraints. Examples: documentation, stakeholder management, delivery in regulated environments, security/compliance awareness. 4) Be location/clearance clear. If you’re cleared, state it up front. If you’re not, show the closest equivalents: regulated work, HIPAA, SOC2, public sector, audit environments. 5) Build a “proof packet.” 3 outcomes you drove, 3 tools you used, 1 short story of how you stabilized a messy situation. #GovWork If you’re job searching in GovCon right now, what’s your lane: Program/PMO, Cyber/GRC, IT/Data, Ops, Finance, HR/Talent? Comment it and I’ll tell you where I’m seeing the most real pull. #GovernmentContracting

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Whether this is your first time stepping into FPS training or you’re a returning professional sharpening your edge, this week delivers real value where it matters most—clarity, confidence, and capability. The contracting landscape is changing fast. New rules. New expectations. New risks. And that’s exactly why FPS continues to set the standard for practical, actionable learning. 🔹 First-time attendees: You’ll gain a clear roadmap, reduce uncertainty, and walk away speaking the language of compliance with confidence. 🔹 Returning attendees: You’ll deepen expertise, stay ahead of regulatory shifts, and engage with peers and experts who operate at the highest level. If you’re serious about moving forward with confidence in 2026, this is where it starts. #GovernmentContracts #ProfessionalGrowth #ComplianceConfidence #GovCon #ContinuousLearning #FPS

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To fight the future fight, #talentmanagement is essential, Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, assistant commandant of the United States Marine Corps said recently at the #AIplusExpo held by Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSP in DC last week. _________________ "Let's make sure we have the right Marines with the right skill sets and keep them around longer," he said, adding that it's important that they engage in realistic and challenging training. _________________ #attract -> #engage -> #retain With the rapid evolution of industry+ tech, and a workforce reduction seen across multiple sectors, we must remain highly focused and fluid, not just on things like #enterprisesystemmodernization, #internalcontrols, #financialreporting, #audit2028 - but also, importantly, on the individual & team delivering & enhancing these offices, programs & capabilities. Are they knowledgable when it comes to #GAAP, #FFMIA, #Greenbook, compliance and so on? Do they have good working knowledge of the agency and how it functions? Where the audit is? How they are continuing to provide stewardship to the US citizen $$? Have they begun the journey of skills evolution, aligning with AI or techn that delivers efficiency & effectiveness needed? - Its a lot to consume and think about. - The modern day workforce requires a more unique strategy to attraction than it did 5 years ago, a more intentional pathway to onboarding, integration, development, skills alignment, and leadership, and a more personal person+data+technology approach to retention. Our 11th Hour Service Federal Practice lead, Norbert H. - in a recent podcast interview with Society of Defense Financial Management (SDFM) and Rich Brady mentioned - “ I'm concerned, but I am not afraid “ as he discusses the focus of the new administration, the changes seen in the market, highlighting that due to our Talent Management Center, led by Ryan Clemons & David Emmanuel - I have the best team and tool available to me to support our clients, contracts and mission critical services needed across #civilian and #DoD. #govcon will continue to evolve, and how we have done business is not how we will do business. Those who lean into talent, talent stragies and talent alignment will not only outpace others, they will accomplish their goals more seemlesly and be able to approach modernization from all angles. I was excited to listen in to the podcast, and learn more about the evolution of our organization as we continue to serve our clients, nation and team. Listen in! If interested in the talent discussion, teaming on opportunities or if you are looking to leverage a recruiting function to support your work, or agency - let me know! Grateful for Mondays - it means 5 days of serving you! Look for more insights from the #SDFM CAG Subcommittee on talent, AGA or Association for Federal Enterprise Risk Management (AFERM) as 11th Hour Service releases more thought leadership. Federal News Network

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COMBS Consulting Group, LP is honored to contribute to the new Alamo Colleges District Northwest Lakeview College Veterans Center. This 11,000 SF stand-alone facility is dedicated to serving active and retired military members and their families, providing a one-stop location for convenient access to both academic and non-academic services. The new Veterans Center will strengthen student support through: - Expanded Veteran-specific orientations and programming - Enhanced career planning, job training, and transitional services - A re-established mentoring program pairing incoming Veterans with current students - Private meeting spaces for confidential matters such as benefits, disability claims, and advocacy - Community space for events, faculty training, and organizations supporting Veteran success We are proud to play a part in creating a space that honors those who have served and supports their continued success in higher education and beyond. #Veterans #HigherEducation #AlamoColleges #TechnologyDesign #SecurityDesign #AudiovisualDesign

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